Is Your Freelander 1.8 K Series losing water or overheating?
Do you want your beloved Freelander back on the road and running cool again?
We Can Help!
The Rover K Series 1.8 Petrol engines have been known to be prone to head gasket failure, due to being manufactured with a single layer metal head gasket – many do not even last 70,000 miles.
Our Freelander 1.8 K Series head gasket replacement starts at just £545.
What are the symptoms of a Head Gasket problem?
Common symptoms of head gasket failure are:
- Engine overheating
- Excessive coolant loss
- Coolant in the oil (this looks like a milky sludge on the dipstick, or oil filler cap)
- Oil in the coolant (this also looks like a milky sludge, but in the expansion tank)
- Engine misfire, excessive white smoke from the exhaust, or hard/ non start.
Please contact us on
0780 9575 421
if you are unsure your vehicle is suffering from head gasket failure and we will be happy to advise you.
What is included in your Head Gasket Replacement?
We provide two types of head gasket replacement for your Freelander, a Standard and a Deluxe.
Our Freelander 1.8 K Series Standard Head Gasket replacement includes:
- pressure testing the cylinder head
- skimming of the cylinder head to ensure it is flat
- Head gasket replacement using a modified multi layer gasket which is much more robust than other gaskets
- New retaining stretch bolts
- Overhaul gasket set including camshaft oil seals, inlet/exhaust manifold gasket etc.
- Coolant change
- Engine oil Change
- New oil filter
Our Freelander 1.8 K Series Standard Head Gasket replacement is just £545 including VAT.
Our Freelander 1.8 K Series Deluxe Head Gasket replacement includes:
- a fully reconditioned head cylinder including pressure testing, skimming, reseating the valves, decoking the cylinder head, draining the lifters, resealing and new valve stem seals
- Head gasket replacement using a modified multi layer gasket which is much more robust than other gaskets
- New retaining stretch bolts
- Overhaul gasket set including camshaft oil seals, inlet/exhaust manifold gasket etc.
- New water pump
- New Thermostat
- New water reservoir bottle and cap (these can be prone to hair line cracks which allow air into the system)
- Complete flush of the cooling system to get rid of any oil residues
- Coolant change
- Complete flush of the engine to get rid of any water residues
- Engine oil change including a high quality engine additive
- New oil filter
Our Freelander 1.8 K Series Deluxe Head Gasket replacement is just £945 including VAT.
Which Head Gasket Replacement should I have?
Which head gasket replacement you go for very much depends on what has happened to your vehicle.
If your Freelander has not overheated and you are looking to change the head gasket from the original single layer head gasket as a precautionary measure then you will only need the standard head gasket replacement.
If your Freelander has severely overheated then it is recommended you use the deluxe head gasket replacement as this addresses all the parts of the cooling system that could have caused the problem or could have been affected by the overheating.
PLEASE NOTE: If your engine has excessively overheated, it may have caused further damage which the standard head gasket replacement may not repair.
To discuss your particular situation please call us on
0780 9575 421
and we will be happy to advise you.
What is this about a modified oil rail?
Land Rover brought out a modified oil feed rail for the Rover K Series engine. This has wider channels which allows the oil to flow better and helps with the temperature of the engine.
We can fit the modified oil feed rail for you at the same time as we do the head gasket for an additional £295.
Can you change the cam belt at the same time?
Your cam belt should be changed every 72,000 miles. If your vehicle is close to this mileage it will be cost effective to have the cam belt changed at the same time as the head gasket is done.
A cam belt change when done with the head gasket is only £95 (normal price £295).
What if my Freelander is not drivable?
If your Freelander does not drive and you need to get it to us to fix your head gasket why not try:
- Phoning your breakdown recovery service, if you have one. These will sometimes transport your car for free, or at a reduced rate.
- Giving us a call on 0780 9575 421 and we will arrange to transport your car to us for a cost of £1.80 per mile (calculated one way only to IP26 4RH). We can collect from anywhere in Europe (ferry crossings will be charged additionally where applicable).
How long will it take?
To replace your head gasket takes about one week, this is due to the machining which is required.
If you need your Freelander back on the road quicker than this just give us a call on
0780 9575 421
and we will do our best to help.
How can I pay for my head gasket replacement?
The painful bit I know! But we like to give you as much choice as possible, so we accept:
- Cash on collection (always nice!)
- All Major Credit Cards (including AMEX) – over the phone or on collection
- Direct Bank Transfer
- Paypal
- Cheques – provided they clear before delivery or collection
What if something goes wrong?
We don’t like things going wrong, and you certainly wouldn’t! Quality is important to us, but in the event that something does go wrong you have our
12 month, unlimited mileage warranty.
Our warranty covers you for parts and labour in the event of any failure of a component due to unforseen circumstances. Just bring your car back to us and we will sort it out.
merhaba istanbulda yaşıyorum 1 8 se 2005 model aracıma sıfır komple motor almak istiyorum toplam türkiye istanbul teslim ne kadar fiat olur kolay gelsin
Hello Yasar
Thank you for your enquiry I will send a quotation to your email address.
Sorgunuz için teşekkür ederim, e-posta adresinize bir teklif göndereceğim.
All the best
Sue
theteam@freelanderspecialist.com
I need a 2nd hand or new engine head fr freelancer 1.8L petrol please
Hello Wilson,
Thank you for your enquiry, I have sent a quotation to your email.
All the best,
Sue
sue@freelanderspecialist.com
I have 1.8 freelander 1999, overheated and we lost water. we refiled with very cold water about 2 liters.we forced it for 30 minutes then it stop.we found enough water but restarting it with a key failed until we pushed it and it lost idling.we continued forcing it the near by village but top water frequently then finally it mixed oil with coolant , what is your recommendation, i am in zambia.
Hi Goodson,
If it is mixing oil with coolant then you have blown the head gasket, and could have done even more serious damage given that it will no longer start and idle. When you try to start it what does it do? Does it crank?
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Hi Sue
I have a 2.5 v6 petrol on an 04 plate
Thermostat replaced a year ago but steam is now coming from the exhaust.
Could this be the head gasket.
Perhaps it could be time to cut our losses and buy a new car?
Thank you!
Hi Stacey,
Unfortunately yes, it does sound like it could be the head gasket with coolant leaking through into the exhaust gasses. If the thermostat was leaking then the head gasket could have been weakened at that time. We do have metal thermostat housings which get over the problem of leaking thermostats on the V6 engine, but unfortunately that is a bit too late for you. If you do have the head gasket replaced it is worth upgrading though.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Hello. I have a 1999 Freelander 1.8. I live in Bulgaria and have had several attempts to repair the engine. During these attempts from local garages, the cylinders have been grinded down and are now level with the block, instead of the .075 or so above the block. In this case, what would you recommend? Is it possible to install a new head gasket? Or does something need to be done with the cylinders first?
Thank you!
Mike
Hello Mike,
If the cylinders have sunk into the block then you only have two options. You can replace the block or you can have the block machined so the liners protrude the required amount. If you just replace the head gasket as it is then it will blow again very quickly.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Following Head Gasket failure, have replaced HG and am planning on using a flushing oil to clear out residue of creamy engine oil. How should this be done. Do I leave the old oil filter in place and fill engine with flushing oil and run up the engine, then drain the flushing oil, replace the oil filter and refill with new engine oil, or is there something else I should be doing?
Hi A F Stevens,
The best flush for your oil system is a Forte Advanced Formula Motor Flush. Use it with the old oil and filter and just follow the instructions on the bottle. For the cooling system we would recommend Forte Bio Degreaser and Cooling System Flush, again just follow the instructions on the bottle.
Provided the coolant has OAT the colour does not matter, generally the OAT coolants are red or orange.
You just need to fill the cooling system and then follow the bleed procedure to get rid of the airlocks.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
A couple of questions if I may.
Firstly what’s the best method of cleaning out the cooling system (had a head gasket failure, oil in water) which is being rectified with a new HG. Been told a good way is to fill with clear water and add dishwasher tablet, and run for awhile and then drain the system and replace with proper OAT fluid.
You advise RED OAT, my local stockist has stated that green OAT is a better option – not sure why the colour makes a difference if it is all OAT?
Is there a specific method of filling the cooling system to avoid airlocks?
Finally new HG is Payen BW750 (blue) due to liners being level with block so couldn’t fit MLS HG. Is the colour of the OAT more important with blue Payen HG?
Thanks
Hi,i have a Freelander 1.8,2002.It has been overheating and losing water lately,exspecially when driving at over 65 mph,when driving up to 50 mph,its fine,i took it to the garage and they told me that it needs a new head gasket + skimming,and it will cost £795,is that a good price?.How much would a Land Rover specalist cost to do the same job?
Hi Dan,
If they are just skimming and pressure testing the head along with fitting a modified multi layer head gasket, this is fair, although our charge would be £545 including VAT.
However, if you have been overheating we would recommend doing more than a straight head gasket replacement. We do a deluxe head gasket replacement, which fully reconditions the cylinder head, flushes the oil and water system out, replaces the thermostat, water pump, water reservoir and cap as well a a modified multi layer head gasket and all the seals and gaskets for the top end. This makes sure anything which could have been affected by the overheating is dealt with. This service is £945 including VAT. Hence, judging how good a price you have been quoted will depend on exactly what is included in the service.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
I have an issue with my 1.8 Freelander, I suspect that it is the head gasket but I cannot be certain.
When taking it for long drives (half an hour constantly driving or so) the expansion tank fills up to the brim with coolant and spews it out through the cap! Lately the temperature needle has been going up to 3/4 of the way up, sometimes maximum, at which point I stopped the car to let it cool; cooling fans kick in to full as normal. I propped up the bonnet and the top coolant hose was juddering with what sounded like air bubbling through! I have tried to bleed any air out, but still the problem persisted… I’m not sure if it is simply an air lock in the coolant somewhere causing it to boil, wster pump failure, or the result of exhaust gases entering the coolant line through the head gasket…
Other issues that I’ve noticed are some water coming out of the exhaust, but only after small drives. The check engine light came on with a P0170, checked the oil dor contamination but it looked clean to me, and checked for oil in the coolant, but again it seemed fine.
Initially I suspected that I have a leak allowing air into the cooling system, or inet manifold gasket failure, but now I’m fearing a failed head gasket… can you give me any advice on the issue? Thank you
Hi James,
There are two things this could be, it could be the coolant reservoir cap (or the reservoir itself if it has hairline cracks around the neck of the bottle), or, as you say, it could be the head gasket. Worth changing the reservoir cap first – only use a genuine Land Rover cap, we have found the aftermarket ones not to be very good – then bleed the system thoroughly. If you still get the same problems then it is likely to be the head gasket I’m afraid.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Thanks for the prompt reply Sue
I changed the reservoir and the cap last summer, as it had been overflowing the expansion tank occasionally, but never overheating. Only recently I replaced the reservoir cap, but it repeated itself AND overheated! Now it is at the dealer’s for a service and for its MOT coincidentally
Unfortunately it sounds like the head gasket then James.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
OK…this could be as simply as needing a new cap for the header tank… Often if the cap is leaking it will do this… The cap is a pressure release valve so it could have become faulty. If its ok, check the water for oil contamination… You can also buy a chemical kit to check the water for exhaust fumes..There are videos on youtube on how to do this and the kits are very cheap. Also, check the oil for any sign of water contamination…. Check there are no water leaks on the system by pressurising it… Again there is a kit you can buy and vids on youtube on how to do this… If you are able to check fault codes, Im assuming you have test equipment to do this… Check that the ECU is switching between open and close loop mode… (google it if you are unsure) Cheap test equipment is available on ebay… As far as water coming out of the exhaust goes, it is normal in the winter … but if it seems excessive, check if its water or antifreeze. You may be able to smell it around the exhaust but if not, Try disconnecting the exhaust around the area of the CAT… If you can see water in it, you may be able to see that its red (antifreeze) or clear (water) If its clear, this can indicate that the engine is running rich all the time (open loop) If its red, you’ll know you have water leaking into the engine… After that, you will be looking at compression pressure testing/leakdown testing…again . Vids on youtube show you how to do this… The fault code you are getting is to do with the fuel system…
I think my head gasket has started to go on my Freelander 1.8 petrol R reg. Ive done loads of other stuff already to this car i.e., plugs, leads, cap, rotor arm, oil change, put anti leak stuff in the water, new air temp sensor, water temp sensor, thermostat, cleaned the injectors, but still, as it ticks over I put my hand over the exhaust and there is what sounds like the odd mis-fire and a small puff of white smoke. I am thinking that I would like to have the thing looked at. I would probably want a fully serviced head and the top of the range replacement gasket. Where do I need to take the car keeping in mind that the car no longer as an MOT….failed on CO test only…I have got another cat and O2 sensor but im reluctant to fit them as I know that if water is getting into the exhaust, they will be destroyed in no time…. Please let me know where I can take the car to be sorted.. Thanks
Hi Dave,
We can certainly take a look at it for you. We do currently have some brand new Land Rover cylinder heads at an incredible £295 if it needs the head gasket replacing.
We are located in Norfolk, IP26 4RH. We have a wonderful gentleman, Steve, who transports Freelander to us at £1.80 per mile calculated in one direction, so he could bring it to us for you. Where are you located?
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
I have a small problem, I have a little oil in the expansion tank may be head gasket ???
Start without any problems and the engine oil is clean and not smoke,
I cleaned the cooling system and the thermostat is new
thank you ;))
Hi Tony,
If you are getting oil in the expansion tank it does sound like the head gasket unfortunately. When you cleaned the cooling system did the oil return?
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Yes, it is a bit of oil, that does not drop precipitously engine oil
….. not supposed to mix oil and water ???
….. the cap from the engine is clean
Hi Tony,
No, you should not be getting any oil in the coolant. It certainly does sound as though you probably have a head gasket issue. Where are you located? Would you like us to take a look at it? We are based in Norfolk, IP26 4RH.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Unfortunately do not live in England ;(
Hi Tony,
You could get somebody to do a pressure test on the cooling system just to confirm it is the head gasket. If you need a new cylinder head we have some going at a fantastic price, £295+ shipping – you may find this cheaper than having your existing head machined.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Why should you see this pressure test of the cooling system ???
It is performed with the engine off or switched ???
Many thanks to 😉
Hi Tony,
The pressure test will show where any leakage is in the system. It is performed with the engine warm but switched off.
All the best,
Sue
now then,
we have a 2002 1.8 freelander which has been a great motor in the two years we had it. ive just replaced the timing belt + pump as the water pump was leaking. before the car had started losing lots of water, overheating and the cooling fans being on for ages so thought would help it by doing the pump but it still loses water ans pressurizes excessivly and fans come on when driving and hey never came on before. im fairly sure is head gasket gone but wanted advice on it.i havent noticed water in the oil or vice versa
ta
josh
Hi Josh,
If the system is pressurising and releasing that through the expansion tank cap then you would be losing water. It is possible the head gasket has gone and exhaust gases are mixing with the coolant rather than oil. However, before you assume it is the head gasket make sure the system has been properly bled and there are no blockages – air in the system can cause these symptoms, and these systems can be prone to blockages, especially if you have ever put anything in it to try to stop a leak.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Hi,
I have a 2000 freelander 1.8. 3 weeks ago it severely over heated due to a leaking radiator. The radiator I has been sorted, but now it keeps losing coolant, there is no visible signs under the vehicle. Now when I put coolant in it there is foaming. Would this indicate a HGF and cracked Cylinder head?
Hi Ben,
Apologies for the delay in responding.
Unfortunately it does sound as though you may have a head gasket failure with combustion gasses going into the coolant. It could be worth having it tested.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi Sue,
Could you tell me where I can find the map sensor in my 1998 1.8k petrol freelander?
Hi Helen,
Apologies for the delay in responding.
On the early Freelander the sensor is an integral part of the ECM and cannot be renewed separately.
What problems are you experiencing?
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi Sue,
Many thanks for your response, I found the fault. It was a faulty spark plug. All fixed now 🙂
Many thanks
Helen
Hi Helen,
Great to hear you have managed to sort it out now.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
hello Sue i am trying to find out the correct compression pressure for the freelander 1.8 k petrol engine. will be of great help if i could find this or why after heating up loss of power uphills, after the head skimming and new head gasket replacemaent.
thanks
Hi Jan,
The compression ratio is 10.5:1.
If you are losing power going up hill there are two likely causes:
1. The wire mesh inside the canister in the fuel tank is blocked. Remove this and give it a good clean.
2. Your catalytic convertor is not operating effectively.
We hope this helps.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Hi Sue
I am having a coolant loss problem with my 04 freelander. I had the gasket replaced at 29,000 miles and 2 years on I have done 53,000 and it is losing water. It dosn’t seem like a HG problem as I don’t have milky oil and the car is running fine apart from the water loss. It is also intermittent. I can drive 50 miles with no problems, then i can do a short 10 mile journey and lose the lot!! My mechanic has had it up on the ramps and cannot find any leaks after running it for an hour. He has fitted it with a new improved thermostat after which my heaters were not as hot as usual, ran warm and cold and i lost all of the water. He said he couldnt see any leak from the water pump. The temp gauge in the car never goes to above central even when the car has no water left in it. I notice quite a bit of steam coming out of the exhaust in very cold weather and using the low gears,( this goes away after i hit the higher gears) along with steam escaping from uinder the hood also in the recent cold weather. I have however been using blue coolant which i now read is not good for the freelander, and i have noticed some fine cracks in the top of the expansion bottle. I have arranged for the system to be flushed and the coolant replaced along with a new expansion tank and cap. Is there any other advice you can give me on what else I should be doing?? Many thanks in advance for any help you can give me.
Hi Karen,
That’s a very good start, to change the coolant to red and to change the reservoir bottle and cap. Make sure the coolant is circulating once you replace it and the bottom radiator hose is getting hot.
Just as a check, as we have known it happen before, when the mechanic repositioned the thermostat to the front of the engine was the original thermostat at the rear taken out?
From how you describe the steam from the exhaust it sounds fairly normal. If the cylinder liners were cracked you would get the steam even once it had warmed up.
Are you getting any dampness in the passenger footwell inside the Freelander? If you are then the water could be coming out from the heater matrix, which could explain the heater not always getting hot.
Once you have replaced the reservoir bottle and cap, if there is no improvement, please do drop me another message and we will go through what else to check.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi Sue
Many thanks for that…I was given the old thermostat when i picked the car up from the garage so yes it has been removed. He had checked the heater matrix for leaks too and found nothing. The heaters always worked fine with the old thermostat and used to get really hot, the problems only started when the new one was fitted last week. I have arranged to get it into the workshop tomorrow for a full system flush and new tank so I will keep you posted as to the progress. Many thanks for your advice, my mechanic and I have been scratching our heads over this puzzle!! fingers crossed this will cure it……
Kaz
Hello.
Hoping you can help us . We have a 1.8 petrol freelander 1998. We have just had the engine replaced as the head gasket had gone. However the car is still overheating. The heaters are only blowing out cold air. Any help greatly appreciated .
Thanks
Hi Rach,
This sounds as though the problem is your thermostat, hence the water is not circulating properly. Replace the thermostat and hopefully all will be fine. Please let us know if this does not solve the problem.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hello, my freelander 1.8 is taking coolant quite quickly as I need to add more coolant every month. But anything else runs ok. Is this caused by the head gasket?
I live in Trondheim, norway. I saw in a previous post that you traveled to norway last year and did some repairs. Are you going to do that this year as well?
Hello Qinyuan,
Apologies for the delay in responding, there was a tragic death in the family.
It is possible you have a head gasket problem, is there any oil in the water or water in the oil (you would see a sludge in the water reservoir or around the oil cap).
We do visit Norway to repair Freelander and will be there at the end of this month if you would like us to look at yours.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Hi,
My freelander 1.8 petrol just refused to start last winter. All the hose pipes were frozen. Think the overhead water plastic bowl dried up and obviously then no anti-freeze. What is the problem? would love to get it fixed and would like to know total cost including fitting. Thank you
Hi Heather,
Thank you for your enquiry.
Unfortunately without seeing your Freelander it is very difficult for us to assess what damage may have occurred. If the water bottle had dried up because of a head gasket problem then you would be looking at the cost of a replacement head gasket – in the case probably the deluxe head gasket replacement which will deal with all the aspects of the cooling system and is £945 including VAT. If however it is just the frozen pipes it could be a case of flushing out the system, checking it over and refilling it with coolant, so you might only be looking in the region of £100. We really would need to see your Freelander to be able to assess it.
We do have a lovely gentleman Steve who transports cars for us at £1.80 per mile if you would like us to arrange to bring your Freelander to us, alternatively you may find your breakdown recovery service, if you have one, would transport it for you under your policy.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi, I live in South Africa and the head gusket has blown twice (since buying it second hand) on my 1.8 frelander. The engine gets very hot that the temperature indicator goes to maximum if u drive at 120km/h, the engine is also leaking oil and I have to pour 2litres of water every 50km of driving because of heat, i think water evaporates. The mechanic said i should buy a new engine because they wont be able to skim should the head gusket blows again, how do i fix this car? Where do i start?
Dear Sphamandla,
Given your Freelander is using so much oil and overheating badly it could be that the cylinder liners are cracked or have dropped so a replacement engine would be the best way forward. We can supply a reconditioned engine for £1,495, which includes the non-return surcharge (as it would be more expensive to ship your old engine back to us than to pay the surcharge. The estimated shipping cost to J’burg (if you needed a different destination please let me know and I will get you the rates):
By Sea to the Port: £200
By air to the airport: £300
By air to your door: £450
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
I live in South Africa and also own a 1.8 Freelander, the head gusket has blown twice already. Last time the mechanic said I should get a new engine because my engine cannot be skimmed anymore. The engine gets very hot, temperature indicator goes to maximum when u drive at 120km/h, there is oil leaks in the engine and have to pour water every 50km of traveling. Whats wrong with my car? Where do i start fixing it?
Hi Brian,
Don’t panic yet, after the head gasket has been done the coolant level can go down a little whilst everything settles in. Keep a very close eye on it over the next couple of weeks and if it still seems to be losing coolant after this time take it back to the garage.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi Sue,
we seem to think that our freelander is still offloading coolant even though this seems to be minimal, I have checked for leaks, checked oil all seems to be fine, no overheating. When head gasket is changed does more coolant circulate than normal? or are we now being paranoid!!!!!!
cheers Brian
Hi Sue,
Garage replaced Head gasket (dual), timing belt & points. Will be taking it to our local mechanic to give it a check over. But all seems fine…..thanks for your advice.
Many thanks
Brian
(West of Scotland)
Excellent, pleased to hear it’s sorted out.
Any time you need advice, we’re here to help.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
hi,ive noticed a knocking noise when i turn into a sharp corner slowly.my freelander 1 has done 69000.what could this be.
Hi Kevin,
This sounds like a drive train issue. At 69,000 miles it is about time to change your viscous coupling unit (VCU), and I would recommend doing that sooner rather than later since you are getting a knocking noise. When you are having this done make sure the IRD is checked for any play as well as the drive shafts. Is the noise coming from the front? Does it appear to be more on one side than the other?
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi again,
sorry forgot to mention, have checked oil/water and no mixing has taken place both oil/water are clean.
cheers again Brian.
Hi Brian,
The parts that generally cause problems with leaking in that area are the metal pipe which runs at the back from the thermostat housing (it is prone to rusting) and the seals on the thermostat housing itself. So it is worth checking these two things.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi Brian,
Sorry, there is one thing I forgot to say. If your Freelander has done just over 70,000 miles please be advised that the VCU should be replaced, if it has not been already, before it does any damage to the rest of the drive train.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
hi there,
We recently purchaced a freelander 1.8 petrol 4×4, it is 9 years old and has done just over 70k, we had noticed that the heating had stopped working i checked the coolant bottle and it was very low, topped this up and looked underneath the engine. When doing this i noticed the liquid was dripping down near the central back part of the engine, upon taking it back to the garage where we bought it, the mechanic seems to think it was a seal near the “bleed” ports. it has not overheated, temp gauge has been sitting in the centre.
any info would be greatly appreciated……..cheers Brian.
Hi. I have a 1.8 petrol Freelander (98 plate). I am getting white smoke every now and then from the exhaust, especially in low gears. It then disappears after driving a mile or so. My car had the head gasket replaced about 50,000 miles ago. Do you have any idea what may be causing the smoke? I’d appreciate any advice. Thanks.
Hi Cath,
Do you tend to do predominately short journeys? If so then this would account for the white smoke as the Freelander does not warm up enough to burn off the condensation in the oil. It would be worth taking for a longer journey every now and then.
If it is not short journeys you do then is the Freelander using any oil or water? If it is losing oil then it could be the valve stem seals which need replacing. If it is using water then you could have a problem with your cylinder liners.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
I’ve been the proud owner of 2 1.8 SE petrol Freelanders (2001 and my current ’05’ plate). My current vehicle is having a new head gasket as a result of lose of coolent (similar story to other owners). I’ve been told that this may not fully resolve the problem. I’m seriously considering a trade-in for a nearly new Freelander 2, but have lost a litle bit of confidence in the engine coolent/head gasket issue. Is the Freelander 2 still prone to these problems or have Land Rover finally sorted them out? I’d appreciate any advice on the matter please.
Hi Andy,
The Freelander 2 engine and drive train are totally different to any of the Freelander 1 models and are not prone to the head gasket problems, particularly since the common Freelander 2 model in the UK is a 2.2 litre diesel model.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
I have been getting milky oil , no over heating does that mean my head gaskett has blown, if so what should i do now? what would be the cost of a complete head gaskett set for the 1.8 petrol series including shipping to St. Lucia?
Hi Sarah,
This does sound like signs of the head gasket going. Since you also have problems with your IRD is it that there is signs of oil in the water or water in the oil? If there is oil in the water it is possible that this could be caused by the IRD unit. If you drain the IRD and get significantly less than 1.1 litres of oil from it then it could have been cross contaminating with the water through the cooling plate. If it is that you have water in the oil then it is likely to be the head gasket. A modified multi layer head gasket kit with the bolts is £50.
A reconditioned IRD is £541.67 plus £200 non-return surcharge (it is cheaper to pay this than to ship your old unit back) and a reconditioned VCU is £229.17 plus £100 non-return surcharge, and for GKN VCU bearings it would be £100 for the pair or the cheaper bearings are £54.17 for the pair. Is it your prop shaft that has a problem or the drive shafts?
The shipping to St Lucia is £220 for the IRD and VCU. If you also required a prop shaft or drive shafts this may rise to £265.
The total therefore for a head gasket set, IRD, VCU and GKN bearings to St Lucia would be £1,440.84.
We can take payment by credit card, bank transfer or Paypal.
If you let me know which shafts you are looking for I will get you a price for them.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Where are you located i’m inclined to have the gasket changed as im just starting to get milky oil. Thanks
Hi Mike,
We are located in Norfolk, between Thetford and Downham Market.
Our full address is:
Glebewood Lodge
Brandon Road
Methwold
Norfolk
IP26 4RH
Our closest train station is Brandon, although Downham Market is not too far away and has a direct link to London. If you need to catch a train when dropping off / collecting the Freelander we can run you to the station.
All the best,
Sue
Does the head gasket problem still exist with 55 plate 1.8 petrol freelanders?
Hi John,
Yes it does. The problem is the head gasket that was used from manufacture is a single layer head gasket that is just not up to the job. If the head gasket on any 1.8 Freelander has not been changed from new it is best to change it before it goes (as it will go!), this makes the job cheaper and avoids causing any other damage.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi,
I own a Freelander and last monday it blown. I waited so long to fix that, and now I feel guilty :(.
The problem is that I live in Norway, and LandRover says that they don’t sell the parts I need to fix my car. I contacted my local garage and they told me today I can buy the parts on internet and they will install them, so I’m looking for information about what and where to buy them.
Can you sell the kit outside the UK for other garage to install them? How much is it?
You can write me to my email address if you want.
Thank you very much in advance and best regards
Hi Almarma,
Sorry to hear your Freelander has blown its head gasket. I assume this is a 1.8 petrol model.
We can certainly sell you a head gasket set with bolts, this would be £59.95 plus shipping of £49.95 – total £109.90.
We are travelling to Norway at the beginning of May to carry out some repairs on Freelanders. If you would like us to do a deluxe head gasket repair on your Freelander whilst we are there this can certainly be arranged. The total cost (which includes an amount towards our travel and subsistence) would be £1,520. The deluxe head gasket replacement includes:
# a fully reconditioned head cylinder including pressure testing, skimming, reseating the valves, decoking the cylinder head, draining the lifters, resealing and new valve stem seals
# Head gasket replacement using a modified multi layer gasket which is much more robust than other gaskets
# New retaining stretch bolts
# Overhaul gasket set including camshaft oil seals, inlet/exhaust manifold gasket etc.
# New water pump
# New Thermostat
# New water reservoir bottle and cap (these can be prone to hair line cracks which allow air into the system)
# Complete flush of the cooling system to get rid of any oil residues
# Coolant change
# Complete flush of the engine to get rid of any water residues
# Engine oil change
# New oil filter
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
I have freelander 2001 petrol. Although mileage 56000 I wondered if I should get multi layer gasket as a precaution. I know this is cheaper to get done than wait until it blows but cannot get clear cost. Can you advise.
Much appreciated Debbie
Hi Debbie,
If it is a 1.8 petrol model and the head gasket has not been replaced before then we would definitely advise having it done before it blows. The cost for a standard head gasket replacement is £545 (compared to £945 if done once it has blown). This still includes pressure testing and skimming the head to ensure everything is in great condition.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
hi again in response to my email i have a freelander petrol on reserve so i was wondering are there any other common problems with them other than the cylinder head that i need to look out for. Also wot coolant would i use for it. Also wot is a vcu an does it apply with petrols
Hi Caroline,
With the petrol Freelander’s the head gasket is the main common issue.
Always use the RED coolant in a Freelander, other coolants can cause problems in the system.
The VCU is the viscous coupling unit that sits half way along the prop shaft and is part of the drive train for the 4×4 function. All Freelander 1’s have a VCU, both petrol and diesel, and hence all have the issue of requiring this to be changed approximately every 70,000 miles.
All the best,
Sue
hi im thinking of buying a freelander not sure yet between petrol and diesel wot are there any common problems with these vehicles
Hi Caroline,
The petrol Freelanders can be prone to head gasket problems. If you buy a petrol model check whether it has had the head gasket done, and that the head was skimmed and pressure tested and then a multi layer head gasket fitted (if the original single layer heads gasket was fitted it will fail again).
The diesel Freelanders do not tend to have the same engine problems as the petrol one, both the L-series diesel and the TD4 are pretty robust engines.
One thing to remember with the Freelander is that the viscous coupling unit (VCU) on the drive train needs replacing about every 70,000 miles, otherwise you can end up damaging other parts of the drive train, such as the IRD / transfer box. If the Freelaner you are looking to purchase has done over 70,000 and there is no evidence of the VCU having been replaced then budget this into your offer price (VCU, VCU bearings and fitting is £445). If the VCU is on its way out you will be able to tell by driving the Freelander on full lock, either forward or reverse, and if it feels as though it is holding back on you, a little like the brakes are on, then the VCU needs changing as a matter of urgency.
Freelanders are great vehicles and can give you a lot of fun. If you have any further questions about any Freelander you are looking to buy, or about looking after it once you have bought it, please do not hesitate to contact us.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi. If I have a coolent leak into engine (can’t see anywhere else) will your head gasket change fix the problem completely?
Why do local non specialist garages see this problem as non repairable?
Are further problems likely as a direct result of repairing this initial fault?
Hi Ryan,
If you have a coolant leak into the engine this indicates that your piston liners are damaged. As these are in the engine block no head gasket change will fix the problem. Non-specialist garages see this as non repairable because it is a case of taking the engine out and replacing the liners, a job that is only generally done by engine rebuilders. If the only issue is replacing the liners you would be looking at approximately an additional £500 over the head gasket replacement. Further problems should not occur as a result of repairing this initial fault, providing any other faults that may exist have been picked up during the repair. It is, ofcourse, possible to completely rebuild your engine to ensure you have a good as new engine. If we replace all the pistons and liners when rebuilding the cost will be £1,395 for the engine plus £295 for removing and refitting it.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hello, can you tell me please where the petrol fuel filter is on Freelander 1.8 year 2000 ? Thank you . Regards. Gaby KALTRACHIAN
Hi Gaby,
Certainly. The fuel filter is located under the rear seat on the drivers side.
All the best,
Sue