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Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: DaveA on 07 July 2012, 17:52:14

Title: Exhaust Phew
Post by: DaveA on 07 July 2012, 17:52:14
   Am loosing water, can sometimes a bit lumpy on start up, now the exhaust as a pleasant sweet smell when I start first time, no rotten egg smell. Am I right in thinking head gasket needs replacing. No warning lights.   Car runs well normally?     
Title: Re: Exhaust Phew
Post by: jonathanh on 07 July 2012, 20:17:21
No.

No reason to suspect hg. Need methodical diagnosis.
Title: Re: Exhaust Phew
Post by: dbug on 07 July 2012, 20:26:44
What makes you think head gasket gone? ???
Title: Re: Exhaust Phew
Post by: MaxV6 on 07 July 2012, 22:26:16
my guess is that antifreeze smells sweet......     (thus it's use in austrian wine) and the OP, smelling that sweetness in his exhaust has concluded that there's coolant getting in to the system somewhere, and being shoved down the exhaust....



it's not impossible.....  but i'd expect it to be over pressurising the coolant system,


you losing coolant at all ???


the only place i've seen v6 HG's go is passenger bank rear left nearside corner .....  seen 2 or 3 personally ,  and heard of several others....   and only on late 3.0 v6,   not personally seen one on 3.2 or 2.6, but it doesn't mean it's impossible.....  however, it usually manifests in a slight coolant leak at the rear of the block on the near side....     


too often i've heard the phrase "they never go" about assorted bits on our migs....    and it turns out to be the exception again.....    so these days i assume that it could be....  even if it's unlikely..... 


Title: Re: Exhaust Phew
Post by: albitz on 07 July 2012, 22:32:00
Looks like OP drives a 2.2 four pot. Head gasket problem much more likely on a four pot. ;)
Title: Re: Exhaust Phew
Post by: biggriffin on 07 July 2012, 23:07:58
have to agree with albitz  2.2 and head gaskets yup  :y
Title: Re: Exhaust Phew
Post by: MaxV6 on 08 July 2012, 00:14:35
oops , should have noticed......    :-X
Title: Re: Exhaust Phew
Post by: DaveA on 08 July 2012, 09:37:04
Thanks for replys
                       Yes I drive a 2.2. If the cooling system is being over pressurised, would a new expansion tank filler cap cure it.    Mark DTM did a diagnostic about a fortnight ago every thing seemed ok then.  Think I will let a local garage, that Mark recommended, have a look :-\     

Title: Re: Exhaust Phew
Post by: DaveA on 09 July 2012, 08:40:55
   I have checked all the coolant hoses and hose connections, replaced HBV, still loosing coolant, going to replace head gasket. Anyone any other ideas?   Going to VX for gaskets. What about replacement head bolts and camshaft sprocket bolts, is it best to stay with VX or will sets from ebay suit?    2.2 model.
Title: Re: Exhaust Phew
Post by: feeutfo on 09 July 2012, 09:48:31
Awaits reply from RobG.

If the spark plug is removed after a lay up, any water in pot 4 sitting on the piston? Any water in the oil?
Title: Re: Exhaust Phew
Post by: DaveA on 09 July 2012, 12:35:05
Awaits reply from RobG.

If the spark plug is removed after a lay up, any water in pot 4 sitting on the piston? Any water in the oil?

      Tried that, but could not see well enough to tell one way or another.  If I leave car standing for a while, release all pressure form the expansion tank, then start engine tank pressurised very quickly well before water is hot. No water in oil, or oil in water, well not that I can see.Just  been down to a garage (not VX) and HG is his opinion. Am loosing a lot of water now, have to top up after 30 - 40 miles, but only when car running, not when car is standing, cannot see any leaks, no water on the floor either.
      Thing is off to Dorset a week Wednesday, if there is likely to be any other cause, we've haven't much time.       

    PS
 One thing I found to the good, was that I have had a rattle for a long while, that I could no find. When checking to see if radiator drain tap was leaking, noticed the the twin horns were rubbing together, bent brackets a bit, no rattle :y
Title: Re: Exhaust Phew
Post by: RobG on 09 July 2012, 12:43:47
Get your hands on a compression tester and check each cylinder.
174-218 psi (12-15 bar)
Allowable difference between cylinders = 15 psi (1 bar)
Title: Re: Exhaust Phew
Post by: Kevin Wood on 09 July 2012, 12:44:32
If the header tank pressurises instantly, there is only one place that pressure can come from, IMHO. Through the head gasket.

Lumpy running from start-up is also a symptom, as is coolant smell from the exhaust.

How many miles has it done? Not at all unusual for a 2.2 with 6 figure mileage. :-\
Title: Re: Exhaust Phew
Post by: DaveA on 09 July 2012, 13:38:22
     Motor has covered just under 97,800 been Tesco's shopping and instead of the water expanding in the tank it looked like the water was being pushed down.
       
Title: Re: Exhaust Phew
Post by: DaveA on 09 July 2012, 13:46:27
Get your hands on a compression tester and check each cylinder.
174-218 psi (12-15 bar)
Allowable difference between cylinders = 15 psi (1 bar)

  Did a test, only a cheep tester though, that showed evenly on all four pots, so I change the HBV which had not shown any leaks. Still using a lot of water and getting worse.
Title: Re: Exhaust Phew
Post by: DaveA on 09 July 2012, 13:57:45
   What I noticed as well, was that I over filled the coolant tank covering the two expansion pipes on the top of the tank, when engine running, air bubbles were coming out of the pipe from the throttle housing, is this normal???   
Title: Re: Exhaust Phew
Post by: feeutfo on 09 July 2012, 14:53:26
Might be worth taking the throttle body off to see if the leak is there and feeding the intake. :-\