Clio 3 RS 200 cylinder head overhaul

[Pipp]

Hi guys

So I live in South Africa , but unfortunately the RS club here is dead.
I used to own a RS265 sport , with downpipe and remapped. Unfortunately I crashed it in Feb but the silver lining is that I bought myself a 2009 Clio 3 RS 200.

I have not had much luck since taking ownership of the car in March and I wont bother you with all the details but work ive done since getting the car is :
Replace fuel pump
Cambelt service
90 000km service (without plugs)
Replace downspring oxygen sensor
Replace plugs (we found that the plugs were rusted and shot and not to spec)
Replace thermostat

Even after all this work the car diddnt seem right and a couple weeks ago she started backfiring and losing power and smoking. I got her back to the dealer and they have eventually furnished me with a list of things they are going to do (See attached)
looks like the valve guides are loose and that is what is causing an oil leak and oil in one of the spark plug wells.

My question is , has anyone here had a similar experience, if so what was the outcome , and if the work is done right , am I going to have the car I thought i was buying originally ?
Im not very mechanically inclined and just looking for some 2nd opinion.

Thanks

 

[Dumdum]

Without seeing the engine and peering in anything you get us just guesses unfortunately

What they say would explain it though in layman’s terms to a degree

 

[Pipp]

What kind of difference do you think the incorrect dephaser pulley might have had ?

 

[Dumdum]

Depends on differences, could make zero difference or could explain the rough running in itself if it sits at the wrong resting position and alters the cam timing, at the end of the day if you didn’t pay for the job and have zero receipts it’s not worth debating what caused it, only what’s needed to fix it

 

[Dumdum]

You time the engines up with a bar in the end of the cams and the crank pinned but I’m not sure if the timing changes with oil pressure at higher revs which is what I suspect so I think it shouldn’t effect idle as long as it’s been timed up right and is the right dimensions

 

[Pipp]

Cool thanks for the replies
I will let you know when the work is done how she's going.

 

[duck.co.za]

Hi Pipp , I have also just bought a RS200 ( in pieces ) and am down in Cape Town . I am also in the middle of an engine rebuild . What I am finding is parts are rather scares and technical data harder than normal to find . That's why I am here as there are a number of very knowledgeable guys on here . I have just bought a forged bottom end from a guy in Jhb . His name was Ronney from French Car specialists or RenauTech . He seemed very knowledgeable and was known to the guys on the RS chat group here . I haven't heard of loose guides in our engines before , but then I have only been interested in these motors for a very short time .

 

[Pipp]

Hi Duck
I have got advice from Ronny before and ya he is very knowledgable, as far as I know works hand in hand with the guys at k-tec in the UK.
Unfortunately I have to go through the dealer from where I bought it. The mechanic they are using is a Renault specialist and he seems to know his stuff.
Just hope the work is excellent and that the car comes back right !

 

[duck.co.za]

Hope it all works out , good luck .
Keep in contact

 

[Foxspeed]

"loose" guides do they mean "worn" and hence the valve stem has too much clearance perhaps...

used to fit a lot of new guides for a well known rs tuner/specialist when they were doing engine repairs

 

[Pipp]

Hi foxspeed
Only saw your message now.
I'm not very mechanically inclined but when I spoke to the mechanic he mentioned exactly what you have said, ie. Valve stem has too much clearance.

Is this common for this model?
What is your opinion of the work been carried out ?
I really hope its strong when I get her back.

 

[Foxspeed]

Hi foxspeed
Only saw your message now.
I'm not very mechanically inclined but when I spoke to the mechanic he mentioned exactly what you have said, ie. Valve stem has too much clearance.

Is this common for this model?
What is your opinion of the work been carried out ?
I really hope its strong when I get her back.

yes we changed a lot of them usually exhaust side is worse - usually when bad cause blue smoke

as for the oil in spark plug hole thats usually due to the sealer on the cylinder head/cam cover failing

are they making sure the seats of the valves will be recut to make the best of the new valves?

 

[Pipp]

I would be lying if I answered that , but can you elaborate ?
I will make the mechanic aware of it if its something that's necessary.

 

[Foxspeed]

I would be lying if I answered that , but can you elaborate ?
I will make the mechanic aware of it if its something that's necessary.

new valves - valve seats should always be done at same time - if machine shop they can recut them and usually you dont need to lap them in...or do them the manual way by valve grinding paste - just make sure the seats are done/cleaned up to make the best of the new valves

we have a valve cutting machine that was so good you didnt have to lap the valves in - once cut they would hold a really good vacuum

 

[duck.co.za]

Serdi ?

 

[Foxspeed]

Serdi ?

yeh proper piece of kit!

 

[duck.co.za]

Rolls Royce , they do a fantastic job. You can get some really trick tips for different angles either side if the seat .

 

[Pipp]

I was supposed to get the car back today , and when I called to see what was going on , i had a few excuses come my way until eventually someone told me what is happening.
they say they put it all together but and started her up.....but then they found another leak.
this time a water leak.
I dont know what this actually means......it seems like the engineer maybe diddnt skim correctly ?
and if the head has been put back on with the new head gasket , is it ok to re open and then use the same head gasket ?
What are the implications of the water leak now ?

any info would be great

 

[Dumdum]

I was supposed to get the car back today , and when I called to see what was going on , i had a few excuses come my way until eventually someone told me what is happening.
they say they put it all together but and started her up.....but then they found another leak.
this time a water leak.
I dont know what this actually means......it seems like the engineer maybe diddnt skim correctly ?
and if the head has been put back on with the new head gasket , is it ok to re open and then use the same head gasket ?
What are the implications of the water leak now ?

any info would be great

No you can’t reuse a head gasket generally, odd ones you can, copper for example but you have to re-anneal the copper to soften it again and then torque it down, once a normal head gasket is down it’s been squished and it’s use once only

And without knowing where the water leak is from it’s impossible to say, if it had a crack somewhere it could be a scrap head sadly, I don’t see how skimming it would effect water pathways generally being perfectly honest, couldjust be a core plug or something if your lucky

 

[Pipp]

Thanks man , the input is greatly appreciated.

I will keep you posted on the outcome.