Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: benbrunt on 02 January 2009, 10:52:35

Title: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: benbrunt on 02 January 2009, 10:52:35
Morning all

Past three weeks or so have seen a coolant leak get progressively worse. Oil filler has been fine up until this morning when I noticed mayo, though thankfully the oil in the dipstick is a light brown as it's only done 1,000 miles.

The coolant is brown and murky but doesn't smell of fumes so I think the oil cooler is on the way out, the only thing I can't figure out is that the car when idling is not smooth like it was until very recently. It's like a washing machine when the load isn't evened out if that makes sense!

Could that be a case of water leaking onto something electrical?

Here's the state of the filler cap, but it was -3 yesterday so I think it's likely down to that.

Any opinions?

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3284/3159514154_9a18aef79e_b.jpg)
Title: Re: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: HerefordElite on 02 January 2009, 11:24:56
that is quite a lot of mayo :-X, more than i usualy see but as you say it has been very cold :-?
Title: Re: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: TheBoy on 02 January 2009, 11:32:11
if oil in coolant - oil cooler. remember your dipsteck is clean....
Title: Re: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: benbrunt on 02 January 2009, 12:53:31
Cheers - I've messaged Elite Pete who can repair the oil cooler and HBV for 300 drinking vouchers which I think is reasonable so I'll organise getting it to him methinks
Title: Re: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: benbrunt on 03 January 2009, 14:02:43
The only thing that concerned me was that the cooling system seemed to be under a fair bit of pressure - in your experience would this be as a result of the oil cooler failing or would it indicate something else?
Title: Re: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: markey mark on 03 January 2009, 14:05:49
yep oil is at a higher pressure than water  :y
Title: Re: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: ngrainqey on 03 January 2009, 14:06:29
it could still be the oil cooler because oil will be getting into the coolant system (so getting more fluid into the same amount of cooling system room so more pressure)
Title: Re: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: benbrunt on 03 January 2009, 14:09:33
Cheers chaps, can't wait to get it sorted, feel like a cat on a hot tin roof whilst all isn't well with her!
Title: Re: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: euro527 on 08 January 2009, 23:14:34
Hi all
I AM HAVING A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH MY 3.0LTR V6 108,000 MILES WERE I'M LOOSING COOLANT AND THE OIL FILLER IS FULL OF MAYO, DIPSTICK IS CLEAN THOUGH, I CAN'T SEE ANY EVIDENCE OF OIL IN THE COOLANT TANK BUT IT DOES LOOK BROWN STAINED ON SIDE WALLS, WILL THIS BE THE OIL COOLER OR HG, HG WAS ONLY DONE ABOUT 30000 MILES AGO BY DEALER BEFORE I GOT THE CAR AT COST OF 2500 POUNDS, IF IT IS OIL COOLER I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY THE DIPSTICK DOES NOT GET MAYO.
CHEERS
Title: Re: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: fife_omega_v6 on 08 January 2009, 23:20:57
Quote
Hi all
I AM HAVING A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH MY 3.0LTR V6 108,000 MILES WERE I'M LOOSING COOLANT AND THE OIL FILLER IS FULL OF MAYO, DIPSTICK IS CLEAN THOUGH, I CAN'T SEE ANY EVIDENCE OF OIL IN THE COOLANT TANK BUT IT DOES LOOK BROWN STAINED ON SIDE WALLS, WILL THIS BE THE OIL COOLER OR HG, HG WAS ONLY DONE ABOUT 30000 MILES AGO BY DEALER BEFORE I GOT THE CAR AT COST OF 2500 POUNDS, IF IT IS OIL COOLER I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY THE DIPSTICK DOES NOT GET MAYO.

it is normal for some mayo due to the plastic filler neck having a content of condensation but the picture above is bad
CHEERS
Title: Re: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: BigAl on 08 January 2009, 23:30:55
is it just me or is this issue specific to silver omega's  :question :y
Title: Re: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: benbrunt on 09 January 2009, 00:20:08
I wish! - mines Gold tho ;D
Title: Re: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: euro527 on 09 January 2009, 00:30:19
i wish mine,s black
Title: Re: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: Jim on 25 January 2009, 14:02:03
I've just checked my 3.2, and the coolant was low and the oil filler cap liked like the photo at the start of the thread :-[
Title: Re: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: Elite Pete on 25 January 2009, 15:15:31
The one above Jim was using water at a good rate, about 2 litres per 10 miles. At one point it sounded like the starter motor had jamed which I put down to water in a bore which had caused hydraulicing.
Title: Re: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: Jim on 25 January 2009, 17:59:58
Quote
The one above Jim was using water at a good rate, about 2 litres per 10 miles. At one point it sounded like the starter motor had jamed which I put down to water in a bore which had caused hydraulicing.
I've just been for a quick 20 min drive (approx 15 miles) and I had to top up the coolant again about ½ litre :-[,

any ideas
Title: Re: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 25 January 2009, 18:01:27
Can you not see any leaks anywhere Jim?
The usual places?
Title: Re: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: Jim on 25 January 2009, 18:29:03
Quote
Can you not see any leaks anywhere Jim?
The usual places?
I'II have a look in the morning :y
Title: Re: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 25 January 2009, 18:43:04
Fit a schrader valve into a coolant cap and pressurise the system with an air line and look for the leak
Title: Re: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: Jim on 25 January 2009, 19:31:14
Quote
Fit a schrader valve into a coolant cap and pressurise the system with an air line and look for the leak
Good Idea :y

Where do I get one of them from ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: hotel21 on 25 January 2009, 19:38:38
Quote
Quote
Fit a schrader valve into a coolant cap and pressurise the system with an air line and look for the leak
Good Idea :y

Where do I get one of them from ;D ;D ;D
I would speak to an MT type person.....   ::)
Title: Re: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: TheBoy on 25 January 2009, 19:40:54
Quote
Fit a schrader valve into a coolant cap and pressurise the system with an air line and look for the leak
But don't take it beyond 12-14psi !

Jim - I made one, went down tyre place, asked for a valve, and just fitted into an old cap :)
Title: Re: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: Jim on 25 January 2009, 20:36:52
Quote
Quote
Quote
Fit a schrader valve into a coolant cap and pressurise the system with an air line and look for the leak
Good Idea :y

Where do I get one of them from ;D ;D ;D
I would speak to an MT type person.....   ::)
;)
Title: Re: V6 Headgasket / Oil Cooler / HBV
Post by: Jim on 25 January 2009, 20:37:39
Quote
Quote
Fit a schrader valve into a coolant cap and pressurise the system with an air line and look for the leak
But don't take it beyond 12-14psi !

Jim - I made one, went down tyre place, asked for a valve, and just fitted into an old cap :)
Sounds like a plan :y