Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: farty_towels on 21 January 2012, 13:14:25

Title: I need coolant on tap...!
Post by: farty_towels on 21 January 2012, 13:14:25

My coolant alert came on, so I had the car serviced (yeah, I know - it was kwik-fit!), and the alert went away. Days later, it came on again so I got them to top it up again. I then put a litre in and the alert went away again, the next day, its back!!!

I'm guessing I've got a fairly major problem...!!!

I haven't noticed any leak under the car at all though.

I'd be grateful for any advice, and details of anybody in the Plymouth area who is good on omegas.

Cheers again chaps!

Title: Re: I need coolant on tap...!
Post by: geoffr70 on 21 January 2012, 13:22:03

Could be the coolant level sensor in the expansion tank cap that is faulty (common). If you're actually having to top water up there's a good chance it's the heater bypass valve (HBV) which is easy and cheap to fix but a little fiddly.

Forgot to say, it's common not to see a leak under the car if it's the HBV.

Title: Re: I need coolant on tap...!
Post by: geoffr70 on 21 January 2012, 13:33:16

Here is a link to the HBV change guide

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90574.0

I've done it without removing the wipers and scuttle. Genuine HBV I believe about £40 ish from Vx. Ebay cheap jobs don't last long. I know this.

Title: Re: I need coolant on tap...!
Post by: rob in gib on 21 January 2012, 15:30:33

As stated probably the HBV but also worth checking for the dreaded oil cooler issue ?

there is a garage Paul Vincent motor services they are in Parkway ind est opposite Plymouth radiators.

Mabye not the cheapest but knows his onions (and omegas) and will not rip you off.

I used to work with him before moving to Gib oh and he always lends me a ramp whenever i take the car back for service.

HTH
Rob

Title: Re: I need coolant on tap...!
Post by: Pawel_Nottingham on 22 January 2012, 19:39:31

Hi,

From my recent experience dramatic leaks like that I would rather bet on the radiator leak. You don't necessarily have to have stains on the ground because mine was emptying the reserve tank in about a day or two just by steaming it out while driving
HBV on the other hand took a bit longer for me to spill so much coolant and it was only doing so while the temperature was set to LO (which is rather unlikely in the winter, but if you set it to say 25 it will still leak, but slower).

I don't know if this is a rule but when my HBV was going I could see the steam coming out from under the bonnet so you should be able to test it quite easily by just reving a bit and changing the temperature in your car

Hope this makes sense and I hope it's the HBV (cheapest to fix)

As for the oil cooler - had mine in a poor condition plus both head gaskets were broken. In this condition it would only use about a litre per 800-1000 miles. Would not worry about that.
Cheers!

Title: Re: I need coolant on tap...!
Post by: farty_towels on 31 January 2012, 11:07:14

I'm a little confused now because I topped up my coolant about a week ago and so far I haven't had the warning displayed! Is it possible it has fixed itself...?