Siena:
The Rover K-series engines are the worst units to come from British Leyland.

It's not just the head gasket that's the issue, the engine cylinder block and head are poorly cast. Then add poorly supported steel liners in the open deck aluminium block, it gets worse.

A blown cylinder head gasket isn't the only problem here, failure more often than not means a damaged block and head, burnt-out valves, damaged steel liners. Cracks in the head and block are not uncommon. I have worked on more of the 1.4/1.6/1.8 Rover K-series, 2.5 KV6 than I care to remember.

Improved cylinder head gasket? A waste of time and finances. The only thing a Rover K-series motor is good for is either as a door-stop, or boat anchor.

It is possible to install a different engine into your Freelander, with a matching transmission. But...in view of the average Nigerian mechanic's penchant for getting even a simple 4 cylinder SOHC 8V timing belt replacement wrong, I would not advise anyone to go down the engine swap route. Once you get involved in this, this will be just the beginning of your problems. Changed completion dates, changed prices, more items needed than originally thought etc. Then add the risk of a bust axle shaft at motorway speeds, or an electrical fire from poor wiring.

There have been a couple of "conversions" shown here, no proof of how they run, despite the owners promising to update their threads. The wiring in their engine bays was about the worst I've ever seen, wires snaking across hot exhaust manifolds, fuel lines snaking everywhere etc. I have no idea what hidden areas are like, but one can only guess.

My advice? Cut your losses, and sell the car for whatever anyone is willing to pay for it in it's present state. Your life is worth more than a poorly converted hulk of steel.

Good luck!

LeJeun3:
Boss, you spoke very well and honestly! The K-series engines are really a huge mistake for the landrover freelancer. A new engine could buy him some more time.....

Siena:

If the correct Rover 1.8 Twin Cam 16V can be located, and it's not already dead, that could be an option. The problem is good lumps are becoming increasingly difficult to find.
Best if a replacement comes from a car that can be started, if that's the route the thread starter opts for. At least this way, the integrity of the engine can be established.
No way to tell how long it'll last though.

ASL33:
Am having the same problem with my v6 freelancer, I love that car and don't want to sell it, sometimes I find oil inside the water container for the radiator. Lejeun, where are you based? Lagos? Can you help?. Drop ur email for me to contact you.

Siena:


Blown head gasket, and / or cracked cylinder block, heads or cracked cylinder liners. The Rover K-series gremlin strikes again.

My advice? Get rid of it while it still runs and drives. Of course, you'll have to inform any prospective buyers of the issues.

ChrisChino:
Also, a friend who bought a k-v6 replacement engine from ladipo just fixed it and the engine "knocked" within 3 months. i pity the guy seriously... he is soo frustrated right now after spending soo much.

ASL33:
Thanks for your advice, who did the engine change for you and how many liter engine is the carina? How is the performance. Please let me know.

ChrisChino:
i think is a 2.0L engine..im not a specialist.
the performance is good. fuel consumption on a full tank is average. i get about 350 to 400 km on full tank.
but i stay in KD and thats where it was done

Readonee35L:
all of u saying u own one with camry engine
.snap ur engine bay and i'd love a video of it running

romityl:
I use a freelander an am rocking my own verywell and it over 3yrs I changed de engin to a carina engin n I swr de car has neva slpt in the mechanic workshop even for a day .romityl@yahoo.com is my email. Address.

Siena:


My point exactly. There have been posters professing to having Toyota Camry engines swapped into their series 1 Freelanders, but not a single credible video of a running car, despite lots of readers requesting them.

One guy from 2012 claimed he would take a video, but his driver had the Freelander at the car wash. I reckon he's still there.

olabukola:
The head gasket was changed yesterday, from the picture they sent me, they used that of Kia, the changed one other thing they called coolant but I think that is not the name. From the description its where the oil and the water meet at the engine or something like that.

I don't trust the Kia gasket, so I found some one selling the K series MLG for V6 engine in Norwich. I will order for one and take it to Nigeria. The mechanic said I should change my injector cos its weak thus making the car to gulp more petrol. I will try and buy one here as well. Hope the kia gasket will be useful till next month I will be in Nigeria.

Siena:


Good luck bud.

olabukola:
Siena, please what is the name of the second thing in the picture?

Siena:


Oil cooler.

olabukola:
ok they called it coolant. Thanks.
Hope its fine spent about 45k(about £145).

airlord2020:
Oga Siena how good is landrover LR2 ? Is the engine also unreliable

LeJeun3:
Wonder why they used a Kia gasket?? All the best....

Siena:


Because the Kia Sedona / Carnival 2.5 V6 24V IS the same nasty Rover KV6 used in the Freelander and Rover 75.

LeJeun3:



Hope the car is fine?? Wonder why they used a Kia gasket?? All the best....

The oil cooler changed cools the gear oil.