Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Mat3200 on 08 June 2009, 14:37:07
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Hi all - I have a Omega 3.2 V6 2003 - 68000 Miles covered.
In the last few of months I noticed the coolant water level was dropping in the header tank only a little but it would need topping up every 6-7 weeks. I got it to my independent garage who looks after it and they said that there was coolant leaking from 'the back of the heads' and it would be un economical to try and repair it.
Last week I noticed that all the coolant water had gone after topping up and driving a few miles the car was fine until I turned off the engine then loads of water would pour out of the bottom of the engine (rear section).
It looks like the end of the road for this car :-( as again my garage says that it will cost far more than the car is worth to repair and is a big job.
My question to you all is it really the end of the road is there anyway this car could be saved?
Thanks
Mat
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Favourite in that area is HBV (Heater Bypass Valve), common for them to go.
Part is around £30 from Vx and it takes about an hour to change. Definitely not cause to scrap the car.
Alternatively could be the oil cooler plate leaking - again not a huge job to do yourself. :y
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fill your profile in so we know were you are bud :y
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This would be good news :-)
Any ideas whereabouts I can get these two possibles for the leak looked at in the Woking (Surrey) area?
Thanks Mat
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This would be good news :-)
Any ideas whereabouts I can get these two possibles for the leak looked at in the Woking (Surrey) area?
Thanks Mat
Any decent independent garage worth their salt should be able to do the HBV for you. My local garage did mine for around £95 including coolant. :y
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This will be your HBV. Easy job to do yourself, there is a guide on here.
Paul :y
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This will be your HBV. Easy job to do yourself, there is a guide on here.
Paul :y
Everyone said that about BazMV6's, which had exactly the same symptoms - but the cylinder heads are currently sat on my floor!
Head gasket failure, while uncommon, happens due to poor coolant maintenance at some stage in the cars life.
It COULD also be something silly like the HBV etc -
What you need to do, is take the inlets all out, and pressure the coolant system, and try to spot the leak....
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Yes, could be HBV, would expect a garage to spot that.
Could be core plug(s)
Could be Head Gasket.
Mine also has a (serious) leak, which is one of the hard 2 above.
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some numpty garages about mate. With your car and its mileage, even if the hg is gone it is most definately worth repairing. But most on here would get it done through this community, either diy or some of the numerous competent soles on here. We have all encountered this sort of diagnosis and its 99.99% been bo**ox. Ignore them.
With the rate you describe your coolent loss its more than likely hbv . But there are other common causes as said. If it was me, i would just change the hbv anyway as they fail regularly and you will save some of that risk later on by swapping it out. If it still leaks then look further. Difference is by the sound of it you would rather pay for it to be done. So your cash your choice.
Unless someone near you is willing to have a look/do the job for you .
The job itself is simple in theory, the problem is access and bloody awkward clips. But an hours labour should see it done at any garage.
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As mark would say - don't change anything without a firm diagnosis - it introduces more unknowns.
You need to get that plenum off and pressurise the system to look for a leak (from cold).
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and if it is the hbv it will double the bill/time/effort involved. If its not then it will quite possibly save a future failure. With the rate its coming out then should be easy to diagnose just by looking. He does not have your experience dont forget james. :-)
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When it's HBV - you can often tell by running the engine and feeling around that area.... :y
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Had the very same problem with mine , changed hbv myself and im no mechanic, if you get uner your car behind the drivers front wheel and look up into eng bay you can see the hbv . Whilst still under car get someone to alter the heater control from hot to cold and see if there is any leakage.. The jobcost me thirty quid and an hour of my time job well done
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99% it will be HBV at that age / mileage.
IIRC, the 3.2 has metal head gaskets so unlikely to fail in the way composite ones do.
I'm not far away and could give you a hand but I'm tied up for the next couple of weeks, I'm afraid. :-/
Kevin
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Drop me a pm if you need me to come over to woking and look at it. But im on late shift all week, however i am in Espom Sat evening so will be almost passing your door. But you may well need the car before then i guess?
we are all too honest. Should have said the garage was right and he should sell it to ME for 500 smackers. :-) (joke.... Ok bad joke....alright, alright ill get me coat)
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IIRC, the 3.2 has metal head gaskets so unlikely to fail in the way composite ones do.
That's a very good point - didn't think of that!
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I had also a minor coolant leak years back, it was expected to be HBV but it turned out to be the oil cooler: there was some joint which was leaking and they had to replace the cooler... And I have heard (someone here also wrote about it) that this kind of joint-failures are not that rare?
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Thanks for all your advice on here - Chrisgixer has very kindly offered to pop over and take a look on Saturday :-)
I hope it is a straight forward as you say but it does look good for my Omega again :-)
Thanks
Mat
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Hi Mat
Did you get this sorted in the end?
I only ask because I have the same on my 2.2i, I'm currently losing a tank full of coolant every day. It looks like it only happens when the cars not running and is coming from the back of the engine bay.
The gear changes have been rather erratic lately as well (its automatic) and I'm wondering if its because coolant has leaked on to the clutch when parked at work.
Cheers
Olly
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A core plug at the rear of the head is possible,but HBV is always the most likely cause and easiest to investigate/fix.
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most common, hbv.
Followed by
Oil cooler cover plate.
Stat housing.
Coolent bridge. All in the v of the engine.
Water pump seal.
Coolent transfer pipe seal at the back of the engine above bell housing.
Core plugs on cylinder head. Some theorys on here imply 98 year cars seem to suffer more with this.
And the dreaded head gaskits. Can also leak externally or into the cylinder and then sump to mix with the oil.
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most common, hbv.
Followed by
Oil cooler cover plate.
Stat housing.
Coolent bridge. All in the v of the engine.
Water pump seal.
Coolent transfer pipe seal at the back of the engine above bell housing.
Core plugs on cylinder head. Some theorys on here imply 98 year cars seem to suffer more with this.
And the dreaded head gaskits. Can also leak externally or into the cylinder and then sump to mix with the oil.
we do run such reliable cars lol.
i have got 5 omegas at the moment and each one has its own small problems with it!
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It was indeed the hbv. No leak with engine running and cc set to low. Turn the climate on full heat and it poored out onto my hand when cupping the hbv best i could......warm up bloody quick dont they. :D
It also continued to poor out when engine off as said previously. Hbv changed. Another omega back on the road. :-)
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Well what can I say except thanks to you all and mostly chrisgixer for turning out and fixing it for me :)
Another Omega back on the road indeed and it's mine :y
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:y