Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: RolandL on 08 February 2015, 15:29:58
-
I have been chasing a coolant loss problem for some time. Current rate of loss is from correct level to coolant low light, one week.
I have changed the HBV, Radiator and the water pump (which was showing some signs of the seal leaking) slight improvement, but still losing coolant.
I have also changed the thermostat, O ring (also showing signs of seal leaking) and transfer pipe O rings no improvement in loss. I have checked all the coolant hoses and unions, no signs of any leaks. There are no signs of any leaking fluid on the ground or around the engine. Have also checked the expansion tank, no signs of any leaking. No oil residue in the expansion tank and no signs of water (emulsion) in the oil, other than some on underside of cap. But this is no more than usual as wife does short journeys, and not present on longer runs.
Also checked inside cabin, all dry no signs of water leaking from the heater matrix.
I am at a loss as to what to do next. Any ideas??
Roland
Also have a slight knocking noise from under a cam cover, which sounds like a sticking hydraulic lifter. Is Forte Top end treatment any good for unsticking it?
-
Coolant bridge, oil cooler plate, nearside head gasket, all possibilities
What's the year, engine, mileage and coolant history?
-
Would be worth pressurising the cooling system with the valley exposed and engine cold to help ascertain where it's going
-
Hi James,
It's a '99 Mini Facelift 2.5. 190k
Coolant changed every 2 years.
If it was the oil cooler plate or the head gasket (why nearside?) wouldn' it show in the oil and expansion tank? Forgive my ignorance but where is the Coolant bridge?
-
Had a similar mysterious coolant leak for several years with my old 2.5..1998...eventually went for sale at 228k
Did everything you have done and eventually concluded that it was the n/s head gasket at the back edge.It seems that the gasket in effect rots due to years of leakage from the scuttle area which destroys just the water seal on the gasket.Given the age/mileage of mine and it only being a small loss which never got worse as in effect the head area is quite high up,I just put up with it and checked coolant/topped up more regularly than most.
Coolant bridge is at the back of the valley behind the oil cooler plate and has dowty washers that seal the hollow bolts into the block.Washers have been known to fail as also the 0 ring on the transfer pipe which sits below that so all possible areas.
-
head gasket (why nearside?) wouldn' it show in the oil and expansion tank?
1998 3.0l appear to have a weakness at rear of cyl6. Not seen it on a 2.5 though, so hopefully your safe :y
Coolant leaks to outside, and drips off bellhousing
-
More than likely its my nearside head gasket gone on my X plate 2.5... Everything else has been changed or resealed.. Only got 115k on the clock too
-
Coolant bridge, oil cooler plate, nearside head gasket, all possibilities
What's the year, engine, mileage and coolant history?
I would look at these, plus radiator, if other avenues exhausted.
Re your knocking lifter - does it go away with running? Regular/frequent oil/filter changes often cure, I've used the Wynn's lifter treatment product in the past which has helped.
-
head gasket (why nearside?) wouldn' it show in the oil and expansion tank?
1998 3.0l appear to have a weakness at rear of cyl6. Not seen it on a 2.5 though, so hopefully your safe :y
Coolant leaks to outside, and drips off bellhousing
Although as a forum we first started seeing this on 1998 3 litres, I'm afraid I've also seen the exact same failure on 2.5's of that Era
I think the most recent 2.5 to suffer this was Sir Tiggers
With the mileage, if it's not the cooler plate or bridge, it does to me still seem likely :(
-
Should also say I've seen it on a couple of 2000 mv6's, my V plate the most recent
Never seen it on a 2.6 or 3.2 with multi later metal gaskets :y
-
Both gaskets on my 2000 3.0l were rotten at the back. It ran OK, but was losing water as steam; I could see it from the exhaust. Surprisingly, it wasn't pressurising the cooling system.
-
Both gaskets on my 2000 3.0l were rotten at the back. It ran OK, but was losing water as steam; I could see it from the exhaust. Surprisingly, it wasn't pressurising the cooling system.
This is because the mode of failure is between the water jacket and the outside world, the fire rings around the pistons are the one thing that remains intact :y
Which is why testing for the presence of exhaust gasses in the header tank in this situation won't tell us anything :)
-
Both gaskets on my 2000 3.0l were rotten at the back. It ran OK, but was losing water as steam; I could see it from the exhaust. Surprisingly, it wasn't pressurising the cooling system.
This is because the mode of failure is between the water jacket and the outside world, the fire rings around the pistons are the one thing that remains intact :y
Which is why testing for the presence of exhaust gasses in the header tank in this situation won't tell us anything :)
Which shows Nick W's was a different failure mode, if it was coming out of the exhaust
-
That was my point; I could understand it leaking out of the head joint and down the block, or the combustion pressurising the cooling system but not the coolant leaking into the cylinder.
-
head gasket (why nearside?) wouldn' it show in the oil and expansion tank?
1998 3.0l appear to have a weakness at rear of cyl6. Not seen it on a 2.5 though, so hopefully your safe :y
Coolant leaks to outside, and drips off bellhousing
I have, on my old 2.5 at around 80K. Nearside rear outer corner, the engine heat dried it before it became visible so the leak was a pain to find. Only exterior sign was a whitish salty mark on the block in that area. I was unaware of the 1998 issue at that time.
-
Both gaskets on my 2000 3.0l were rotten at the back. It ran OK, but was losing water as steam; I could see it from the exhaust. Surprisingly, it wasn't pressurising the cooling system.
This is because the mode of failure is between the water jacket and the outside world, the fire rings around the pistons are the one thing that remains intact :y
Which is why testing for the presence of exhaust gasses in the header tank in this situation won't tell us anything :)
Which shows Nick W's was a different failure mode, if it was coming out of the exhaust
You're totally right, sorry I misread the post, didn't realise it was entering the exhaust :(
-
Is it ok to just do the one head gasket then and leave the otherside well alone?
-
It’s one of the recurring questions related to our county’s great history and those who live here: are you a Man of Kent or a Kentish Man?
The precise definition remains open to debate even now – and this has been one long disagreement, considering that the terms were believed to have been founded more than 1,500 years ago.
According to tradition, the first Men and Maids of Kent hailed from a Germanic tribe called the Jutes who settled in the east of the county, while the Kentish Men and Maids were of Saxon origin and had settled in the west of the county.
The standard way to tell which category you fell into has been according to which side of the River Medway you were born.
If you originated from the south and east of the river, you were a Man of Kent. Those who believe they are of that lineage tell tales to set themselves apart from their counterparts on the other side of the Medway.
In 1067, it is told, the Men of Kent showed their fighting spirit by warding off William the Conqueror and winning a peace settlement from the new king allowing them certain traditional rights.
Meanwhile, the Kentish Men were said to have simply surrendered.
The story still holds sway today, although a monument in the churchyard of Saint Peter and Saint Paul’s Church in Swanscombe tells a slightly different version, suggesting it was men from both sides of the Medway who fought off William, who also carried the title of Duke of Normandy.
It is claimed the county motto Invicta originated from this tale.
The plaque reads: “Near this spot in 1067, by tradition the Men of Kent and the Kentish Men, carrying boughs on their shoulders and swords in their hands, met the invader William Duke of Normandy.
“They offered peace if he would grant their ancient rights and liberties, otherwise war and that most deadly.
“Their request was granted, and from that day the motto of Kent has been ‘Invicta’, meaning unconquered.”
Other less popular theories behind the Kentish divide include that of the 19th century author Charles Henry Fielding, who is said to have defined a Man of Kent as someone born between the River Stour in Canterbury and the sea, with all others being Kentish Men.
Other explanations include the suggestion that a Kentish Man was born in Kent but not of Kentish parents, but a Man of Kent was born in Kent to Kentish parents.
Alternatively, put forward in the 1907 book Highways And Byways In Kent, by Walter Jerrold, is the theory that the terms have a more religious meaning. According to Jerrold, the Men of Kent are supposedly those born within the limits of the Diocese of Canterbury, while Kentish Men are those born within the limits of the Diocese of Rochester.
The more you look into the background of the two county sides, the more interpretations there seem to be, which muddies the waters yet more.
With the true definition of where the two Kentish factions originated perhaps still not entirely clear, the search for the truth continues, proving the county’s ancient foundations are still a popular topic.
So, whether you believe you are a Man or Maid of Kent, or a Kentish Man or Maid, the debate will no doubt rage over pints of Kentish ale – or should that be ale of Kent?
Clear as mud ah !!! ;)
.
.
-
Is it ok to just do the one head gasket then and leave the otherside well alone?
You would have to be utterly confident in the condition of the other gaskets.
considering the dismantling required to do the job, just doing one gasket would be crazy.
-
Then both it would have to be then... Just with people pointing to one side being the usual candidate..
-
I did my headgaskets just before Christmas and it's not that difficult, just take your time. :y
Jame's guide was a great help, get a copy of the cambelt video and of course a Haynes manual to hand is a good idea. :)
The other thing I'd do if I did one again is to have a spare T55 for the head bolts, as I destroyed mine halfway through doing them up. ::)
-
I have absolutely no intention of attempting to do this myself... No confidence what so ever .. However there is a forum member on here who is going to take a look at it for me at the end of the month.. And work out costs ect...