Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: fastandy36 on 08 May 2013, 08:54:36

Title: 1000 miles in 4 days
Post by: fastandy36 on 08 May 2013, 08:54:36
bringing my 2.5 elite (auto) to Ireland in a fortnights time and will be doing crazymileage. 1000 miles is the minimum guess... And was wondering about 2 things. 1, is it better to use cruise control as often as possible to keep fuel costs down, and 2, are there any common problems the omega might suffer from, ie, auto box fluid overheating etc ...
Any thoughts ...?
Title: Re: 1000 miles in 4 days
Post by: Entwood on 08 May 2013, 09:03:54
1000 miles in 4 days in nothing to an omega ... done that loads of times... sometimes with a 'van on the back ...  :)

Cruise control will use MORE fuel (slightly) than a gentle right foot, but will probably save your licence if sat on motorways for long periods as the speed tends to creep up if driving "manually". Reason being the cruise tends to accelerate up hills to maintain speed, sometimes even changing down, when a gentle right foot allows the speed to "drift" a little, and allows you to anticipate the brow of the hill which cruise does not.

Driving with windows/sunroof open will use marginally more fuel than having them shut and using the air con.

As long as coolant and gearbox fluids are correct, and there is no rubbish blocking the rads, there should be no problem with heat at all.

I always carry a spare crank sensor as its one of the few things that stops a V6 dead, and it is a very easy thing to change.

Just my thoughts .. nowt else .. :)

Title: Re: 1000 miles in 4 days
Post by: fastandy36 on 08 May 2013, 09:18:51
thank you sir... any ideas are most welcome  :)
Title: Re: 1000 miles in 4 days
Post by: Rog on 08 May 2013, 09:24:11


1,000 miles really isn't so much. The car is either reliable and well maintained, or it isn't.

I frequently take mine to France, BUT I always make certain that I have European breakdown cover.
Title: Re: 1000 miles in 4 days
Post by: fastandy36 on 08 May 2013, 09:41:24
well to be honest its in mint cond, just passed its mot and has taken us from corby to skegness on hols, with one trip home mid-hol, and it didnt miss a beat. I dont forsee it letting me down, I was just trying to think outside the box. 1000 miles is prob absolute minimum too, as we're driving to holyhead, and getting the ferry to ireland but staying about 2 hours inland with wifeys family.
Title: Re: 1000 miles in 4 days
Post by: omega3000 on 08 May 2013, 11:41:28
Take an aux belt , mine and a few others have had belts heat up and snap if they are old-ish/worn , mine snapped coming back from scotland ... luckily i had breakdown cover as i was 200 miles from corby . Mine shattered the aux pulley wheel  :( 800 mile round trip ..
Title: Re: 1000 miles in 4 days
Post by: Varche on 08 May 2013, 11:57:32
In the last eight years we have done a number of drives in either a 2.5 or 3.0 litre from Midlands to Southern Spain - sometimes in 24 hours. Omegas are great cars for distance. Cruise is great for avoiding speeding fines. As said otherwise your speed creeps up and up. have a good trip! :y Post some photos after.
Title: Re: 1000 miles in 4 days
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 08 May 2013, 12:02:42
Take an aux belt , mine and a few others have had belts heat up and snap if they are old-ish/worn , mine snapped coming back from scotland ... luckily i had breakdown cover as i was 200 miles from corby . Mine shattered the aux pulley wheel  :( 800 mile round trip ..

Lol, it would be the aux pulley wheel (aux belt tensioner) that would bugger the belt  :y (Not the other way round)
Title: Re: 1000 miles in 4 days
Post by: omegod on 08 May 2013, 13:11:14
I took my 3.0 LPG a couple of years ago, same route over and stayed near kildare. LPG was the same price as unleaded for some reason  :-\.  I took a spare Crank sensor and HBV but used neither.

Some nice driving over there :y

Don't worry about the automatic ANPR toll road which you are meant to pay online, they'l never find you  ;D
Title: Re: 1000 miles in 4 days
Post by: Kevin Wood on 08 May 2013, 13:21:12
I will be doing 800 miles just getting to Northern Ireland and back soon, in a car with dubious wet weather gear in what looks to be a howling gale. Another 300 miles a day when up there, too, unless the weather is so bad I take the "sit in the hotel and drink Guinness" option. ::)
Title: Re: 1000 miles in 4 days
Post by: tunnie on 08 May 2013, 13:50:05
Did around 2,000 miles in the 2.2 in 4 days during the winter, driving to Austria and back in -22 temp! Fully loaded up with snowboarding gear too.

Cruise control will use more fuel but it's a damn site easier, as you just have to steer.

Check all fluids, before leaving. Should be fine  :y
Title: Re: 1000 miles in 4 days
Post by: omega3000 on 08 May 2013, 13:52:39
Take an aux belt , mine and a few others have had belts heat up and snap if they are old-ish/worn , mine snapped coming back from scotland ... luckily i had breakdown cover as i was 200 miles from corby . Mine shattered the aux pulley wheel  :( 800 mile round trip ..

Lol, it would be the aux pulley wheel (aux belt tensioner) that would bugger the belt  :y (Not the other way round)

Yes , grease it up , 5 min job  :)
Title: Re: 1000 miles in 4 days
Post by: Selseybill on 08 May 2013, 16:04:00
I regularly drive to Walton upon Thames in Surrey overnight when my wife stays at her Bothers place. Then drive back the same evening after a few hours kip. A total of 1674 miles round trip. On the boring bits i use cruise control the rest with a gentle foot. The mig just eats the miles up with no problem. On the run sitting around 80mph ish fully loaded i still get about 33 -35 mpg. If i sit around 70mph the car seems to us a tad more gas. I've got to give one more tutorial at Pompy navy base in the morning then fill the flask and a couple of sandwiches, then am off home to France for a well earned rest.