Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: DrAndyB on 19 September 2013, 09:40:18
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Hi,
I have just noticed a small coolant leak on my omega (2.5V6 CDX – V plate – 59k on clock – owned from new).
It appears to leave a small (probably a couple of teaspoons full) of green coolant/water under the car when parked.
It appears to have trickled down and drips off the two bolts at the bottom of the gearbox/cluctch ? (two small torx bolt heads stick straight down) right in the middle just behind the front wheels.
I suspect its originating from higher toward the back of the engine (at the back) and working its way down. I perhaps noticed a little of green water resudue on the bottom of the AC compressor (more towards passenger side) but the drip ends up coming off the two bolts I mentioned.
I have read there are some pipes to watch out for at the back of the engine bay ?
I only do about 1000 miles a year, and probably only use it once a week so not sure if that has lead to the problems but my journey is about 10 miles so all up to temp.
I was looking to see if anybody knew of a good independent garage in the Chester / Wirral area ?
Thanks in advance.
Andy.
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Hi,
I have just noticed a small coolant leak on my omega (2.5V6 CDX – V plate – 59k on clock – owned from new).
It appears to leave a small (probably a couple of teaspoons full) of green coolant/water under the car when parked.
It appears to have trickled down and drips off the two bolts at the bottom of the gearbox/cluctch ? (two small torx bolt heads stick straight down) right in the middle just behind the front wheels.
I suspect its originating from higher toward the back of the engine (at the back) and working its way down. I perhaps noticed a little of green water resudue on the bottom of the AC compressor (more towards passenger side) but the drip ends up coming off the two bolts I mentioned.
I have read there are some pipes to watch out for at the back of the engine bay ?
I only do about 1000 miles a year, and probably only use it once a week so not sure if that has lead to the problems but my journey is about 10 miles so all up to temp.
I was looking to see if anybody knew of a good independent garage in the Chester / Wirral area ?
Thanks in advance.
Andy.
Welcome to the forum
Any coolant that drips from the bottom of the gearbox where you say is likely to be from the heater bypass valve http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90574.0
The 'green water residue' from the bottom of your a/c compressor will more than likely be the dye they put into the a/c system to help identify refrigerant leaks ..... you look to have found one! ;)
Just plain old Andy B ::) ;)
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Ditto, HBV (Heater Bypass Valve)
Alan
PS It could just drip gently for months before failing completely, or like mine leak badly within a day.
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Many thanks.
The guide looks fairly simple (last words !) so I may give it a go myself.
I assume if I am carefull I can use the same hoses so not need to get anything extra other than new HBV (from Vauxhall) and antifreeze.
Any recommendations on antifreeze (ratios) and refilling process/proceedures when its been drained to prevent airlocks ?
I have not had the cam belt and tensioner done for a while, so I am perhaps talking myself into getting a good local independent to do both ?
thanks all,
Andy.
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Many thanks.
The guide looks fairly simple (last words !) so I may give it a go myself.
I assume if I am carefull I can use the same hoses so not need to get anything extra other than new HBV (from Vauxhall) and antifreeze.
Any recommendations on antifreeze (ratios) and refilling process/proceedures when its been drained to prevent airlocks ?
I have not had the cam belt and tensioner done for a while, so I am perhaps talking myself into getting a good local independent to do both ?
thanks all,
Andy.
All hoses & clips can be re-used, you'll find that the clips can be a sod sometimes to remove/replace. You lose very little anti-freeze when you do the job and no need to drain it all, unless of course it's due for a change anyway, 50/50 is what you need to end up with. If you look through the guides, I'm sure there's one for the coolant :-\ the whole system holds around 10 litres
Elite Pete isn't very far from you & Darth Loo Knee has just made a reappearance & is willing to travel
Elite Pete (http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=124)
Darth Loo Knee aka Daz (http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=12562)
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Just run car up to temp (with heater on hi for a bit and then low) and no sign of coolant drips from the HBV or under car ?
I'll leave overnight, but maybe that it only leaks a short amount when it cools down ?
Tried to find the link of how to drain and refill the coolant, but not much luck :-(
Hummmmm
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Just run car up to temp (with heater on hi for a bit and then low) and no sign of coolant drips from the HBV or under car ?
....
HBV can often leak or not at varying set temps or even whether the a/c is on or off.
I knew there was a guide ;) ;) It was done a a 4 cylinder car, but the routine is the same for V6s Considering where you say the coolant is dripping, it's almost certain that it'll be the HBV
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90625.0 (http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90625.0)
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.
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Fantastic - thanks for the coolant link. As mine is a V6, I may top up once it runs clear with antifreeze straight as I gather this will give me the correct 50/50 mix.
One final query - it mentions "burping" the hoses ? Is this squeezing the rad hoses when engine running ? And is there a particular to focus the "burping" :-)
Thanks again in advance.
Andy.
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Could it be oil cooler plate needs resealing?
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Daft question, but given the Leaking fluid when I saw it was Green, I assume this is the OLD coolant as I see people mention red or blue, with red the new stuff.
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Blue coolant could have a green tinge to it :-\
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Daft question, but given the Leaking fluid when I saw it was Green, I assume this is the OLD coolant as I see people mention red or blue, with red the new stuff.
I assume it is too ..... what colour is the stuff in your header tank? :-\
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Fantastic - thanks for the coolant link. As mine is a V6, I may top up once it runs clear with antifreeze straight as I gather this will give me the correct 50/50 mix.
One final query - it mentions "burping" the hoses ? Is this squeezing the rad hoses when engine running ? And is there a particular to focus the "burping" :-)
Thanks again in advance.
Andy.
As above, you'll lose very little coolant when you do the HBV, so I wouldn't worry too much, you could always top up witha 50/50 mix afterwards.
Burping .... yes, just squeezing the hoses, no particular sequence. Run the engine with the cap off, keep topping up with coolant/water, don't let it get fully hot, otherwise it'll all spew out the top of the header. When the level stay constant, replace the cap & then just keep an eye on the level over the next few days
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Just been for a lay down under the car as it's dripping now;-)
Coolant is definitely Green.
Appears to run down what I assume is bell housing, by starter motor.
I have put hands around the HBV and all dry !
I have few pics I shall try to post.
If oil cooler, guess this is more difficult job ?
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Are you sure it is coolant and not air-con gas thats had green dye put in?
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Pasting the pics has beaten me :-(
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Just been for a lay down under the car as it's dripping now;-)
Coolant is definitely Green.
But is your coolant in your header tank green? Normally it would be either blue or red. Blue could look a little green perhaps but true green is much more likely to be the air con dye as mentioned. If your header tank coolant is blue or red and the drips are green then they are not coolant.
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Thanks to all. I shall double check coolant colour in header tomorrow when light and report back.
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Not checked coolant colour yet (later when get home :))
HOWEVER
I noticed when looking at the HBV again that there is small wire (spade connector on the with black plastic shrowd) not connected to anything.
Plastic shrowd has a small chip on it, but should this be connected to anything ?
Have a knocked it when feeling :( the HBV
Is there any pics of the back of the engine I could perhaps see to ascertain where it may plug onto (I can't feel an obvious terminal for it to plug back onto)
Cheers,
Andy,
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Sorry - The spade connector is sitting on the end of a single wire, originating from the back NS behind all the pipes at back, and is sitting near the HBV looking at me all homeless with nothing connected to it ?
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Sounds like coolant temperature sensor is not connected - does the temperature gauge needle work in your car?
Does it look like the pic in the link?
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=116572.30 (http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=116572.30)
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Temp guage did work, but not ran engine since I had a "feel around back" of the engine :D
Thanks for the pic - I'll have another feel later now I see where it may have come from :-)
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As advised ,only small wire with spade connector at back of engine is for the temp sender unit.If it wasnt a good tight fit you can easily disturb it poking around the hbv area.
Wiull require the plenum chamber to be removed to be able to get at it properly to replace..would also be wise just squashing the spade terminal abit to ensure it is then a good tight fit incase you dislodge it again.
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Can be done without taking off plenum
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DrAndyB,
I have exactly the same problem, in the same area you describe to the T. Checked the HBV with different heat setting and bone dry. I know mine is coolant
I have not identified the source yet so will keep an eye on this thread
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Hi all,
Just a quick report back that it was the Oil cooler plate >:(
A BIG thanks to Daz for sorting it out :y :y :y (and cambelt, water pump and plugs change :D - original plugs on 57k mls :y engine whispers and sings like a good-en now - well pleased ;D)
Small weep from cooler plate seal noticed after plenum off and engine cooled a little. It then tracked down either side towards the back of the block to then drip and run down either side of bell housing and drip off the two bolts on the bottom of gearbox. Never dripped when hot as was clearly evaporating before it could go anywhere and when completely cooled things obviously expanded and contracted back and assume water pressure then dropped back down.
Thanks to all for advice.
Andy.
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All sorted then, good ol' Dazzle :)
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Hi all,
Just a quick report back that it was the Oil cooler plate >:(
A BIG thanks to Daz for sorting it out :y :y :y (and cambelt, water pump and plugs change :D - original plugs on 57k mls :y engine whispers and sings like a good-en now - well pleased ;D)
Small weep from cooler plate seal noticed after plenum off and engine cooled a little. It then tracked down either side towards the back of the block to then drip and run down either side of bell housing and drip off the two bolts on the bottom of gearbox. Never dripped when hot as was clearly evaporating before it could go anywhere and when completely cooled things obviously expanded and contracted back and assume water pressure then dropped back down.
Thanks to all for advice.
Andy.
Glad its all sorted :y
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This is probably what's causing mine. Is it in plain view to see with only the plenum off? What parts are needed and is it a easy DIY job?
Thanks and sorry for bumping and old thread
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It was a bit of a bugger to do, but Daz worked his wonder and looked effortless :y
Key was getting down to the oil cooler and be able to remove easily. Plenum and Sandwich plate came off and oil cooler pipes (both ends :D which was a bugger at the oil filter end :-\ ). Cooler and it's plate was removed and plate and block cleaned like a new pin and re-sealed with appropriate sealant. Oil cooler was in fine condition so reused it but we used new Dowty washers for the oil pipes as not want them leaking oil :) (and don't bend pipes when moving). Once off it had cooled for a few hours and we could see where it was then starting to track down the sides of the cooler plate, onto the block on both sides of the V and towards the back of the engine and then down each side of bell housing.
I would not have done it, as rather a lot of stuff came off before started putting things back :D but luckily Daz had done a few before ;) and was using "the force" Luke :)
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He's a goodun is young Dazzle. :y
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Hes actually a bloody nuisance and pig ugly too,but he knows his way around a V6. :y