Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: crowman on 26 September 2007, 18:36:12

Title: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: crowman on 26 September 2007, 18:36:12
Hi guys, hope you can help. My 3.0 elite estate 98 has been diagnosed with a hairline crack in the block just in front of the stat. Its been pressure tested from the header tank and is definitely weeping, I have been assured its not the stat gasket, This might explain the temp running high (97 to 99) all the time and coolant always sitting in the tray below the engine. I tried K SEAL which seemed to work for a while but back to the same now. Topping up header 1 ltr once a week.
Has anyone come across this sort of problem before? Is it terminal? I dont want to shell out for a new head but love my car. Excellent car apart from this. Please help.
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 26 September 2007, 18:38:04
Would be very surprised if the block would crack there

Personally, I would remove the stat, and fully inspect it, don't mess with things like K seal..
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: TheBoy on 26 September 2007, 18:49:29
never heard of a cracked block on v6, but if its weeping there, then it must be....
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: markey mark on 26 September 2007, 18:54:02
you must have had very very hot to crack block very rare nowadays  :-?
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: crowman on 26 September 2007, 18:57:12
Thanks for your speedy replies. I saw it weeping myself and asked if it could be the stat or gasket and was assured not. Previously had a water pump failure and i obviously suspected bad pump or fitting. Am i right that this will only get worse.
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: crowman on 26 September 2007, 19:01:17
Sorry, description might be wrong. Just below the stat. Is that the head or the block? It did get hot when the pump failed.
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: Markie on 26 September 2007, 19:11:51
its near on unknown for block to be cracked.....check everything else first and strip down with piccies on here  ;)
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: TheBoy on 26 September 2007, 19:14:56
below stat is block.  how hot did it get?
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: crowman on 26 September 2007, 19:22:38
noticed "check coolant" warning and drove to nearest garage about 300mtrs and system was empty. no indication on temp
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: crowman on 26 September 2007, 19:23:47
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its near on unknown for block to be cracked.....check everything else first and strip down with piccies on here  ;)
where are the pics
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: Markie on 26 September 2007, 19:26:17
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its near on unknown for block to be cracked.....check everything else first and strip down with piccies on here  ;)
where are the pics


lol post some pictures of what you find  ;) odd place to happen and im thinking you have perhaps a leak somewhere...

How did the garage determine the block was cracked?
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: crowman on 26 September 2007, 19:28:06
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its near on unknown for block to be cracked.....check everything else first and strip down with piccies on here  ;)
where are the pics


lol post some pictures of what you find  ;) odd place to happen and im thinking you have perhaps a leak somewhere...

How did the garage determine the block was cracked?
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: crowman on 26 September 2007, 19:30:36
sorry bout that. they pressure tested the header tank and it started weeping below the stat but dry next to the stat
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: TheBoy on 26 September 2007, 19:41:31
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noticed "check coolant" warning and drove to nearest garage about 300mtrs and system was empty. no indication on temp
Ah, so it may have got incredibly hot then....  ....anything becomes possible...
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: crowman on 26 September 2007, 19:44:02
funny place to go though. tell me if im wrong but wouldnt it have gone internally
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: TheBoy on 26 September 2007, 19:49:37
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funny place to go though. tell me if im wrong but wouldnt it have gone internally
The crack will be internal to either a piston or to the outside....
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: crowman on 26 September 2007, 19:54:53
excuse me for being a bit of a numpty but if it is cracked below the stat,what are my options?
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: Martin_1962 on 26 September 2007, 19:57:42
I lost coolant but didn't get any problems like this

Keep a look out for a 3.0 on parts

If the heads are OK even a cambelt gone would be usable
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: TheBoy on 26 September 2007, 20:10:19
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excuse me for being a bit of a numpty but if it is cracked below the stat,what are my options?
The the block is cracked, you are after a new engine or a new bottom end depending on your skills...
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 26 September 2007, 20:23:57
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excuse me for being a bit of a numpty but if it is cracked below the stat,what are my options?
The the block is cracked, you are after a new engine or a new bottom end depending on your skills...

I think this thread is going off track.. I still don't think the block is cracked......

Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: TheBoy on 26 September 2007, 20:35:17
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excuse me for being a bit of a numpty but if it is cracked below the stat,what are my options?
The the block is cracked, you are after a new engine or a new bottom end depending on your skills...

I think this thread is going off track.. I still don't think the block is cracked......

The block has been diagnosed as cracked. Leaking near stat BUT not from stat.
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 26 September 2007, 20:41:07
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excuse me for being a bit of a numpty but if it is cracked below the stat,what are my options?
The the block is cracked, you are after a new engine or a new bottom end depending on your skills...

I think this thread is going off track.. I still don't think the block is cracked......

The block has been diagnosed as cracked. Leaking near stat BUT not from stat.

So possibly from oil cooler plate, or front transfer pipe....
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: TheBoy on 26 September 2007, 20:43:49
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excuse me for being a bit of a numpty but if it is cracked below the stat,what are my options?
The the block is cracked, you are after a new engine or a new bottom end depending on your skills...

I think this thread is going off track.. I still don't think the block is cracked......

The block has been diagnosed as cracked. Leaking near stat BUT not from stat.

So possibly from oil cooler plate, or front transfer pipe....
But stated as could be seen weeping from block when pressure tested...
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 26 September 2007, 20:47:50
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excuse me for being a bit of a numpty but if it is cracked below the stat,what are my options?
The the block is cracked, you are after a new engine or a new bottom end depending on your skills...

I think this thread is going off track.. I still don't think the block is cracked......

The block has been diagnosed as cracked. Leaking near stat BUT not from stat.

So possibly from oil cooler plate, or front transfer pipe....
But stated as could be seen weeping from block when pressure tested...

From the block, or on the block is the thing. We've only got one mechanics opinion to go on, and we all know how often things are misdiagnosed on Omega's..

I'm not disputing it's a possibility, but I have had the stats off these a few times, and the block around that area is very think, I am just dubious that a cracked block is the cause of the leak...
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: justme on 26 September 2007, 20:57:49
It must be a very large crack in the block, for it to show up just pressure testing the header tank.  if so must be visable. I can not see how you could develop sufficient pressure, I certainly could not using mine,  would the rad stand such pressure ? dont forget normally the rad cap would open a long time before then. More likely than not the gasket has gone, quite possible if you have had high temp and rad pressure it may have cut a track in the casting, have seen that. Would certainly not accept that diagnosis by just pressure testing the header tank, it would be the last thing I would think of. And I would certainly not pressure test a head or block in such a way.
      In any event I assume the test was carried out whilst the engine was hot, try it when cold if a crack it is likely that it would not show.  As others have stated  more likely to be thermostat housing gasket. 1st port of call. :y  
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: Tony H on 26 September 2007, 21:39:22
I would have thought if it had got hot enough to crack the block the engine would have seized first :-/
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: Martin_1962 on 26 September 2007, 22:08:23
I think 3 miles with no coolant and no damage says a lot. (leaked out via my evaporator circuit)

When I dropped in the Tesco Value sparkling water it did not over boil.

I don't think the block is damaged either.
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: crowman on 26 September 2007, 22:13:56
thank you all for still thinking about my problem. interesting was james v6cdx idea about the oil cooler.it was changed around the same time as the water pump by the guys who diagnosed my cracked block
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: TheBoy on 26 September 2007, 22:16:00
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thank you all for still thinking about my problem. interesting was james v6cdx idea about the oil cooler.it was changed around the same time as the water pump by the guys who diagnosed my cracked block
Well sounds like a 2nd opinion may be wortwhile if you doubt the current one.
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: Andy B on 26 September 2007, 22:16:25
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thank you all for still thinking about my problem. interesting was james v6cdx idea about the oil cooler.it was changed around the same time as the water pump by the guys who diagnosed my cracked block

Time for another garage to give an opinion.
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 26 September 2007, 22:19:05
This week I see  a meggy cracked just near the piston (sent for repair)..It can be repaired somehow (  I see examples )

but I dont think it will be healthy..
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: crowman on 26 September 2007, 22:28:10
I really thank you ALL for your help. I will get a second opinion. Would kill me to scrap it.
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: davlad22 on 27 September 2007, 01:43:02
nooooooooooo! :o

You wouldn't find much else nicer to replace it with  :y Parts are great value as well  ::)

Hope the outcome is positive  ;)
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: crowman on 31 October 2007, 22:52:10
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thank you all for still thinking about my problem. interesting was james v6cdx idea about the oil cooler.it was changed around the same time as the water pump by the guys who diagnosed my cracked block
Well sounds like a 2nd opinion may be wortwhile if you doubt the current one.
Well i've had a second opinion as per TB's advice and they say the head gaskets blown just in front of the stat,right hand corner as you look at it from the front. Now for the technical bit. I'm not too bad with engines (no expert) but can wield a spanner. Can i do this myself ?. . Can i just do the affected side. The drivers side is no problem ( BTW this is causing over heating, temp always 95/98,sometimes more after an hour of stop start in london) And does this involve the dreaded timing belt.opinions much appreciated.
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: ffcgary1 on 31 October 2007, 23:17:27
Ummm i am a bit suspicous here, v6 head gaskets rarly fail even at that temp, did the temp gauge go off the scale so to say ,ie the red .  Are the garage spanners saying that the head gasket has failed to cover there ass. They may well have botched the oil cooler lid plate seal when they did that job. and they may have over tightend the stat cover and cracked it. they do reccomend that it be replaced when rebuilding the top end.Still dont think that it is the head gasket. :-/
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 31 October 2007, 23:49:35
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Ummm i am a bit suspicous here, v6 head gaskets rarly fail even at that temp, did the temp gauge go off the scale so to say ,ie the red .  Are the garage spanners saying that the head gasket has failed to cover there ass. They may well have botched the oil cooler lid plate seal when they did that job. and they may have over tightend the stat cover and cracked it. they do reccomend that it be replaced when rebuilding the top end.Still dont think that it is the head gasket. :-/

I agree, an external leak from one of these HGs is very unlikely due to the design of the waterways

I'd be looking at the Stat / transfer pipe area, as per my initial posts...
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: crowman on 31 October 2007, 23:50:38
thanks for your reply. would the things you described give the impression of a hg leak in front of the stat? losing no water apart from down the front right hand side.not a lot 1 litre a month
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 31 October 2007, 23:58:30
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thanks for your reply. would the things you described give the impression of a hg leak in front of the stat? losing no water apart from down the front right hand side.not a lot 1 litre a month

Definately, I'm sure it's the stat / oil cooler plate still

Where are you again?
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: ffcgary1 on 01 November 2007, 00:01:58
 Yes it could, you wont  know untill you take the inlet manifold and plenium off, to get to the valley and check. If your not doing it yourself then you need to take it to a garage that has some knowedge of gm v6's and what to look for. there are several on here i would not hesitate to reccomend but that is for you to consider and to look at your budget as to repair costs. The cost is not exesessive but more time consuming, so worth looking at. TOO GOOD TO SCRAP. :y
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: crowman on 01 November 2007, 00:02:51
Borehamwood Hertfordshire. Near J 5 M1
Title: Re: Help!!!! Cracked block ??????
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 01 November 2007, 08:54:21
Bloody funny place to go.....under high temp failures blocks normaly crack near cylinders i.e......where the REAL heat is.

Possibles are......somebody has fitted a water pump bolt with goo in the block hole causing the bolt to hydraulic and crack the block but, dont rule out the stat, they do leak unless the upgraded item with the modified seal etc is fitted.