help think head gaskets gone
 

right guys think my headgasket has gone, on way to a meet and i noticed the temp went from just under half to half so i put the heater on and noticed a bit of steam then stopped then started going up to 3/4 so stopped and turned it off straight away then it was chucking all its water out the exspansion tank, i let it cool and got it off motorway to petrol garge it didnt over heat untill got to garage it started going up, i left it to cool and topped it up with water and run it up with lid of it kept chucking water out after couple mins , oil is clear on dipstick but the cap has little muggy in cap water looks ok little off colour but no oil , when i put the fans on i could here it keep clicking but dont think i have heard that before... its a zs180 by the way

Check both the top and bottom rad hoses are getting hot....then....... check your fans working......then I,de replace the thermostat....assuming you havent got a leak of course......

180s dont suffer with head gasket failure as a rule ........ though it isnt unknown

Also worth replacing the expansion tank cap, if it isn't holding pressure the coolant will boil over as you describe.

it boils over with the cap on, but i also think its leaking out of the bottle with the cap on, fans both kick in perfect... the break down bloke said he always sees the kv6 head gasket going ;( thing is if it is then is it worth doin?

The breakdown man is talking bo11ocks tbh, the cap being on doesn't mean it's sealing.

Mk3 Escorts used to boil just as the fans came on......that was caused by the cap not sealing on the bottle......new bottle AND cap cured them ..... worth a try if you cant see anything obvious

Your breakdown man is talking shoite.....

New cap mate ....

2nd that..................the 180 doesnt do HGF, but bottle caps. We do loads at work.

Most common cause for a (or both) KV6 head gasket(s) to go is running low on coolant.

The coolant normally runs low due to a failed header tank cap (they should be replaced after 5 years) or a failed thermostat housing.

The thermostat on the KV6 sits in the vee at the gearbox end, if you can see coolant in the vee then the housing has gone.

Other possible cooling problems are
a failed water pump, the vains cab come off the impeller or
a seized radiator cooling fan due to lack of use or
blocked waterways in the engine or radiator due mixing antifreeze types and deposits forming.

HGF is more common on the Rover 75 than any other KV6, don't know why.

Only ever seen a zs with the v6 do head gasket after a thermostat housing failed and didnt get noticed.

Zts and 75s with the v6 do head gaskets all the time, and i believe this is now down to the air circulation within the engine bay, and the split heater matrixes, however, i would say that the initial start of hgf is down to a water leak of some description.

Like said, try a new cap and look at the thermostat housing in the vee.

If it has caused hgf as you have found it too late, then in my opinion it would be cheaper to get another engine or car.

George