Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: rjb6323 on 25 March 2010, 10:30:01

Title: head gasket
Post by: rjb6323 on 25 March 2010, 10:30:01
iv been loseing a bit of coolant, i have checked for combustion gas in the cooling system last night and the fluid in my tested went yellow  :-[ meaning the test was positive for gas in the system.
im pretty sure this is the head gasket gone now any ideas what eles could cause it, all comments greatfully received thanks
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: Kevin Wood on 25 March 2010, 10:33:02
Don't despair. Often these tests produce false positives with modern antifreeze.

Any other symptoms? No sign of leakage underneath the car, or behind the engine?

Kevin
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: rjb6323 on 25 March 2010, 10:35:10
no sign of leaking underneath and seem to be loosing a lot of coolant no excessive smoke from the rear
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: Entwood on 25 March 2010, 10:35:34
Although head gaskets DO fail ....  they are pretty rare on the V6. Other failure points are the oil cooler - which will also cause the hydrocarbon test to fail as oil gets into the coolant.

"losing a little coolant" could have 1001 causes .. from a leaking pipe/component to a faulty header tank cap.... and a head gasket is way down the list IMHO ..  :(  (although not impossible).

Where abouts in Wiltshire are you ??
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: Gaffers on 25 March 2010, 10:36:53
I would recommend more investigation before condemming the HG on the V6.  It is rare.  A more common reason for coolant loss is HBV, pipes behind the plenum leaking and the rad.  Some 98 3.0 leaked coolant outwards but yours is a 3.2 so shouldn't have this problem.

Compression test, coolant leak detection fluid and manual inspection required first.... then maybe think about HG :y
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: rjb6323 on 25 March 2010, 10:37:18
last night when i took the pressure cap off when the engine was hot/warm i had bags of air come out and a bubbling sound coming from the top rear of the engine n/s
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: rjb6323 on 25 March 2010, 10:39:01
im in tidworth
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 25 March 2010, 10:42:01
Quote
last night when i took the pressure cap off when the engine was hot/warm i had bags of air come out and a bubbling sound coming from the top rear of the engine n/s

system is pressurized .. so it can be normal..  have a compression test as stated.. do you smell coolant when the heaters are on ?
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: rjb6323 on 25 March 2010, 10:44:10
no smell of coolant from the heaters
also no lack of power and no coolant in the engine oil or visa versa
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: Kevin Wood on 25 March 2010, 10:46:08
How much coolant are you losing?

Kevin
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: rjb6323 on 25 March 2010, 10:47:47
over 100 miles the header tank will be empty
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: rjb6323 on 25 March 2010, 11:52:23
how can i check my pressure cap, is the hbv mounted to the rh inner wing, how can i test this.
i take it the oil cooler is mounted as part of the rad pack am i able to test this.
i dont have access to a compresion tester at the moment
thankyou for all your help please keep the advice coming
thanks again rob
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: ScottieMV6 on 25 March 2010, 12:09:11
HBV is mounted behind the engine and to the left (as you look at it). Oil cooler is situated in the middle of the "V". You need to remove all of the inlet system to get at the oil cooler. :y
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 25 March 2010, 12:20:28
places for leak

* heater bypass valve  (mine did)
* oil cooler area (mine did)
* coolant hose behind the engine
* thermostat area (mine did)
* coolant pump
* heater matrix and connections.. (mine did and really PITA  >:()
* reservoir cap (mine did) (mostly in form of vapour you can hear if you listen closely in a silent environment)