[E_T_V]

Probably dishwasher powder or an industrial degreaser. It works pretty well.

[steven price]

I cleaned out my expansion tank with white spirit when the head gasket went but it still gets the mayo on it. Should clean out over time.

What have other people tried? because it would not look good if i wanted to sell the car.

[Tweaker]

I cleaned out my expansion tank with white spirit when the head gasket went but it still gets the mayo on it. Should clean out over time.

What have other people tried? because it would not look good if i wanted to sell the car.

The head gasket went on my K series engine (MGF) we used gunk in the cylinder head and down the pipes when everything was apart. When the cylinder head was back on and header tank fitted we put neat power wash detergent through it and used a power wash to flush it out. We did this about 2 or 3 times over a fortnight and now it is clear of the "mayo" It settles in the header tank on top of the water so if you take the header tank off and blast it with a power wash a few times it will clear

[steven price]

Brill thanks i will give it a shot.

[androver]

This morning I took my Ford Anglia for MOT at the garage which supplied the chemical for flushing the rover, so I asked what it was. The garage owner couldn't tell me the exact product name , but it is a proprietary flush from a company called Forté. There was a Forté poster on the wall, showing a range of automotive chemical products but not the flush. However, following a visit to the Forté website http://www.forteuk.co.uk/Cooling_system_flush.htm it would appear to be their Bio Degreaser.
BTW the Anglia passed

[androver]

Sorry - the link I gave was for the cooling system flush - which it states is not suitable for cleaning cooling systems following head gasket failure - this is the link you want:
http://www.forteuk.co.uk/Bio_degreaser.htm
Regards
Andrew

[steven price]

Sounds good

[j50nde]

The job was done today and I'm well pleased (assuming of course it's successful - will let you know!)
The gasket was renewed, head checked for flatness, new water pump, new timing and power steering belts, thermostat, exhaust gasket. A chemical was put into the cooling system to break down any emulsion in the system, then drained/flushed and refilled with anti-freeze. I was shown all the parts which were removed - there was evidence of the leak on the head gasket. All for £232 (incl genuine MG-Rover parts!). Excellent value I thought.
Andrew

Excellent price for the work, i bought a Y reg Rover 25 off ebay with the head gasket gone and the woman said she'd been quoted around £500 to £1000 to fix it!.

Cost me(approx): Head gasket £25,engine flush £5,oil+filter £15,cambelt £20,2nd hand alloy radiator £20,set of plugs £12,anti freeze £3
Grand total of:£100 and an afternoon's work

I've heard of many people being quoted silly prices to do K-series head gaskets and the stories of 'once they go once they'll go again'.

I've done many many Headgasket replacements on the 'K' each time using the 'OE' payen gasket with the replacement steel dowells and have never had one fail again after.
Only once have i ever felt the need to have a head pressure tested because i couldnt see any obvious signs of failure on the gasket and the owner wasn't sure how hot it had got,also i've allways reused the stretch bolts as they've allways been within the tolerances allowed.

Almost every time it is plain to see where the rubber seals for the oil and waterways have failed thus causing the problem.

On the subject of the Land rover spec gasket i've seen these fail numerous times so it isn't the 'miracle cure' some people may think it is.

[E_T_V]

The landy gasket is better but ONLY if the liner heights are within spec. They are MUCH more sensitive the the liner heights, and if they aren't right then they'll fail pretty quickly.
For the earlier and lower powered engines the old gasket is still perfectly acceptable if fitted right.

[nick]

Hi there i just done the head gasket on my 414 with the new type the diffrence is its thicker than the old one and comes with a steal shim that goes on top of it it has proved to be reliable on my car the only thing i would say is maybe look at having your head skimed and replace the head bolts and locating dowls in the head kit all in all the head gasket and bolts cost me about £60 and a days work to fit but it is recomended to have that head skimed as they are good for warping mine needed 7 thou of it hope this helps.