Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: sam1977 on 18 October 2012, 21:50:06

Title: Major coolant loss
Post by: sam1977 on 18 October 2012, 21:50:06
Hi my car has been losing coolant for some time now but nothing visible. It needs filling up every week. Sometimes I find it with virtually nothing left in it but I am alerted to this by the temp guage flying up. Anyway things have now taken a dramatic turn for the worse. Once the temperature guage gets to normal there is a lot of coolant visible when looking down at the engine. Seems to be coming from behind the timing covers, I can see it running off the front of the sump and steam coming from above the timing covers immediately behind them but cannot see from where. It got so hot the other day it seemed to have a partially seizure, just as I was turning into my road it died and would only turn over very slowly. After waiting 10 minutes it turned over and gradually started so I could park it up. There was no water at all left.

There is no water in oil or vice versa.

The car is a 2.5 v6 RHD - its been in Spain/Gibraltar for years but I think was an ex Met Police car and has an MV6 badge on the back.

Any ideas of what could be happening? Or should I just scrap it.
Title: Re: Major coolant loss
Post by: amba on 18 October 2012, 22:34:36
You really need to remove plenum chamber/fupper and lower manifolds to fully inspect the oil cooler plate and thermostat housing for possible staining.Other area whilts there would be the coolant bridge as your indications suggest the leak is from with the center of the V of the heads and probably running forward to the postion you are indicating.
Title: Re: Major coolant loss
Post by: duggs on 18 October 2012, 22:42:07
Assume you've checked the normal suspect...The HBV and the pipes leading to and from.

That said, I had the exact same problem as you, same locality also...Twas a rubber pipe RIGHT behind and low down the back of the engine...couldn't see the bastard but my mechanic sorted it. Problem is that the dis pack and plugs are way back there....the water may well bugger them up also.

Good luck...problem with having such a big lump under the hood !
Title: Re: Major coolant loss
Post by: sam1977 on 18 October 2012, 23:00:13
You really need to remove plenum chamber/fupper and lower manifolds to fully inspect the oil cooler plate and thermostat housing for possible staining.Other area whilts there would be the coolant bridge as your indications suggest the leak is from with the center of the V of the heads and probably running forward to the postion you are indicating.

Thanks how do I remove the plenum and whatever else so I can see the problem - is there a guide or something you could point me in the direction of?
Title: Re: Major coolant loss
Post by: dad1uk on 18 October 2012, 23:08:55
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90657.0
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90545.0
These should help and of course you can always ask questions on the forum :y
Title: Re: Major coolant loss
Post by: jonny2112 on 18 October 2012, 23:19:15
From the location you mention, could it be the stat or transfer pipe perhaps?
When you get the plenum off you can see the stat housing, which sits in the 'v' just behind the timing belt cover.
Also, as you're adding fluid to the expansion tank you might be able to see it leaking out in this area.
Just a thought  :y
Title: Re: Major coolant loss
Post by: dbug on 19 October 2012, 02:11:42
Likely to be rubber hose running from back of coolant bridge to HBV :y
Title: Re: Major coolant loss
Post by: allen25 on 19 October 2012, 10:08:46
When this happened to me it was the water pump. It gradually got worse over a period of 10 days or so. Coolant was running down the block and dripping from the front, off the oil sump. Water pump replaced and all is fine now.
Title: Re: Major coolant loss
Post by: sam1977 on 19 October 2012, 19:42:41
Hi I took a good video of this today but I don't know how to post it - can someone tell me how to post a video so you can see better what the problem is as I am not sure its coming from this oil cooler in the V

Thanks!
Sam.
Title: Re: Major coolant loss
Post by: Terbs on 20 October 2012, 23:46:50
Sam....look in the Newbie section in the main index. There are instructions there how to post pictures, I imagine Vids are the same, or you could link to it, I suppose :y