Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: JamesV6CDX on 30 January 2008, 07:08:35

Title: Pic: The Root Cause of MaxV6's Coolant leak...
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 30 January 2008, 07:08:35
Who says V6 Head Gaskets never fail?  ;D

(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/jamesv6cdx/28012008066.jpg)
Title: Re: Pic: The Root Cause of MaxV6's Coolant leak...
Post by: zippo on 30 January 2008, 08:12:14
do you/anyone know why its failed the way it has
Title: Re: Pic: The Root Cause of MaxV6's Coolant leak...
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 30 January 2008, 08:13:29
That poor engines had little care during its life, you can see where the water has dissolved the composite material.

What state are the heads in?

Any pittng on the surface?

Note though that the fire rings are still in place!
Title: Re: Pic: The Root Cause of MaxV6's Coolant leak...
Post by: zippo on 30 January 2008, 08:16:37
Quote
That poor engines had little care during its life, you can see where the water has dissolved the composite material.

What state are the heads in?

Any pittng on the surface?

Note though that the fire rings are still in place!

do you remember when i asked about antifreeze mark is that the result
Title: Re: Pic: The Root Cause of MaxV6's Coolant leak...
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 30 January 2008, 08:25:31
Quote
Quote
That poor engines had little care during its life, you can see where the water has dissolved the composite material.

What state are the heads in?

Any pitting on the surface?

Note though that the fire rings are still in place!

do you remember when i asked about antifreeze mark is that the result

Yes it is....if you dont run an engine with the correct antifreeze mix the above can happen (to ANY engine)...........the water dissolves the composite material, eats away at the allow head surfaces, rots the oil cooler.......etc etc etc
Title: Re: Pic: The Root Cause of MaxV6's Coolant leak...
Post by: zippo on 30 January 2008, 08:34:13
mines got blue a/f in it .I'll pick up some vx red today and get it changed asap
 cheers mate
Title: Re: Pic: The Root Cause of MaxV6's Coolant leak...
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 30 January 2008, 08:55:50
Quote
I'll pick up some vx red today and get it changed asap
 cheers mate

Have I opened your eyes a bit with my picture??  ;D
Title: Re: Pic: The Root Cause of MaxV6's Coolant leak...
Post by: zippo on 30 January 2008, 08:59:32
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Quote
I'll pick up some vx red today and get it changed asap
 cheers mate

Have I opened your eyes a bit with my picture??  ;D

just a tad,  that is a really really scary picture

darren
Title: Re: Pic: The Root Cause of MaxV6's Coolant leak...
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 30 January 2008, 09:11:01
Quote

What state are the heads in?

Any pittng on the surface?


The heads were very dirty and showed signs of a poorly maintained engine. There was very little pitting etc on the surface though. I changed the 2-4-6 head (and shells) for a known good, in case the original one had issues.

I rebuilt both heads, with new stem seals and valve lapping.. blah..
Title: Re: Pic: The Root Cause of MaxV6's Coolant leak...
Post by: Entwood on 30 January 2008, 09:14:14
It's amazing that gasket did not let go in a major fashion some while ago, I wonder if it was an original VX or an aftermarket cheapy ?? - if the latter, why was it changed in the first place ??

With luck you've caught and fixed it properly this time ... :)
Title: Re: Pic: The Root Cause of MaxV6's Coolant leak...
Post by: Ken T on 30 January 2008, 20:49:49
Quote
Quote

What state are the heads in?

Any pittng on the surface?


The heads were very dirty and showed signs of a poorly maintained engine. There was very little pitting etc on the surface though. I changed the 2-4-6 head (and shells) for a known good, in case the original one had issues.

I rebuilt both heads, with new stem seals and valve lapping.. blah..

Don't you mean Maria rebuilt both heads, ......

Ken
Title: Re: Pic: The Root Cause of MaxV6's Coolant leak...
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 30 January 2008, 21:27:47
Quote
It's amazing that gasket did not let go in a major fashion some while ago, I wonder if it was an original VX or an aftermarket cheapy ?? - if the latter, why was it changed in the first place ??

With luck you've caught and fixed it properly this time ... :)

They dont tend to on Gm engines......whilst the fire rings still have some support (and in that pic they do) then you just get a water leak.

And it looks like an Elring gasket which is original fit.
Title: Re: Pic: The Root Cause of MaxV6's Coolant leak...
Post by: MaxV6 on 31 January 2008, 01:03:06
In my defence....   it was probably already weeping slightly when I got it...   I found out when I had it serviced...(after owning it for 6K miles)   then spent ages (and a lot of wasted money) trying to find it , as it got gradually slightly worse...  the old gas test on coolant was "inconclusive"  

in the last 2 years it's only not had a proper mix of antifreeze when it's been chucking it out big style (like getting it to Jamie's last feb) , for 2 weeks while away on Holiday, (you try finding proper antifreeze on the Lleyn peninsular ) then for about a  fortnight just prior to the garage determining failure and james's rebuild....  i was putting 2 litres a day in it....   and ran out of red.
since it was booked to go in and be "fixed" and serviced, I must admit i gave up spending 20 quid a week on antifreeze......  

 it's had 3 oil changes in that year as well, the remaining  breathers cleaned each time, and a shed load of new parts.... (shocks, brakes, tyres, 2HBV's assorted pipe-work, and other odds and sods.)

there were some question marks over the service history in the 2 years immediately prior to my ownership, and it had had new heads at 60K already after timing belt failure. (by main dealer)

James has most of the documentation for it now, although I think we've still got some more in the filing cabinet....


Very scary though aren't they!

suffice it to say, the new one is hopefully going to be less problematic...  unlike the one that is now James's it's service book has nearly all the right stamps , anti corrosion not done, and other anciliiary things, but all main services etc have the right stamps , inc a documented cam belt and water pump 20K ago.

and you can be damn sure it's going to stay that way !

Title: Re: Pic: The Root Cause of MaxV6's Coolant leak...
Post by: Ken T on 31 January 2008, 01:37:44
Congrats on the new Omega, I supose the only question imust be, the d(st)ealers stamped the book, but did they actually do the work?.

It might be as well to do a rad flush/new antifreeze on the sight of the pics from James, (and poss a cambelt and pulleys ?) just to know that despite what dealers say, you know the car will be OK for many miles. Since I serviced mine, the only thing needing fixing is the(damn!) handbrake cable  :y

Have fun and cruise in style !

Ken