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[Vitaliy]

Hi guys

I had quite a mechanical adventure with my omega. After changing an engine, triple checking everything, Changing timing belt and checking water pump ( removed it and it looked and felt better than the pattern one i got as a replacement in the kit), all new external gaskets, etc,etc  i have blown the head gasket.

While testing it around town kept engine temperature in check, oil and coolant level as well as if thermostat opens and fan works. All was brilliant until i went for a longer drive and managed to do 15km ( 9-10 miles) and then there was a huge camouflage cloud at the back. Its not mixing oil and coolant, but it used 2 liters of coolant in 15km on the way back.

Does anyone have any ideas? It was driving ok and no smoke whatsoever. It never overheated and was always below 100 deg. ???Now its working lumpy and misses on one cylinder - my guess it lets water in.  Will start it only once more before removing this cylinder head to see what the hell is going on in there.

[cem_devecioglu]

I think you have problem with the head bolts .. did you use the old ones ? .. and there may be an incompatibility !

[Vitaliy]

Am... i have never opened the engine itself - just a straight swap. As I said in the other topic (with wrong headline at the moment) will know tomorrow morning.

thank you for all your help.

[cem_devecioglu]

Am... i have never opened the engine itself - just a straight swap. As I said in the other topic (with wrong headline at the moment) will know tomorrow morning.

thank you for all your help.

then it may be on its last legs probably, and if it was left with coolant (acidic)  , this may be the cause

[Vitaliy]

Engine was still with some antifreeze in ti. But it was blue type and as far as I remember in order to protect aluminium parts it has to be red.

[cem_devecioglu]

old coolants always become acidic with time whatever the color is..

[Vitaliy]

Hm didn't know that. So how often does one need to change the coolant?

[plym ian]

i had it on an old mondeo, changed the engine and hg went within 2 days. i didnt know history of engine or how long it had been standing for.

[RobG]

Hm didn't know that. So how often does one need to change the coolant?

Every 2 years max.

[Vitaliy]

Thanks guys. To be fair considering the mileage me and my dad do its quite rare that coolant is older than half a year. its always something - burst pipe, leaking radiator, head gasket gone , etc, etc.....

[Vitaliy]

So only head gasket is gone. I am going to get the head skimmed later on today ( it costs less than £10 in here) and a mate of mine who does head rebuilds will change stem seals and might lap the valves if it fails leak test.

[Abiton]

Sounds like you have things well under control. 

Which part of the gasket failed, have you got any photos?

[Vitaliy]

Will make some pics a bit later. it hasn't failed as much as I would think which is weird. But there is a sign that it was letting compression out into water supply. And cylinder 3 is spotlessly clean from antifreeze running in it. I found some coolant even in the inlet manifold. 

[Vitaliy]

Well fingers crossed all is ok now. Just finished assembling it and test drive. Still makes a cloud behind thou. This should disappear after a decent run as exhaust is full of oil and water. Otherwise its ok for water pressure and it doesn't overheat. Was driving inside town with air con on in 40 deg outside. That is a good test for overheating.

Still owe you some pics of the head gasket. To be fair its not that bad as i noticed cloud just in time. ( maybe in the first minute or second tops). Will post pics just for the archive.

Task for next week: Engine swap on my father's omega c20ne to whatever I can find ( 2.0 8v Vectra A or in UK Cavalier last model  - plenty of them in here)