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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - Head gasket problems ZT KV6

I have a client witha ZT KV6. This car has the typical symptoms of the K series 4 cylinder engine of a blown head gasket.

How prone are the V6 versions to failure...?

Mark.
M T Boldry

Could you tell me the torque sequence for kv6 cylinder head bolts please?
H M Reader

I've not heard of the K4 problem affecting KV6s as the relationship between head(s) and bottom of the engine is completely different. As such I'd imagine the head bolts screw into the block and not down to a bottom plate like the KV4, it was weakness of the bottom plate that caused the problem in that engine. Doesn't mean to say a particular KV6 can't have a head gasket problem, like any other engine.

Haynes sequence diagram attached. Stage 1 torque is 25Nm/18 ft lb. Stage 2 is the same, because the head gasket is a laminate it will compress after stage 1, and the same values need repeating for stage 2, otherwise stages 3 and 4 will not result in the correct tension on the gasket. Stage 3 is angle-tightening a further 90 degrees, and stage 4 is a repeat of stage 3 i.e. angle-tightening another 90 degrees. You really need the Haynes manual, there is a lot of other information on the subject which could be important.

Paul Hunt 2010

KV6 engines are not very prone to HGF. People quite often mistake a leaking thermostat (buried in the V) as HGF.
Ralph Gadsby

This thread was discussed between 18/05/2010 and 19/05/2010

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