Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: philsteward on 22 October 2012, 15:48:09

Title: Radiator broke = HG failing
Post by: philsteward on 22 October 2012, 15:48:09

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone had any words of wisdom but over the past couple of months, there have been three 2.2 Omegas which have had failed radiators (the top right hand plastic part split).  Two of those, mine included, which have then gone on to have a failed head gasket with a pressurising coolant system.

Is this a coincidence, or is it actually the head gasket failing, presurising the coolant system which is in turn causing the radiator to fail at I assume the weakest point?

Just a thought as if it is might be an idea to advise others who find a leak on their rad, to get the coolant system checked for exhaust gasses, so they do not have to waste time and money taking the car of the road a few weeks later to change the HG and coolant (again).

Just a thought.

Title: Re: Radiator broke = HG failing
Post by: PhilRich on 22 October 2012, 20:04:07

I think the radiator problem is caused by overpressurisation of the cooling system by the failing head gasket imo, not helped by the poor design/thin wall of the plastic radiator sides at the top hose connection :-\

Title: Re: Radiator broke = HG failing
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 22 October 2012, 20:43:07

in the last 2 headgasket cases that friends had,  both had problems with radiators (both Honda).. but one of them had a broken coolant hose before radiator..

Title: Re: Radiator broke = HG failing
Post by: philsteward on 22 October 2012, 20:50:33

Seems very logical to me, as the system would have to much pressure exerted on it. Just never put two and two together before!

Is there an easy early warning sign that the HG is on it's way out, apart from all the signs of when it HAS gone?

Title: Re: Radiator broke = HG failing
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 22 October 2012, 20:57:03

Quote from: philsteward on 22 October 2012, 20:50:33

Seems very logical to me, as the system would have to much pressure exerted on it. Just never put two and two together before!

Is there an easy early warning sign that the HG is on it's way out, apart from all the signs of when it HAS gone?

my miggy had a small head gasket leak, compression tests showed nothing..  this blue mixture test that opel/vauxhall had also showed nothing..  the car missfired very rarely.. the only sign was slow rate of constant coolant loss :-\
 
ps: also it started to leak from the coolant cap at the time.. but no one was suspicious including me..