Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: jampot1979 on 05 May 2009, 20:14:39

Title: Do head gaskets always go on omegas?
Post by: jampot1979 on 05 May 2009, 20:14:39
Hi, I have recently been given a 2.2 2002 omega cd auto. It needs a new exhaust and afew other bits for the mot but other than that all seems good with it.

Was talking to a mechanic bloke today and he said that head gaskets always fail on omegas and the best thing I could do with the car is to get rid before this ever happens.

I was planning to sell my old vw bora and keep the omega as it has more toys on it and seems a good car.

Is it true that head gaskets fail on omegas all the time etc? Just want you guys opinions on omegas and what your thoughts are.

cheers peeps
Title: Re: Do head gaskets always go on omegas?
Post by: Welung666 on 05 May 2009, 20:21:54
They do go on the 4 pots a lot more in comparison to the V6's but it's not an everyday thing. As long as it's properly maintained then it'll be highly unlikely it will fail. I don't think your mechanic is much of one to be fair (no offense meant) :y
Title: Re: Do head gaskets always go on omegas?
Post by: Bumbazor on 05 May 2009, 20:23:41
They probably fail more often than not due to poor maintenance which most owners don't keep up with and whose mechanics or garages cut corners with.

Properly maintained Omegas will last for a long time.
Title: Re: Do head gaskets always go on omegas?
Post by: jampot1979 on 05 May 2009, 20:29:09
The omega has done 107K miles. Apart from the last 18 months, its been service yearly. The oil doesnt have a milky film and the water levels are fine.

Cheers for the honest replies peeps.
Title: Re: Do head gaskets always go on omegas?
Post by: ffcgary1 on 05 May 2009, 20:40:41
The most important thing on the omega with ref to services to remember is that the coolant level must be changed every 2/3 years and always maintain a 50/50 mix with the red vx coolant. Then the cooling system will remain at peak efficancy and aviod the dreaded h/g problem. Saying that the head gasket on a 2.2 4 pot is not that hard to do yourself and not worth scrapping or getting rid on thos grounds.
 :y
Title: Re: Do head gaskets always go on omegas?
Post by: TheBoy on 05 May 2009, 20:50:51
time to change your mechanic, if thats what he thinks.

HG failure is very rare on v6, and probably has average failure rates on the 4 pot.
Title: Re: Do head gaskets always go on omegas?
Post by: Seth on 05 May 2009, 21:01:04
My previous, (and well-maintained!), 2.0 is now at just over 100k miles - the cylinder head's never been off!

The 4-pots may be a tad underpowered, but look after it, and it should confidently achieve a collossal mileage.
The present owner remains very happy with it - two years on.

There you have it - and get a new mechanic!
Title: Re: Do head gaskets always go on omegas?
Post by: tunnie on 05 May 2009, 21:01:36
V6 HG, very, very, very rarely go.

4 pot ones are more common, its down to poor servicing. service them properly will last for 170k at least.

For the record, my 2.2 is on 118.5k and it has not gone yet  :y
Title: Re: Do head gaskets always go on omegas?
Post by: miggcddave on 05 May 2009, 21:08:36
my r reg 2ltr has 150thousand miles and still going strong .  :y as tb siad time to change your mechanic :y :y
Title: Re: Do head gaskets always go on omegas?
Post by: Proz on 05 May 2009, 21:19:13
It went on my old 1997 2.0ltr but that will be my fault as i never serviced it or anything  :-[ :-[ ..... i've since learnt the error of my ways  :y
Title: Re: Do head gaskets always go on omegas?
Post by: tunnie on 05 May 2009, 21:47:45
biggest cause for HG failure on 2.0/2.2 & V6 is poor coolant servicing.

For the minimal cost involved, i change the coolant every year on our fleet.
Title: Re: Do head gaskets always go on omegas?
Post by: feeutfo on 05 May 2009, 21:53:13
due to the wide variety of different engines used in the omega, to say all omegas blow head gaskits, its obvious your "mechanic" aint clued up enough to work on it frankly...avoid him.

4 pots do come up now and then but certainly no more than any other 4cylinder and then only due to poor servicing. (18 months is far too long by the way) change the coolent and fluids to the schedule.
Belts are every 40k or 4 years.

Also if you have a search youll find a few threads with v engines being wrongly diagnosed by mechanics of similar quality to yours. Ie pi** poor...

Title: Re: Do head gaskets always go on omegas?
Post by: HerefordElite on 05 May 2009, 22:35:22
I think you're "mechanic" must be confusing an omega engine with a Rover 'K' series ::) time to find a new one ;)
Title: Re: Do head gaskets always go on omegas?
Post by: mathewst on 06 May 2009, 12:56:43
I have an 1999 facelift and it's done 110 000 miles without problems.
Now I have to change the head gasket, BUT it didn't go wrong.
The waterpump broke and made a mess out of valves, so head gasket has to be changed.
Have a complete car sevice history, and it seems the only problem with the car was an ECU, and the radio which broke still under guarantee so was replaced without paying anything
Title: Re: Do head gaskets always go on omegas?
Post by: tmx on 06 May 2009, 12:59:49
Quote
I think you're "mechanic" must be confusing an omega engine with a Rover 'K' series ::) time to find a new one ;)


They Only pack up due to poor maintenance of the cooling system or leaving the same oil in the car too long aswell my mrs's being proof of this 3yrs 30k miles of trusty ownership replaced HG when car was new kept car serviced ever since hg never went again!

Bloke at work has a X Reg 45 its on 110k on its original headgasket

Waterpumps should always be changed when the cambelt drives the waterpump otherwise that happens!! yes HG needs to be changed aswell otherwise it might not seal properly!
Title: Re: Do head gaskets always go on omegas?
Post by: BazMV6 on 06 May 2009, 13:11:22
Quote
V6 HG, very, very, very rarely go.
From a recent survey, 100% of my "fleet" is affected...   :'(
Title: Re: Do head gaskets always go on omegas?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 06 May 2009, 13:16:03
Quote
Quote
I think you're "mechanic" must be confusing an omega engine with a Rover 'K' series ::) time to find a new one ;)


They Only pack up due to poor maintenance of the cooling system or leaving the same oil in the car too long aswell my mrs's being proof of this 3yrs 30k miles of trusty ownership replaced HG when car was new kept car serviced ever since hg never went again!

Bloke at work has a X Reg 45 its on 110k on its original headgasket

Waterpumps should always be changed when the cambelt drives the waterpump otherwise that happens!! yes HG needs to be changed aswell otherwise it might not seal properly!

K series has a fundamental design issue around the support of the liners and the position of the head bolts....they go, even when maintained.

And yes, water pumps on 4 pots should ideally be changed with the cam belt.

And no, the head gaskets only generally fail due to poor coolant maintenance.
Title: Re: Do head gaskets always go on omegas?
Post by: tunnie on 06 May 2009, 13:55:09
Quote
Quote
V6 HG, very, very, very rarely go.
From a recent survey, 100% of my "fleet" is affected...   :'(

Its done 155k so thats not too shabby, i fear its poor coolant changes which cause it to go though!  :'(
Title: Re: Do head gaskets always go on omegas?
Post by: feeutfo on 06 May 2009, 15:10:30
Quote
Quote
V6 HG, very, very, very rarely go.
From a recent survey, 100% of my "fleet" is affected...   :'(

Would you expand a little? Symptoms?
Title: Re: Do head gaskets always go on omegas?
Post by: tunnie on 06 May 2009, 15:36:44
Quote
Quote
Quote
V6 HG, very, very, very rarely go.
From a recent survey, 100% of my "fleet" is affected...   :'(

Would you expand a little? Symptoms?

Already been discussed, confirmed as HG failure  :'(