Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Terbs on 16 August 2012, 10:34:10
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Hi all....
Just had cambelts and water pump done...low coolant warning coming up. Called in to those that did the job. and they checked for air locks. They said there were no visable leaks, but they spent quite a while doing the water. No bodge job place...family, and I get 'Royalty' treatment from all the mechanics. I carried on to Brackley, where I checked the water again, and it had gone down, but not to warning level. I topped up again, drove the 40miles back home and it has gone down slightly again.
I have checked the HBV with heating/air con in all positions and it is as dry as a virgins tush. I have been all over the engine, at least as much as I can get to, and all is dry.
There are no wet carpets inside either.
Can the air in the system take a while to work its way out, or is there something more sinister.
Thanks
Tony
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I find the system self-bleeds pretty easily, so I suspect a leak. Is the coolant drain valve on the nearside of the radiator dry? Maybe it's failed to re-seal?
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I should also add that I changed my water pump a year ago and that leaked. Pattern pump, and the O ring behind the pump had turned to plastic within 2 weeks use. Replaced it with a gen. VX O ring and has been fine since.
In this case the water was not easy to spot. It eventually emerged onto the lip around the sump, just to the right of the crank pulley.
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Once the system has been fully opened ,such as removing the water pump,you can expect some small pockets of air to remain for a while.
Bset bet is to remove expansion bottle header tank and leave on fast idle for 20-30 mins or so atleast until the thermostat opens and cooling fans start running.Even then you may find a small drop for a while but doesn,t sound like a real problem as despite me topping my coolant bottle up to the top level ridge when cold I have always lost about 10mm of level but never a drop more.I have checked,rechecked and then checked again and like yours mine is drier than the driest thing possible so think its just a VX thing !!
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Job has only been done 36 hours ago, Kevin. I can't see the drain plug....it seems well hidden. I have been under and above, but all is well covered. But from reaching in, feeling, looking, using a torch, I cannot find anything untoward. :(
Is it worth putting in one of those coolant system leak things
If all else fails, I'll monitor it, and see what happens. If its a heater matrix, I assume the carpets would be wet ? :y
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Is it worth putting in one of those coolant system leak things
Nooo! :o
Keep an eye on it over a few days, and if it's still dropping, the best thing to do would be to remove the scuttle and plenum and then pressure test the cooling system, so you can see if there are leaks in the less accessible places such as around the oil cooler plate. :y
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I can remember at the Wycombe meet last year, you, Jamie, Chris had the plenum off of Radar's engine and used my footpump to pressure test his system. I believe you found a leak in the depths. :(
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I would be just inclined to monitor it for a few days .
Top up to level when cold and stick a bit of masking tape on bottle and draw line where coolant level is .Check evry day and see what the drop is ..if any ..then go from there.
If it wasn,t loosing any prior to recent work and the only think in the water system that has been replaced is the water pump then suppose that could be the issue as KW has said ,but I would just monitor it a while if its only dropping a little.
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Thanks Amba....got it running now to warm up, and I'll do as you say, monitor for a while :y
Cheers fellas :y
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*Update*
Left the engine running for 20 mins...took it round the estate....got back opened the bonnet....all clear, then revved it and water came out of the cooling fan area... :(
Seems like rad is fubared :( Is it an easy or hard job to change it ;) Also would you fit a used one from here or only fit a new one :y
Thanks
Tony
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As Kevin say's check the drain valve
Go under forward of the passenger front wheel
Might be easier with R/H steering lock
It's about on the bottom corner of the radiator
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If garage drained coolant via the radiator drain plug...passenger side front..they may have not seated correctly or washers might have had it.
You should be able to see if coolant is dripping from rad drain plug just by looking up from under the front nearside just under bumper.
Could you see a definite leak from the radiator then ?
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Cliffo B/Amba...when the water came out, it was through the fan, and some of the water is sitting on top of fan hub mounting :y
I can't take off the rad cover, cuz swmbo has gone out in other car with all my tools in it.
I have just left it running again and revved it, but no water now...it must be intermittent :(
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Hmm. Sounds like the rad if it's that high, but check the rubber hose that runs across the top of the cooling fans.
The radiators often go due to a crack in the plastic just below where the top hose meets the radiator.
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Agree at that height it has to be radiator tubes or casing.
If radiator best option would be to buy new as could just be fitting a similar damaged unit,although does need thorough investigation first as no point buying whats not needed.
Possibly worth a pressure test when engine and coolant have cooled down as that should help identify .
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There is 2 connections on the rad that screw in on the passenger side , one of mine needed nipping up tight to stop a leak when the system was pressurized ...check those as well :)
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Good thinking, Batman..... ;D
Yes...I think pressure test is order of the day :y
I'll keep you posted ;)
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Rad pressure tested.......pressure did not drop :(
However, after leaving the engine running for a while, then revving, I noticed a small jet of water shoot out from in between the fan blades. Did another pressure test, and still no drop. Weird.
Drove to Brackley, temp started rising as I joined A43, then had to wait at roundabout, and temp went into the red. As I pulled away, coolant warning came on, so stopped in layby, cooled down, topped up and continued to Brackley...no probs.
Pressure tested again ....no drop >:(......but again, noticed another small jet through fan.
Came home today.....ran ok till Wycombe, then temp up slightly, till I stopped at traffic lights, and temp went into red, but no coolant warning.
Did the last three miles with clenched buttocks, but got home ok. This time, under the bonnet was well wet, so have put a new rad in. :y
Just hope nothing else is broke as temp went so high (the fans did cut in)
Could water and anti freeze on the aux belt make it slip and the new water pump not work ???? Why did the temp go into the red, with fans working :(
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Why did the temp go into the red, with fans working :(
Not enough coolant for it to circulate through engine and rad. properly.