# Rover K-series engine > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rover_K-series_engine > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rover_K-series_engine.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rover_K-series_engine > Source revision: 1346553679 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) This article is about the Rover engine. For other engines, see [K-series engine](/source/K-series_engine_(disambiguation)). This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Rover K-series engine" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2007) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Reciprocating internal combustion engine Rover K-series Overview Manufacturer Rover Group MG Rover Group/Powertrain Ltd Production 1988–2005 (K series) Layout Configuration Straight-4 Displacement 1.1 to 1.8 L; 67.9 to 109.6 cu in (1,113 to 1,796 cc) Cylinder bore 80 mm (3.15 in) Piston stroke 89.3 mm (3.52 in) Cylinder block material Aluminium Cylinder head material Aluminium Valvetrain SOHC 2 valves x cyl. DOHC 4 valves x cyl. with VVC RPM range Max. engine speed 7200 Combustion Turbocharger On some versions Fuel system Single KIF SU carburettor Single-point fuel injection Multi-point fuel injection Management Rover MEMS Fuel type Petrol Oil system Wet sump Cooling system Water-cooled Output Power output 60–192 PS (44–141 kW; 59–189 hp) Torque output 124–158.5 lb⋅ft (168–215 N⋅m) Chronology Predecessor BMC A-series engine Rover T-series engine BL O-series engine Successor SAIC Kavachi engine The **Rover K-series engine** is a series of [internal combustion engines](/source/Internal_combustion_engine) built by [Powertrain Ltd](/source/Powertrain_Ltd), a sister company of [MG Rover](/source/MG_Rover). The engine was a [straight-four](/source/Inline-four_engine) cylinder built in two forms, [SOHC](/source/Overhead_camshaft#Single_overhead_camshaft) and [DOHC](/source/Overhead_camshaft#Double_overhead_camshaft), ranging from 1.1 to 1.8 L; 67.9 to 109.6 cu in (1,113 to 1,796 cc). ## Design history The cylinder block of a United Kingdom Rover K-series 16-valve DOHC engine with *damp liner* cylinders The K series was introduced in 1988 by [Rover Group](/source/Rover_Group) as a powerplant for the [Rover 200](/source/Rover_200_%2F_25) car. It was the second volume-production implementation of the low-pressure sand-casting (or LPS) technique in a new plant sited between East Works and [Cofton Hackett](/source/Cofton_Hackett). (The first volume application of the LPS process had been for the [M-16](/source/Rover_M-series_engine) cylinder head, produced in South Works, adjacent to the former forge). The LPS process pumped liquid aluminium into a chemically-bonded sand mould from below. This reduced oxide inclusions and gave a casting yield of around 90%, compared with 60% for more conventional gravity casting processes. The process avoided many of the inherent problems of casting aluminium components and consequently permitted lower casting wall thickness and higher strength-to-weight ratios. However, the process required the use of heat-treated LM25 material which gave the engines a reputation for being fragile. An engine overheat would often result in the material becoming annealed and rendering the components scrap. The layout of the engine bay on some Rover cars fitted with K-series engines – particularly the MGF with its mid-engined layout – means that a commonly-occurring coolant leak under the inlet manifold can go undetected until severe damage has been done to the head. The aluminium engine blocks were fitted with [spun-cast](/source/Centrifugal_casting_(industrial)) iron [cylinder liners](/source/Cylinder_liner) that were initially manufactured by [GKN](/source/GKN)'s Sheepbridge Stokes of [Chesterfield](/source/Chesterfield%2C_Derbyshire), but these were replaced by liners made by Goetze. Unfortunately a large number of aftermarket engines, the so-called "VHPDs", were built with the old substandard GKN liners by Minister, Lotus and PTP well after the introduction of the Goetze liners to production in 2000. The engine was introduced initially in 1.1-litre [single overhead cam](/source/Single_overhead_cam) and 1.4-litre [dual overhead cam](/source/Dual_overhead_cam) versions. Because Honda stopped providing Rover with engines after the end of their relationship, but well before the BMW takeover, an enlargement of the K Series design to 1.6 and 1.8 litres was carried out. This was done by using larger diameter cylinder liners and also increasing the stroke. The change required a block redesign with the removal of the cylinder block's top deck and a change from "wet" liners to "damp" liners.[1] The plastic throttle body fitted to the engine until 2001 was manufactured by the [SU Carburettor](/source/SU_Carburettor) company. They also included aluminium and larger sized bodies. The four-cylinder engines were held together as a sandwich of components by [long through-bolts](/source/Long-bolt_engine) which held the engine under compression, though this construction is not unknown, and was used in early lightweight fighter engines from the [First World War](/source/World_War_I). It had also been used in motorcycle engines and Triumph's "[Sabrina](/source/Triumph_Sabrina_engine)" Le Mans race engine.[2][3] The two types of head that were bolted to the common four-cylinder block were designated K8 (8 valves) and K16 (16 valves). A later head design also incorporated a Rover-designed [Variable Valve Control](/source/Variable_Valve_Control) (VVC) unit (derived from an expired AP patent). This allowed more power to be developed without compromising low-speed torque and flexibility. The VVC system constantly alters the inlet cam period, resulting in a remarkably flexible drive: the torque curve of a VVC K-series engine is virtually flat throughout the rev range and power climbs steadily with no fall-off whatsoever until the rev limiter kicks in at 7,200 rpm.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Following the collapse of [MG Rover Group](/source/MG_Rover_Group) in 2005, the K Series engine started a new and rather interesting chapter in its history. Two separate re-developments of the engine were taking place by at the time two rival Chinese car firms.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The Chinese automaker [Nanjing Automobile](/source/Nanjing_Automobile) (NAC) purchased the assets of MG Rover and in doing so acquired use of the [Longbridge plant](/source/Longbridge_plant) and the intellectual property rights and production tooling to many designs, including those of the K series engine.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] With the help of Lotus Engineering, NAC went on to produce the N Series an improved version of the K Series with redesigned headgasket and oil rail built on the original tooling.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] This engine featured in the relaunched MG TF in the UK and the MG3 SW and MG7 in China. Contrary to popular belief, the N Series was never fitted to the [MG 6](/source/MG_6).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] When the MG TF ceased production for the final time in 2011, so did the N Series.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The second development was by the larger Chinese conglomerate [SAIC Motor](/source/SAIC_Motor). SAIC had also previously purchased the rights and blueprints to several of MG Rovers designs. Whilst they had the necessary know-how they didn't have any tooling so had to essentially reverse engineer their version of the engine.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The advantage of this was it allowed Ricardo 2010, the company tasked by SAIC to carry out development the opportunity to improve the engine in a number of areas.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The main areas of improvement included the head being redesigned to improve the waterways and structural rigidity and the block was also strengthened.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] All new tooling was used in its production and the quality of materials and that of the aluminium casting process created a much more substantial update than that of the N Series.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] This new engine would go on to power the Roewe 750, the Roewe 550 and later after the two firms NAC and SAIC merged, The [MG 6](/source/MG_6).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## Engine management ### K8 engine Early K8 engines used a single SU KIF [carburetor](/source/Carburetor) with a manual choke and a breaker-less [distributor](/source/Distributor) mounted on the end of the [camshaft](/source/Camshaft). MEMS [Single-point injection](/source/Single-point_injection) became standard with the launch of the Rover 100 in 1994. ### K16 K16 models used [MEMS](/source/Modular_Engine_Management_System), with a 1.6 [ECU](/source/Engine_control_unit) from 1990 until 1994 and a 1.9 ECU from 1995 onwards, in either Single Point or [Multi Point](/source/Multi-point_fuel_injection) forms, with a single coil on the back of the engine block and a distributor cap and rotor arm on the end of the inlet camshaft. MEMS 2J was used on the VVC engine, to control the Variable Valve Control and the [Distributorless Ignition System](/source/Distributorless_Ignition_System), which was used because there were camshaft [drive belts](/source/Drive_belt) at both ends of the engine. With the launch of the [Rover 25](/source/Rover_200_%2F_25) and [Rover 45](/source/Rover_400_%2F_45) in 1999, MEMS 3 was introduced, with twin coils and [sequential injection](/source/Sequential_injection). ## Model range This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) ### 1100 1.1-litre carburettor engine in [Rover Metro](/source/Rover_Metro) Quest All **1100** engines displace 1.1 L; 67.9 cu in (1,113 cc) with bore X stroke of 75 mm × 63 mm. Four variations were created: - SOHC K8 8-valve, Carburettor, 60 PS (44 kW; 59 hp) - SOHC K8 8-valve, SPI, 60 PS (44 kW; 59 hp) - SOHC K8 8-valve, MPI, 60 PS (44 kW; 59 hp) - DOHC K16 16-valve, MPI, 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) Cars that came with the 1100: - [Rover Metro](/source/Rover_Metro) - [Rover 100](/source/Rover_Metro) - [Rover 200](/source/Rover_200) - [Rover 25](/source/Rover_25) ### 1400 1.4-litre [DOHC](/source/DOHC) K-series engine in a [MG ZR](/source/MG_ZR) Engine Codes: 14K2F (8V), 14K4F (16V), 14K16 (16V)? All **1400** engines displace 1.4 L; 85.2 cu in (1,396 cc) with bore X stroke of 75 mm × 79 mm (2.95 in × 3.11 in) and have DOHC, 16 valves and MPI. Six variations were created: - SOHC K8 8-valve, Carburettor, 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) - SOHC K8 8-valve, SPI, 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) - SOHC K8 8-valve, MPI, 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) - DOHC K16 16-valve, SPI, 90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp) - DOHC K16 16-valve, MPI, 83 PS (61 kW; 82 hp) - DOHC K16 16-valve, MPI, 103 PS (76 kW; 102 hp) The K16 82 hp (61 kW; 83 PS) variant is exactly the same as the 103 PS (76 kW; 102 hp) version, apart from a restrictive throttle body designed to lower the car's insurance group. This can be converted to the 103 hp (77 kW) model by changing to the unrestricted throttle body of a 103 engine. The 90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp) Spi features single-point fuel injection rather than the multi-point of the later engine. Cars that came with the 1400: - [Rover Metro](/source/Rover_Metro) - [Rover 100](/source/Rover_100_series) - [Caterham 7](/source/Caterham_7) - Rover 200 - [Rover 25](/source/Rover_25) - [Rover 400](/source/Rover_400) - [Rover 45](/source/Rover_400) - [Rover Streetwise](/source/Rover_Streetwise) - [MG ZR](/source/MG_ZR) - [MG ZS](/source/MG_ZS_(2001)) – Ireland and Portugal only - [Caterham Seven](/source/Caterham_Seven) - [GTM Libra](/source/GTM_Libra) - [GTM K3](/source/GTM_K3) - [FSO Polonez Caro/Atu](/source/FSO_Polonez) - [Reliant Scimitar Sabre](/source/Reliant_Scimitar_SS1#Sabre) ### 1600 Engine Code: 16K4F All **1600** engines displace 1.6 L; 96.9 cu in (1,588 cc) with bore X stroke of 80 mm × 79 mm (3.15 in × 3.11 in) and have DOHC, 16 valves and MPI. Two variations were created: - 109 PS (80 kW; 108 hp) - 111 PS (82 kW; 109 hp) Cars that came with the 1600: - Rover 200 - [Rover 25](/source/Rover_25) - [Rover Streetwise](/source/Rover_Streetwise) - [Rover 400](/source/Rover_400_%2F_45) - [Rover 45](/source/Rover_45) - [MG ZS](/source/MG_ZS_(2001)) - [MG F](/source/MG_F) - [MG TF](/source/MG_F) - [Caterham Seven](/source/Caterham_Seven) - [Caterham 21](/source/Caterham_21) ### 1800 MG ZR 160 1.800cc TRON 2.0 MKII 2004 [DOHC](/source/DOHC) K-series 160 HP VVC engine in a [MG ZR](/source/MG_ZR) K-series turbo in a Rover 25 with missing boost pipes and no battery Engine Codes: 18K4F (16V non-VVC), 18K4K (VVC variants) The 1.8 engine is the largest the engine displaces. All **1800** engines displace 1.8 L; 109.6 cu in (1,796 cc) with bore X stroke of 80 mm × 89.3 mm (3.15 in × 3.52 in) [DOHC](/source/Overhead_camshaft#Dual_overhead_camshaft) [4 valves](/source/Multi-valve#Four-valve_cylinder_head) per cylinder and [MPI](/source/Fuel_injection#Multi-point_injection). **Non-VVC N/A (18K4F):** The base engine makes 118 bhp (120 PS; 88 kW) at 5600 rpm and 124 lb⋅ft (168 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm of [torque](/source/Torque#Machine_torque) or in slightly tuned at 136 PS (100 kW; 134 hp) at 6750 rpm/ 165 N⋅m (122 lb⋅ft) at 3000 rpm - [Rover 200 / 25](/source/Rover_200_%2F_25) - [Rover 400 / 45](/source/Rover_400_%2F_45) - [Rover 75](/source/Rover_75) - [Rover Streetwise](/source/Rover_Streetwise) - [MG ZR](/source/MG_ZR) - [MG ZS (2001)](/source/MG_ZS_(2001)) - [MG ZT](/source/MG_ZT) - [MG F / MG TF](/source/MG_F_%2F_MG_TF) - [Land Rover Freelander](/source/Land_Rover_Freelander) - [Caterham 7](/source/Caterham_7) - [Caterham 21](/source/Caterham_21) - [Lotus Elise](/source/Lotus_Elise) **Non-VVC Turbocharged (18K4F T):** The 1.8 Turbo was developed to replace the 2.0 [Rover KV6 engine](/source/Rover_KV6_engine) due to emissions and fuel economy, the engine is [turbocharged](/source/Turbocharged) and made 150 to 160 PS (110 to 118 kW; 148 to 158 hp) And 215 N⋅m (159 lb⋅ft) of torque - 2000-2005 [Rover 75](/source/Rover_75) - 2001-2005 [MG ZT](/source/MG_ZT) **VVC (18K4K):** The VVC engine came in three variants: The early [VVC](/source/Variable_Valve_Control) produced 143 hp (107 kW; 145 PS) at 7000 rpm / 174 N⋅m (128 lb⋅ft) at 4500 rpm - [Rover 200 / 25](/source/Rover_200_%2F_25) - [Rover 200 Coupé](/source/Rover_200_Coup%C3%A9) - [MG F / MG TF](/source/MG_F_%2F_MG_TF) - [Caterham 7](/source/Caterham_7) - [Caterham 21](/source/Caterham_21) - [Lotus Elise](/source/Lotus_Elise) Rover later tuned the VVC to produce 158 hp (118 kW; 160 PS) at 7000 rpm / 174 N⋅m (128 lb⋅ft) at 4700 rpm - [MG ZR](/source/MG_ZR) - [MG ZS (2001)](/source/MG_ZS_(2001)) - [MG ZT](/source/MG_ZT) - [MG F / MG TF](/source/MG_F_%2F_MG_TF) - [Caterham 7](/source/Caterham_7) - [Caterham 21](/source/Caterham_21) - [Lotus Elise](/source/Lotus_Elise) VHPD – Very-high-performance derivative, 177 or 192 PS (130 or 141 kW; 175 or 189 hp) ([Lotus](/source/Lotus_Cars) version) (Uses VVC unique cylinder head casting (similar to VVC casting), has big valves, but with fixed cam timing – No development input was requested from Rover). - [Lotus Elise](/source/Lotus_Elise) - [Lotus Exige](/source/Lotus_Exige) - [Lotus 340R](/source/Lotus_340R) - [Caterham 7](/source/Caterham_7) - [Caterham 21](/source/Caterham_21) - [Ariel Atom](/source/Ariel_Atom) ## Kavachi engine Main article: [SAIC Kavachi engine](/source/SAIC_Kavachi_engine) The SAIC Kavachi engine is an extensively improved version of the Rover K series, using a different turbo and gearbox, improved head gasket and strengthened block. UK engineering firm Ricardo plc, expert in race engine designs, was commissioned to not only redesign the engine but also the manufacturing process to produce what is now a very reliable engine.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] It is only available in 1.8 L; 109.6 cu in (1,796 cc) version. ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-MGF,_damp_liner_1-0)** Adcock, Ian (1996). *Project Phoenix: the birth of the MGF*. Bloomsbury. p. 175. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7475-2695-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7475-2695-8). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-krausebook-ch3_2-0)** Krause, G. William (8 September 2017). "The Italian Job". [*The Illustrated History of Triumph Sports and Racing Cars*](https://static.summitracing.com/global/images/technicalarticles/sad-ct596.pdf) (PDF). CarTech. pp. 42–63. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1613253397](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1613253397). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-cad-jun1961_3-0)** May, Dennis (June 1961). ["Triumph's Twin-Cam!"](https://archive.org/details/sim_car-and-driver_1961-06_6/page/n65/mode/2up?view=theater). *[Car and Driver](/source/Car_and_Driver)*. pp. 59–61, 64. ## External links - [Austin Memories](http://www.austinmemories.com) – History of Austin and Longbridge - [K-Series engine history](https://www.aronline.co.uk/engines/k-series-engine/) – The full history of this engine ## Further reading - *Engine Overhaul Manual*. Rover K Series. [MG Rover Group](/source/MG_Rover_Group). - Hammill, Des (2008). *The Rover K-series 16V Engine. 1989-2005*. CP Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-84155-688-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84155-688-8). --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rover K-series engine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rover_K-series_engine) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rover_K-series_engine?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.