Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Thingymabob on 29 November 2011, 14:37:10

Title: Coolant leak 2.5 V6
Post by: Thingymabob on 29 November 2011, 14:37:10
Ever since I bought my Omega B -00 2.5 in June 2010, it has lost coolant.
The leakage is constant and around 0.5 L/month with an annual milage of ~5000 km (just over 3000 miles).
The coolant drips out at the very rear of the engine, just in the area where the oil filter is.
It looks like the leak originates from "somewhere above the oil filter"  ;)

The pics below show where the coolant drips from the engine.
On the 2nd pic a drip is actually visible (a little bit down from the center of the image).

Any ideas on where the leak might originate from and how to troubleshoot the problem the best way?  ???

(http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h471/Idunnonow/Omega%20V6/Coolantleak.jpg)

(http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h471/Idunnonow/Omega%20V6/Coolantleakdetailed.jpg)
Title: Re: Coolant leak 2.5 V6
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 29 November 2011, 14:56:58
Difficult to see your pictures on my phone I am sorry. But, first place to check would be the HBV (heater bypass valve)
I think there is a How Too on finding a water leak, as pressurising the coolant system so you can actually find the leak.

Before jumping to conclussions like Head Gasket etc I would do the above.

just my opinion
Title: Re: Coolant leak 2.5 V6
Post by: GastronomicKleptomaniac on 29 November 2011, 15:03:07
Get the underside steam cleaned then look for the trace :y

Hey, it works for the fitters at work. They won't let me have a go of the jets though...
Title: Re: Coolant leak 2.5 V6
Post by: Debs. on 29 November 2011, 15:16:36
Prime candidate (as has been already mentioned) would be: the 3-port heater bypass valve and/or the short hose that feeds the HBV from the coolant-bridge (the hose is in the shape of a ?)...that hose on my car copiously-leaked recently too (it was not costly to replace, but it was not a 'stocked' item at the parts dept., so required ordering-in).
Title: Re: Coolant leak 2.5 V6
Post by: dbug on 29 November 2011, 18:57:47
Prime candidate (as has been already mentioned) would be: the 3-port heater bypass valve and/or the short hose that feeds the HBV from the coolant-bridge (the hose is in the shape of a ?)...that hose on my car copiously-leaked recently too (it was not costly to replace, but it was not a 'stocked' item at the parts dept., so required ordering-in).

Also consider coolant bridge seals and oil cooler cover.
Title: Re: Coolant leak 2.5 V6
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 29 November 2011, 19:00:46
Prime candidate (as has been already mentioned) would be: the 3-port heater bypass valve and/or the short hose that feeds the HBV from the coolant-bridge (the hose is in the shape of a ?)...that hose on my car copiously-leaked recently too (it was not costly to replace, but it was not a 'stocked' item at the parts dept., so required ordering-in).

Also consider coolant bridge seals and oil cooler cover.

Yes all these are quiet possible, but you really need to find which it is.....  :y
Title: Re: Coolant leak 2.5 V6
Post by: dbug on 29 November 2011, 20:20:25
Prime candidate (as has been already mentioned) would be: the 3-port heater bypass valve and/or the short hose that feeds the HBV from the coolant-bridge (the hose is in the shape of a ?)...that hose on my car copiously-leaked recently too (it was not costly to replace, but it was not a 'stocked' item at the parts dept., so required ordering-in).

Also consider coolant bridge seals and oil cooler cover.

Yes all these are quiet possible, but you really need to find which it is.....  :y

And the only way to find out is to strip out plenum, inlet manifolding etc and have a good nose!  Don't drain coolant at this stage - block one of the coolant pipes from throttle body and blow down other - may help you to locate leak  ;)
Title: Re: Coolant leak 2.5 V6
Post by: Andy H on 29 November 2011, 20:33:01
Do a pressure test on the cooling system. With a modified cap on the header tank you can apply a constant pressure to the system with a cold engine (normally it is only under pressure when it is too hot to touch).

PS anti freeze is toxic, you really don't want to be putting the pipes in your mouth.
Title: Re: Coolant leak 2.5 V6
Post by: Thingymabob on 29 November 2011, 22:09:50
Thanks all of you for all input and suggestions. I think the most logical step now would be to do a pressure test in order to find the leak(s?).
Then we'll see how many parts I need to remove from the engine, before I find something that is leaking ... :-\
And yes, I promise to keep my mouth away from the coolant Andy, thanks for your concern. :y
Title: Re: Coolant leak 2.5 V6
Post by: dbug on 30 November 2011, 22:44:04
Do a pressure test on the cooling system. With a modified cap on the header tank you can apply a constant pressure to the system with a cold engine (normally it is only under pressure when it is too hot to touch).

PS anti freeze is toxic, you really don't want to be putting the pipes in your mouth.

Remember to blow not suck  ;)  Worked ok for me and I'm still here  :y
Title: Re: Coolant leak 2.5 V6
Post by: GastronomicKleptomaniac on 01 December 2011, 21:44:49
Do a pressure test on the cooling system. With a modified cap on the header tank you can apply a constant pressure to the system with a cold engine (normally it is only under pressure when it is too hot to touch).

PS anti freeze is toxic, you really don't want to be putting the pipes in your mouth.

Remember to blow not suck  ;)  Worked ok for me and I'm still here  :y

There's that tale, probably apocryphal, of the apprentices in a garage having a drink of something that smelled of cherries and it being antifreeze, ending up dead...
Title: Re: Coolant leak 2.5 V6
Post by: Andy B on 01 December 2011, 21:54:58
.....
There's that tale, probably apocryphal, of the apprentices in a garage having a drink of something that smelled of cherries and it being antifreeze, ending up dead...

you wouldn't make the same mistake with long life pink anti-freeze. It's the most foul, bitter tasting liqued known to man!!!!  :o :o
Title: Re: Coolant leak 2.5 V6
Post by: GastronomicKleptomaniac on 02 December 2011, 17:55:57
.....
There's that tale, probably apocryphal, of the apprentices in a garage having a drink of something that smelled of cherries and it being antifreeze, ending up dead...

you wouldn't make the same mistake with long life pink anti-freeze. It's the most foul, bitter tasting liqued known to man!!!!  :o :o

http://hywelsbiglog.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/image25-ws-can2.jpg

...Doesn't stop my customers.
Title: Re: Coolant leak 2.5 V6
Post by: Andy B on 02 December 2011, 18:00:55
....

http://hywelsbiglog.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/image25-ws-can2.jpg

...Doesn't stop my customers.

 ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Coolant leak 2.5 V6
Post by: noel on 02 December 2011, 18:15:07
.....
There's that tale, probably apocryphal, of the apprentices in a garage having a drink of something that smelled of cherries and it being antifreeze, ending up dead...

you wouldn't make the same mistake with long life pink anti-freeze. It's the most foul, bitter tasting liqued known to man!!!!  :o :o

http://hywelsbiglog.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/image25-ws-can2.jpg

...Doesn't stop my customers.
:o :o :o :o
Title: Re: Coolant leak 2.5 V6
Post by: midnightmower on 02 December 2011, 21:27:53
Hi
The pressure test is best way forward. Perhaps you can borrow a small mobile compressor.
My 25XE leaked from the cylinder head gasket above the dis coil pack. I discovered this when replacing the dis for 2nd time in 3 yrs.
Use a mirror on a wand to look around.  You probally will need to remove th plenium to see below it.
Expect to find discoloration and deposits around the coolant bridge but don't jump to conclusions unless there is liquid coolant
Title: Re: Coolant leak 2.5 V6
Post by: jb on 03 December 2011, 06:25:20
90% chance it is the HBV - they dont last more that 6 or 7 years
Title: Re: Coolant leak 2.5 V6
Post by: Thingymabob on 19 December 2011, 13:17:00
Well, I have located the HBV valve (well hidden I must say) in order to see if I can find any traces of leaking coolant
(still haven't pressure tested the system, things tend to take some time, don't know why... ;)).
The part of the valve which is visible (the top and the side with two connections) looks dry and shows no signs of leakage.
Which part of the HBV is usually leaking? Is it even possible to see that part of the valve, without removing stuff from the car?

(http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/6552/hbvfm7.jpg)