Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: omega squared on 26 January 2014, 18:01:44
-
Just found out my new Omega V6 needs a head gasket and is boiling its water. Not a nice surprise, only my second journey in the car since buying it.
Anyone done one recenty how much are the parts?
Might get someone else to do this for me anyone recommended, located SE (surrey/middlesex)
-
Needs diagnosing for definite first. What symptoms are you getting? :)
-
2.5 2.6 3.0 or 3.2 ??
-
Unusual for heads to go except for some 2.5 and 3.0s built in '98...
Yours is a 2.6 iirc :-\ as Webby has said, the two things might not be related...
-
Blocked rad,or faulty water pump...
-
Dont worry I know when a headgasket is gone, and this one is well and truly gone pressuring and boiling up its water even in a short trip, it was probably on its last legs when traded to me (shame they forgot to mention it).
-
Unusual for heads to go except for some 2.5 and 3.0s built in '98...
Yours is a 2.6 iirc :-\ as Webby has said, the two things might not be related...
Hi Al yes this is the 2.6, a 2003 model. Shame to have a big problem like this when I just got it, still got the 3.0 so not the end of the world just more expense not good in January.
-
Price of parts depends on which engine... also has a bearing on labour times as the later engines have less to undo :y
Many an Omega has had coolant issues misdiagnosed as head gasket failure, hence the question about symptoms :-\
Some light reading here...
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=118533.0;all (http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=118533.0;all)
:y
You're pretty unlucky if it is the HG tbh :-\
-
Dont worry I know when a headgasket is gone, and this one is well and truly gone pressuring and boiling up its water even in a short trip, it was probably on its last legs when traded to me (shame they forgot to mention it).
Fair enough mate. :y
Out of interest (as I'm still in College learning) are you seeing the water boil in the expansion tank? Or boil out somewhere else?
-
I did my 3.0l at the start of the month. You're looking at about £70 for a head gasket set, and £25 for the bolts. Unless you get lucky, my headset was £12.80 off ebay. New manifold studs and nuts are a good idea - mine were a fiver from a local supplier. Add another tenner for various odds&sods and consumables. You'll need some suitable sealant for the cam caps and covers; a new thermostat is probably a good idea as it's easy whilst it's apart, and a cambelt is sensible unless it has only recently done. I didn't bother, as mine is 18months or 15,000miles(2 years use for me), and I totally forgot to order one.
The real issue is just the sheer amount of time the job takes, although I was suffering from bronchitis and working outside which slowed me down somewhat!
And don't forget, you'll need the cam locking kit.
-
I would seriously rule out the oil cooler, as alluded to by Al, before pressing on with a HG change. It is a common mistake which fools most mechanics, including the more reputable ones. Look for brown discolouring in the coolant or a sludge. Mayo in the oil is a sign of short trips and non-GM oil and not HG failure on these engines.
HG failure causing water to spew out is very improbable on the V6. The fire rings are pretty bullet proof next to the rest of the gasket. I personally changed my HGs after a long-running saga with cooling issues. Turns out the gasket had rusted away yet the fire rings were all intact.
-
The only way to confirm a HG is doing a leak down test. I'd want concrete proof prior to condemning it... even if it wasnt the V6.
-
Unusual for heads to go except for some 2.5 and 3.0s built in '98...
Yours is a 2.6 iirc :-\ as Webby has said, the two things might not be related...
Hi Al yes this is the 2.6, a 2003 model. Shame to have a big problem like this when I just got it, still got the 3.0 so not the end of the world just more expense not good in January.
Ok well we need to consider some key things to udnerstand the job/cost impact.
The 2.6 and 3.2 utilise metal multilayer gaskets which are VERY rebust, if there is an issue with the headgasket then you need to be considering why and what other items are affecetd (e.g. over heating being a cause with potentialy damaged heads).
As for the symptoms, the same can occur when the cooling system is not fully sealed for some reason.
-
I'm happy to help with this and bet its way more simple than HG
Lots of other causes eg water pump fallen to bits!
I'm in beaconsfield
-
Webby there are lots of other ways to diagnose HG
Eg
Compression test (looking for differences between adjacent cylinders)
Sniffer test (exhaust fumes in coolant)
Cross contamination (coolant in oil, not usually vice versa on v6)
Visual inspection (I've seen the rear corner dripping on some 3.0 models)
:y
-
Webby there are lots of other ways to diagnose HG
Eg
Compression test (looking for differences between adjacent cylinders)
Sniffer test (exhaust fumes in coolant)
Cross contamination (coolant in oil, not usually vice versa on v6)
Visual inspection (I've seen the rear corner dripping on some 3.0 models)
:y
Compression test wont tell you you have a HG failure. it will only tell you you're losing compression in a cylinder. Although adjacent cylinders would indicate a HG failure i'd still want a leak down doing (or the sniff test as you mentioned).
Obviously, the sniff test i forgot about though. And yes if you can see it leaking out of where the head meets the block but i've never seen that. and really hard to see on the V6 i'd imagine
-
Ps, not doubting what you're saying. It's just been drilled in to me to have something (leak down, block test etc) that definitely confirms it's that and not something else. :)
-
I agree, the more tests performed together can only make for a safer diagnosis.
Yeah the leaking corner was hard to see. I was on my back under the car looking up the near side of the tranny, getting drips in my eye :D
-
I agree, the more tests performed together can only make for a safer diagnosis.
Yeah the leaking corner was hard to see. I was on my back under the car looking up the near side of the tranny, getting drips in my eye :D
;D ;D ;D
-
Leak down test is a favorite of mine as you see where the air your pumping in is escaping to whether it be burnt out valves or gaskets without the noise of a running engine.
-
I agree, the more tests performed together can only make for a safer diagnosis.
Yeah the leaking corner was hard to see. I was on my back under the car looking up the near side of the tranny, getting drips in my eye :D
;D ;D ;D
Sounds like a film that TB said he watched ;D
-
I agree, the more tests performed together can only make for a safer diagnosis.
Yeah the leaking corner was hard to see. I was on my back under the car looking up the near side of the tranny, getting drips in my eye :D
;D ;D ;D
Sounds like a film that TB said he watched ;D
Watched? Yeah, right. His name was in the credits, along with Darth Loo-knee. ;)
-
I agree, the more tests performed together can only make for a safer diagnosis.
Yeah the leaking corner was hard to see. I was on my back under the car looking up the near side of the tranny, getting drips in my eye :D
;D ;D ;D
Sounds like a film that TB said he watched ;D
Watched? Yeah, right. His name was in the credits, along with Darth Loo-knee. ;)
I thought it was a typo. I mean his normal name at weekends is jane, not Soozi-floozy.
-
I'm happy to help with this and bet its way more simple than HG
Lots of other causes eg water pump fallen to bits!
I'm in beaconsfield
Thanks will send you my details cheers