Rover KV6 Engine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The KV6 automotive engine is a techologically-advanced 24 valve, quad cam V6 engine, available in 2.5 litre or 2.0 litre, built by Powertrain Ltd which is a sister company to MG Rover. It is derived from their four-cylinder K-Series engine.
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[edit] History
First introduced into the Rover 800 series with the 1996 facelift, including the flagship Rover Sterling Coupe and Rover Sterling models, it has since also powered the Rover 75 and its brother, the MG ZT, as well as the Rover 45 and the MG ZS.
The engine was redesigned to fit into the smaller Rover 75's bonnet, although performance remained similar.
In 1994 the engine was licenced to KIA motors who invested in a new plant at the Assan bay complex to build the engine.This engine was used in several KIA vehicles.Its introduction in Korea shortly followed its use by Rover in the Sterling.
[edit] Other customers
Land Rover Freelanders (first generation), also used the KV6 engine.
Kia Sedona (first generation), otherwise known as Kia Carnival outside the UK and North America, was offered with the KV6 engine in some markets.
Gibbs Aquada, a high speed amphibious vehicle.
[edit] Technology
At introduction, the engine enjoyed considerable technological advancement compared with its competition, most notably being the lightest in its class because of its all-aluminium design. Fully automatically tensioned drive belts and adaptive MEMS engine management, which alters firing in response to the style of the past two hundred miles of driving, also improve refinement. The engine boasts Variable Geometry Induction, whereby air induction pipe lengths vary to optimise engine torque in response to different engine and road speeds, aiding refinement and efficiency.
In its Rover setup, the unit delivers peak engine power of 175 Ps (129 kW) at 6,500 RPM, and maximum torque of 240 Nm at 4000 RPM, prompting the late 1990s 'most powerful in its class' sales tag used to sell Rover 800 V6 models. Units in the Rover 800 are notable for their ability to change function from standard V6 firing to two straight-3 engines in response to heavy loads, such as towing. The automatic gearbox in V6 800s is also able to communicate with the engine, briefly easing torque to allow smoother changes.
One of the most immediately noticeable features of the first V6 engine to be designed by Rover for decades is its distinctive, quietly growling engine note.
[edit] Problems
A number of early units were seen off by head gasket failure, brought about by design heritage from engines designed for smaller cars. The thermostat was placed with speedy warm-up in mind, theoretically improving fuel efficiency over short the hops the smaller Rovers were primarily designed for. However, the extra load placed on the unit by the heavier 800's proclivity for long-distance commutes allowed the engine to heat up more rapidly, resulting in the head getting hotter before enough heat reached the theromstat to throw open the main cooling system setup. Thus a hot head gasket suffered thermal shock from cold coolant, weakening it. The problem hit 1996 P registered 800s worst, with reliability improving with redesigns from that year onwards, such as a spring-loaded valve in the cooling system. However, a number of units were largely unaffected, with mileages of 140,000 and higher being reported with sterling engine service. Land Rovers were particularly badly affected, with a heavy, four-wheel-drive car placing considerable immediate load on the engine.
