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Hints and Tips: Rover engines

Diesel L-series
Rover 600 - after fully filling with oil, engine revs invoulantory upon startup
Cause:
Oil fill procedure was incorrectly followed which meant oil entering the crankcase breathing system. If oil is 
poured into the engine too quickly it is a possibility that some oil will enter the breathing system. Then when 
the engine is started the oil in the system may cause the car to rev briefly beyond normal range. Ensure 
that oil is pour into the engine at a reasonable rate.

Rover 220, 420, 620 Diesel L series engines - Oil leak from engine oil cooler hose
Oil leak from oil cooler hose as crimped joint cutting into hose.
Action:
Replace hoses with improved parts(should be covered under warranty).

Rover 220, 420, 620. Rover 25, Rover 45, L series diesel engines.
Problem:
While carrying out certain repairs on the car, oil contamination around the camshaft and fuel injection pump 
drive gears may lead you to think that the oil seals have gone.
Cause:
Likely that the oil has originated from the drive gears themselves. Oil is from natural bleed and excess oil 
left behind from the gear manufacturing process.
Action:
Inspect closely to ensure that the oil seals have not been leaking. Clean the oil away with suitable 
solvent(excluding timing belts!!)

Rover 218/418 turbo diesel(DUX engine).
Problem:
Oil leaking from between the oil pump drive pinion and the crankshaft.
Cause:
This problem is with the pinion key way in relation to the crank shoulder.
Action:
Investigate the oil leak by removing the auxiliary drive belt pulley. If oil is found to be leaking from the crank 
then a modified pinion with a spacer should be fitted.

Rover 218/418 DUX engine
Affects all normally aspirated diesel engines.
Problem:
Five thicknesses of head gasket are now available for fitting
Cause:
These new gaskets improve emissions.

Rover metro diesel
Problem:
Oil or coolant may be leaking from cylinder head to block joint.
Cause:
Fluid deposits around where the engine is assembled. When engine temperature increases surplus fluid 
can bleed from screw heads and deposit itself along the head joint.
Action:
Clean off excess fluid.

T-Series engine
Models
820-T16, 220/420, 620 Turbo
Problem:
Excessive oil consumption/pinking - valve stem finish. Likely to occur on low mileage vehicles. Pinking 
likely to occur while car is warming up and at low speed acceleration.
Cause:
The finish is poor on the inlet valve stem. This means there will be wear on the valve stem lip.
Action:
Replace inlet valves with new part. Replace the inlet valve stem seals with new seals.
If the engine has been suffering from pinking decoke the combustion chamber and piston crown before 
rebuild. If the car has been misfiring, remove all valves, replace inlet valves. Also remove the exhaust 
valves and clean stems of carbon. Clean all exhaust valve guides. Replace all valve seals.

Excessive oil consumption - incorrect valve stem seal.
Range:
820, 220/420 - T16 versions
Problems:
If you have replaced the seals of replaced the cylinder head the oil seals for the valve stems do not fit 
correctly. Old and new type seals are not interchangeable.
Action:
Ensure new correct seals are used when replacing.

Oil leaks from rear of engine - incorrect diagnosis.
Oil leaks from the rear of the engine can be mis-diagnosed and incorrectly repaired.
Range:
T - series engines : 220, 420, 620 turbo, 820 
Action:
If engine oil has not been changed since new then an ultra violet light can be used to confirm an engine 
oil leak. Engine oil has dye added at factory (gear box oil has no dye added).
1, Does oil appear between back plate and sump or back plate and gearbox?
    Back plate and sump:
Start investigating from top of engine. Check cam cover seals, rear cam seals, and cylinder head gasket. 
Replace if any seem suspect. If all are ok then check the sump and sump gasket interface.
2. Oil leak visible between back plate and gearbox.
Look for external gearbox leaks i.e. drive shaft seals, speedo cable/transducer, casing joints. If all are 
fine then the gearbox may need removing so you can check the input seal.

Loss of power/misfire during warm-up period.
Soon after start the car, it develops a misfire. After a while, when the car has warmed, the misfire is no 
longer apparent and is fine until the next cold start. This mainly affects cars that are only used for short 
journeys.
Models:
T series engines : 220/420, New 420, 620 turbo, 820
Cause:
Carbon deposits on the exhaust valves mean they stick open and cause loss of compression. Cause 
can be short journeys that don't allow the engine to warm, and engine never reaching higher RPM.
Action:
Replace the valves with newer 'carbon break' valves(part number LGH101000). These are fitted to vehicles 
after '96. 

K-series engine.
Loss of power/misfire - valve sticking
Range:
111,114, New 214/216/200 Vi, New 414/416, metro 1.1/1.4 XW 214/414
Problem:
Loss of power and misfire is likely to occur while the engine is warming up but can also occur when it's 
warm and while the engine is at various RPM. Likely to occur on cars that have done more the 5000 miles.
Cause:
Journeys that don't allow the car to warm up to optimum operating temperature and shorter journeys that 
never allow the car to reach high RPM are a prime cause. The valve stems particularly the exhaust ones 
become clogged with carbon deposits. 
Action:
New carbon break valves should be fitted to replace the old. These new valve stems have a slight narrowing 
to allow the small amount of carbon deposit which occur naturally to form without fouling.

Idle speed remains high - throttle pin
Range:
214, Metro
Problem:
Engine speed remains high when car comes to a halt and fails to return to normal.
Cause:
Lack of lubrication in the rubber dust boot means the throttle control pin sticks.
Action:
Apply a tiny amount of rubber grease to inner lip of seal while the rubber dust boot is removed. Make sure 
the pin is clean and free from corrosion.