Coincidence or not?

Popsicle

Hi,

Looking for some advice as what I know about cars is pretty basic.

Don't want to give too much information away but I left my 10 year old car in for a full service and new exhaust at a garage last week. Apart from the exhaust going have never had a problem with this car in the 7 years I have owned it.

Car was due its NTC later that week which it duly passed. However, on the way home from the centre, disaster! It now transpires the head gasket blew.

Discussed it with some work colleagues who all say they would have issue with the garage and they may have been negligent particularly if they drained the radiator coolant and forgot to replace it. There was very little driving in the days between picking it up from garage and going to NCT - maybe 5 miles

The garage are claiming that the head gasket blew when then NTC's guy revved the car. They say the car would have been revved up to 5k and thats probably what did it.

I don't accept this and think its too much of a coincidence. (if thats the case, head gaskets would be blowing every day after NTC's??) The car has only 55K mileage.

I realise nobody is going to accept responsibility for this but I am willing to fight if I have reason.:mad:

Thanks in advance

ottostreet

10 years old, 55k miles, could be car dependant.

If it was the likes of a Fiat Punto, I'd be surprised it hasnt gone already.

To be honest, I don't think there's much that can be done about a head gasket blowing...what's the car?

coylemj

Popsicle wrote: »

Discussed it with some work colleagues who all say they would have issue with the garage and they may have been negligent particularly if they drained the radiator coolant and forgot to replace it.

If the garage drained the coolant and forgot to replace it, the engine would have overheated and seized up, assuming you hadn't noticed the temperature gauge shooting up to the red and stopped the car in time.

voxpop

What car is it ?

Did you check the coolant level since - its doubtful the NCT would have even tested the car if the coolant was low. Revving the car wont cause the HG to blow.

You sure its the HG gone ?

sparx001

voxpop wrote: »

What car is it ?


You sure its the HG gone ?

Good point, what's the symtoms, when the car is up to temperature does the internaql heater work??
If it's a rover or punto as previosly stated you were lucky to get that far!

Servicing a car cant effect a HG as far as I know.

Popsicle

It's a Peugot 206.

The coolant tank was full of oil by the time I looked in it.
The red light and gauge shot up immediately and I stopped the car straight away when I became aware of them. When I lifted the bonnet there was oil coming from the coolant tank already.

Garage say its the head gasket, I don't know!

alias no.9

**** happens. Revving the engine up to 5k rpm while stationary may have initiated the failure but only because there was a weakness there already, it would have gone pretty soon anyway.

voxpop

Did the garage drain the coolant, do you know? - it wouldnt be standard to flush the coolant for a service.

spiggotpaddy

what do you think the garage did to your car? it does sound like a coincidence to me. if they forgot to put coolant in it, then it would'nt even have made it to the nct never mind pass it.

b318isp

This is just bad luck. The NCT revving the engine certainly wouldn't be cause, and unless the garage did something very specific to cause it (which is unlikely) it it is unlikely to have been them, as per the comments above on low/missing coolant.

Popsicle

Thanks guys!

I guess I was just wondering whether the car would have made it home from the garage with no coolant but like you say, it wouldnt. (I don't even know for sure that they drained the coolant!The report is at home and I didn't exactly get excited by it at the time) )

I know nothing about cars so also just wondered if they put oil in the wrong place. They were in a hurry and there was a guy who looked about 15 working on my car!!! (but he might just have great genes) But that would be VERY stupid.

And my last wondering was whether revving the car would blow the gasket and as alais said they may have been a weakness there already.

So it does look like s**t happens.

Popsicle

Popsicle wrote: »

Discussed it with some work colleagues who all say they would have issue with the garage and they may have been negligent particularly if they drained the radiator coolant and forgot to replace it.

I would think your work colleagues are not too savvy regarding cars. If the above was the case the NCT folk would have pointed out to you that your car was overheating in the unlikely event that it got to the test centre without you noticing yourself.

sparx001

sparx001 wrote: »

If it's a rover or punto as previosly stated you were lucky to get that far!

Servicing a car cant effect a HG as far as I know.

I have had k series Rovers with 92K and 130K on them on original HGs.

Anan1

OP - Did the garage touch the coolant? It'll say on your invoice.

coylemj

Popsicle wrote: »

It's a Peugot 206.

The coolant tank was full of oil by the time I looked in it.
The red light and gauge shot up immediately and I stopped the car straight away when I became aware of them. When I lifted the bonnet there was oil coming from the coolant tank already.

Garage say its the head gasket, I don't know!

Was the coolant tank full of pure oil or oil-contaminated water? If it was full of pure engine oil then the garage did fcuk up, big time.

The coolant tank should normally be partly full of coloured water i.e. water to which anti-freeze has been added.

sparx001

RoverJames wrote: »

I have had k series Rovers with 92K and 130K on them on original HGs.

Rover 200's 400's 25's and 45's are notorious for head gaskets.

ottostreet

sparx001 wrote: »

Rover 200's 400's 25's and 45's are notorious for head gaskets.

Nooooo don't do it man!

sparx001

sparx001 wrote: »

Rover 200's 400's 25's and 45's are notorious for head gaskets.

True, saying you'd be lucky to get 55K miles from one is stretching the notoriety to extremes though. As said 92K and 130K and no sign of HG failure in either.

Easier to say 4 cylinder Ks anyway, you've omitted ZRs, ZSs, 75s, Metros and Freelanders from your sweeping statement.

sparx001

RoverJames wrote: »

True, saying you'd be lucky to get 55K miles from one is stretching the notoriety to extremes though. As said 92K and 130K and no sign of HG failure in either.

Easier to say 4 cylinder Ks anyway, you've omitted ZRs, ZSs, 75s, Metros and Freelanders from your sweeping statement.

That's not what I said though. The op said not only had he got 55 thou on the clock, but the car is 10 years old. You are lucky to get 10 years from a rover hg. You argued the post with me first, then said "true" and added more rovers to the list yourself? and you named more rovers than I did! Who's statement is sweeping now?

Why do people on this site have to knit pick at everything? I was only making the point that the hg going was probably co-incidence as the op asked. Hg do go regularly in rovers I merely stated it. I'm glad you've not ha the issue yourself.

sparx001

sparx001 wrote: »

That's not what I said though. The op said not only had he got 55 thou on the clock, but the car is 10 years old. You are lucky to get 10 years from a rover hg. You argued the post with me first, then said "true" and added more rovers to the list yourself? and you named more rovers than I did! Who's statement is sweeping now?

I was highlighting the inadequacies of your sweeping statement. Lucky to get 10 year from a Rover HG? Would that be all of them or just the 4 cylinder K series ones do you know? Both my 92K and 130K were over 10 too, I must be very lucky I suppose.

sparx001 wrote: »

Why do people on this site have to knit pick at everything?

Because folk post moronic sh1t that needs correcting

sparx001

RoverJames wrote: »

I was highlighting the inadequacies of your sweeping statement. Lucky to get 10 year from a Rover HG? Would that be all of them or just the 4 cylinder K series ones do you know? Both my 92K and 130K were over 10 too, I must be very lucky I suppose.



Because folk post moronic sh1t that needs correcting

Your right you do post moronic ****. As stated previosly, your argueing with my post while your agreeing with it.

How was my statement inadequate? I initially stated if it was a ROVER or a fiat. ROVER, that covers all rovers unless the english language has changed since I posted it!!! Nothing inadequate about that.

I really dont think it was neccaseery for this thread to list all rovers which might or might not give trouble, especially since the op had not stated at that stage what brand of car they were talking about!

I accept thae fact as you keep saying that your both cars are on there original head gasket, but what does that prove, As any garage will tell you and to use your word to describe it THEY ARE NOTORIOUS! (your word)

By the way this fella asked about MG's and you answered with what you call a moronic, sweeping and inadequate statement

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cereal Rapist
Any problems that tend to occur with this car etc....

HG on the petrol models,

So let me ask you one thing, what are you arguing over, are you trying to make the point that they dont give trouble? As you said there notorious, and you told this guy what I told the op.

Your a hipocrite.

sparx001

sparx001 wrote: »

ROVER, that covers all rovers unless the english language has changed since I posted it!!! Nothing inadequate about that.......................................................................................................Originally Posted by Cereal Rapist
Any problems that tend to occur with this car etc....

HG on the petrol models,

So let me ask you one thing, what are you arguing over, are you trying to make the point that they dont give trouble? As you said there notorious, and you told this guy what I told the op.

Your a hipocrite.

Well you have confirmed you don't actually know what you are talking about, all ROVERS are not know for HG issues. Only 4 cylinder K series ones and the KV6 from the Rover 800 (from the 90s) are. L series, T series and KV6 engines in the 75 and ZT are not known for HG issues So you are wrong on that point.

I specified HG on the petrol ZRs are an issue, you said HG on all ROVERS are an issue. One of us is right and one is wrong, guess who

hipocrite indeed :P

sparx001

RoverJames wrote: »

Well you have confirmed you don't actually know what you are talking about, all ROVERS are not know for HG issues. Only 4 cylinder K series ones and the KV6 from the Rover 800 (from the 90s) are. L series, T series and KV6 engines in the 75 and ZT are not known for HG issues So you are wrong on that point.

I specified HG on the petrol ZRs are an issue, you said HG on all ROVERS are an issue. One of us is right and one is wrong, guess who

hipocrite indeed :P

We have just now established you either cant read, or cant take in what you read.
I Stated in my previous post I did not see the need to list which rovers did or did not give trouble with head gaskets, and from the op's point of view it's still not relevant.
I never stated them particular models are prone either, so you read that wrong too.

So the bones of the argument is I said Rovers give trouble with HG, which you agreed and even listed the models. Now your arguing the point about specific Rover models when in fact the op was driving a Peugeot so The rover thing is irrelevant. I get the fact your into Rovers and you know about them but your picking holes in something for the sake of it and your contradicting yourself all the time and telling me I said stuff I didn't,

RoverJames, Bottom line is I origianally posted Rovers and Fiats give trouble with head gaskets. AND THEY DO! You even listed the models in your sweeping statement.

Are you trying to make the point Rovers dont give trouble with HG's???
If not shut up, because that was my original statement.

sparx001

RoverJames wrote: »

you said HG on all ROVERS are an issue. One of us is right and one is wrong, guess who

hipocrite indeed :P

You point out were I said ALL ROVERS, I just said Rovers, your reading wrong again!!!!!

Owen

I have a mug of coffee and some Jaffa cakes. They will sustain me through what is going to be an epic thread.

-Chris-

sparx001 & ROverJames - don't post in this thread again.

Take a moment to cool down, you're both close to getting banned for abuse.

kona

The rover K series engine gave Head Gasket trouble. There is a Modification to prevent this.

As been mentioned, Rover produced alot of other engines A , B , L , T Series Engines along with V8s.

The Problem is with the K series, NOT with ALL ROVER.

There is nothing wrong with Rovers, although I should say there is as, this retarded mentality is whats keeping them cheap.

fryup

OP they probably got the young spotty apprentice to work on your car, and you know what lads are like at that age> half the mind on the job the other on girls.

EPM

-Chris- wrote: »

sparx001 & ROverJames - don't post in this thread again.

Take a moment to cool down, you're both close to getting banned for abuse.

sparx001 wrote: »

Be careful there is that instant or brewed coffee, thats a sweeping statement there, Even though it's not relevant at all, You would want to be extremely specicific here. Not ALL coffee goes with Jaffa cakes as you previosly posted! The K series Kenco doesn't. So there.

FFS, take a break so. You were given time to do an edit as the warning was hard to miss.

kona

fryup wrote: »

OP they probably got the young spotty apprentice to work on your car, and you know what lads are like at that age> half the mind on the job the other on girls.

I know 18 year olds that are Co pilots. Spotty too. I also know 18 year olds that are doing higher level maths. I know many 30,40 ,50 year olds who dont know their arse from their face? Seems theres some that suspect the car is capable of running normally for an hour without coolant.
Im pretty sure a apprentice is capable of putting oil in the engine and water in the rad/expansion bottle, besides Id imagine they would be off in college this time of year.

And who doesnt have their mind on girls, maybe the OP is hot and female :pac:

philstar

kona wrote: »

I know 18 year olds that are Co pilots. Spotty too. I also know 18 year olds that are doing higher level maths.

well, they're very much an exception

thebullkf

RoverJames wrote: »

True, saying you'd be lucky to get 55K miles from one is stretching the notoriety to extremes though. As said 92K and 130K and no sign of HG failure in either.

Easier to say 4 cylinder Ks anyway, you've omitted ZRs, ZSs, 75s, Metros and Freelanders from your sweeping statement.

Had 214, HG blew, had freelander years later, sold it cos i just couldn't enjoy driving it knowing what happened before and the rep they had....2 weeks after i sold it, HG went.

Coincidence?

I've had two rovers, would never ever ever buy another.

neilboard

OP Are those miles genuine? 55k in 10yrs?

Owen

thebullkf wrote: »

I've had two rovers, would never ever ever buy another.

I've only had the one, but it's been by far one of the best cars I've ever driven. Today's my last day with it, and I can genuinely see myself buying another version in time.

whippet

we have a freelander in the office, 180k miles on the clock, no head gasket problems ... but has had a new turbo, two gearboxes, diff and numerous other problem !!!! but it's still running !!

coylemj

I think this thread is going nowhere, the OP hasn't posted since 16:17 yesterday, it descended into a sparring match between two posters who've been given red cards, now there's two parallel discussions going on, one about Rover Head Gaskets even though the OP's car is a Peugeot 206 and the other on the relative skills and maturity (or lack of) of 18 year olds.

Deffo a candidate for voluntary euthanasia.

Mr Benevolent

PaintDoctor wrote: »

I've only had the one, but it's been by far one of the best cars I've ever driven. Today's my last day with it, and I can genuinely see myself buying another version in time.

Good to hear it's been sold. How much did it go for in the end?

-Chris-

coylemj wrote: »

I think this thread is going nowhere, the OP hasn't posted since 16:17 yesterday, it descended into a sparring match between two posters who've been given red cards, now there's two parallel discussions going on, one about Rover Head Gaskets even though the OP's car is a Peugeot 206 and the other on the relative skills and maturity (or lack of) of 18 year olds.

Deffo a candidate for voluntary euthanasia.

Agreed,OP PM a mod to get the thread reopened if you have any further queries.