Rover T-Series engine
Encyclopedia
The Rover T16 engine was a 1994 cc petrol engine
, produced by Rover
from 1992 to 1999. It has a bore of 84.45 mm (3.3 in) and a stroke of 89 mm (3.5 in). It is a development of the M-Series
(M16), which was in turn a development of the O-Series, which dated back to the BMC B-Series engine
as found in the MG B
and many others.
Several variants were produced for various models, but all had the same displacement. The naturally aspirated type produced 136 hp, and turbocharged types were available with 180 and 200 hp. However, unlike some other turbocharged 2-litre engines of the same era, the Rover T16 cannot be easily and cheaply tweaked to produce more power, as its pistons were made to a price and not capable of holding boost much higher than standard. Older M series and O series pistons can be used with a little modification and do allow for higher boost. Forged piston are also available for the engine. Over 900 bhp has now been produced from a modified T series. http://www.an-racing.com
While the engine itself is capable of a great deal of power, its limiting factor was the PG1 Powertrain Ltd
gearbox it was coupled with which could not handle the torque. Due to this the engine is electronically limited to a lower torque output than it is easily capable of, giving the engine a very 'flat' overall torque curve. The real torque capability of the engine is easily restored by removing the electronic limiter unit and replacing it with a boost controller set at 12 PSI. This is a good level for engine reliability and gives about 25 lbft more torque. Careful driving can preserve the gearbox and uprated gearbox bearing can be fitted to allow full use of the extra torque.
The Rover 620ti
Turbo was widely regarded as an excellent car, with the 820
Vitesse also giving impressive performance for a 2 litre engine in such a large vehicle. The 220 turbo coupé (often referred to as the 'Tomcat', an internal development codename that seemed appropriate, and therefore stuck), was very rapid. The T-Series engine also found its way into limited-run Rover 220 3-door hatchbacks in GTi and later GSi trims and the 420
GSI turbo and GSI Sport turbo. With 197 bhp as standard, these were among the original turbocharged 'hot hatches', with power almost matching the Lancia Delta Integrale of the same era, though short-lived production runs robbed them of this status, and clean examples are now a rarity.
Many 2-litre powered Austin Rover Group vehicles of the same era could be retro-fitted with the engine. One popular recipient was the Austin Maestro
, which in original MG Turbo guise could out-accelerate many supercars of the time up to 60 mi/h, so when retro-fitted with the more powerful T-Series turbo engine, was even more rapid.
The non-turbo engine also found its way into the short-lived and generally underpowered Land Rover Discovery
2.0i. Land Rover
also fitted the same engine to a special batch of Defenders built for the Italian Carabinieri
, which operated an exclusively petrol-powered vehicle fleet. A development vehicle was also built using a turbocharged version of the engine which far out performed the V8 production cars, but no room could be found for it in Land Rover's vehicle strategy.
The T-Series engine is a very underrated, reliable and powerful engine for its time and has many enthusiasts, however they suffered problems with sticky valves [Rover issued a TSB] and with a persistent head gasket oilway leak.
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
, produced by Rover
MG Rover Group
MG Rover was the last domestically owned mass-production car manufacturer in the British motor industry. The company was formed when BMW sold the car-making and engine manufacturing assets of the original Rover Group to the Phoenix Consortium in 2000....
from 1992 to 1999. It has a bore of 84.45 mm (3.3 in) and a stroke of 89 mm (3.5 in). It is a development of the M-Series
Rover M-Series engine
The Rover M-Series is a 4-cylinder, DOHC internal combustion engine introduced by the Austin Rover Group in 1986 for the then-new Rover 800-series....
(M16), which was in turn a development of the O-Series, which dated back to the BMC B-Series engine
BMC B-Series engine
The BMC B-series was a straight-4 internal combustion engine family, mostly used in motor cars, created by British company Austin Motor Company. The pre-cursor of the "B" series engine was a 1200 cc OHV engine which was used in the 1947 Austin A40 Devon. This A40 Devon engine was based on a...
as found in the MG B
MG MGB
The MGB is a sports car launched by MG Cars in May 1962 to replace the MGA. Introduced as a four-cylinder roadster, a coupé with 2+2 seating was added in 1965...
and many others.
Several variants were produced for various models, but all had the same displacement. The naturally aspirated type produced 136 hp, and turbocharged types were available with 180 and 200 hp. However, unlike some other turbocharged 2-litre engines of the same era, the Rover T16 cannot be easily and cheaply tweaked to produce more power, as its pistons were made to a price and not capable of holding boost much higher than standard. Older M series and O series pistons can be used with a little modification and do allow for higher boost. Forged piston are also available for the engine. Over 900 bhp has now been produced from a modified T series. http://www.an-racing.com
While the engine itself is capable of a great deal of power, its limiting factor was the PG1 Powertrain Ltd
Powertrain Ltd
Powertrain Ltd was a British company based in Birmingham which designed, manufactured and marketed car engines and transmissions. It was a subsidiary of Phoenix Venture Holdings and a sister company to MG Rover...
gearbox it was coupled with which could not handle the torque. Due to this the engine is electronically limited to a lower torque output than it is easily capable of, giving the engine a very 'flat' overall torque curve. The real torque capability of the engine is easily restored by removing the electronic limiter unit and replacing it with a boost controller set at 12 PSI. This is a good level for engine reliability and gives about 25 lbft more torque. Careful driving can preserve the gearbox and uprated gearbox bearing can be fitted to allow full use of the extra torque.
Applications
Rover 600
The Rover 600 Series is a compact executive car produced by the British car maker Rover from 1993 to 1999.The Rover 600 exterior was designed by Rover, a re-skin of the Tochigi-developed Honda Accord, also built in the UK by Honda in Swindon...
Turbo was widely regarded as an excellent car, with the 820
Rover 800
The Rover 800 series is an executive car introduced by the Austin Rover Group in 1986 and also marketed as the Sterling in the United States. Co-developed with Honda, it was a close relative to the Honda Legend and the successor to the Rover SD1....
Vitesse also giving impressive performance for a 2 litre engine in such a large vehicle. The 220 turbo coupé (often referred to as the 'Tomcat', an internal development codename that seemed appropriate, and therefore stuck), was very rapid. The T-Series engine also found its way into limited-run Rover 220 3-door hatchbacks in GTi and later GSi trims and the 420
Rover 400
The second generation 400 Series, codenamed Theta or HH-R, was launched in the summer of 1995 as a hatchback and later a saloon. This time it was based on the Honda Domani, which had been released in Japan in 1992, and was sold as part of the European Honda Civic range in five-door hatchback form...
GSI turbo and GSI Sport turbo. With 197 bhp as standard, these were among the original turbocharged 'hot hatches', with power almost matching the Lancia Delta Integrale of the same era, though short-lived production runs robbed them of this status, and clean examples are now a rarity.
Many 2-litre powered Austin Rover Group vehicles of the same era could be retro-fitted with the engine. One popular recipient was the Austin Maestro
Austin Maestro
The Austin Maestro is a compact-sized 5-door hatchback car that was produced from 1983 to 1994, initially by the Austin Rover subsidiary of British Leyland , and from 1988 onwards by its successor, Rover Group. The car was produced at the former Morris plant in Cowley, Oxford. It was initially...
, which in original MG Turbo guise could out-accelerate many supercars of the time up to 60 mi/h, so when retro-fitted with the more powerful T-Series turbo engine, was even more rapid.
The non-turbo engine also found its way into the short-lived and generally underpowered Land Rover Discovery
Land Rover Discovery
The Discovery was introduced into the United Kingdom in 1989. The company code-named the vehicle "Project Jay". The new model was based on the chassis and drivetrain of the more upmarket Range Rover, but with a lower price aimed at a larger market segment and intended to compete with Japanese...
2.0i. Land Rover
Land Rover
Land Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, forming part of their Jaguar Land Rover group...
also fitted the same engine to a special batch of Defenders built for the Italian Carabinieri
Carabinieri
The Carabinieri is the national gendarmerie of Italy, policing both military and civilian populations, and is a branch of the armed forces.-Early history:...
, which operated an exclusively petrol-powered vehicle fleet. A development vehicle was also built using a turbocharged version of the engine which far out performed the V8 production cars, but no room could be found for it in Land Rover's vehicle strategy.
The T-Series engine is a very underrated, reliable and powerful engine for its time and has many enthusiasts, however they suffered problems with sticky valves [Rover issued a TSB] and with a persistent head gasket oilway leak.