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[Humpy]

Hi all,

Got my cam belt and water pump done today by someone far more proficient at me with these engines but he reckons the oil cooler's on the way out! Now I've read all the advice on here how to spot one etc etc but he gave me the old pump and belt back (to prove he'd changed them!) and the pump seems as clean as a whistle! I would have expected it to show some gunge on it. There isn't any oil in the water or water in the oil either. He's advised me he'd change it for £200 and that the parts dear at " a couple of hundred quid". I see elsewhere that it's more like £80, is that right? If the pumps so clean do you think it could be failing? He's a Vauxhall mechanic so he should know what he's talking about, however he might be touting for work!!! How complicated a job is it to do? Thanks all.

Humpy

[JamesV6CDX]

Is there any mayo in the headter tank?

[TheBoy]

Part about £80, plus a few more £ for various seals.

Any sign of any oil at all in expansion bottle?

[Humpy]

No mayo, no oil.  A bit dirty though (rusty dirty) but I guess when the water pump was replaced the coolant was topped up which stirred the system up a bit?

Humpy

[TheBoy]

No mayo, no oil.  A bit dirty though (rusty dirty) but I guess when the water pump was replaced the coolant was topped up which stirred the system up a bit?

Humpy

If the pump was changed, the coolant should be pretty clear.  May be worth flushing coolant a few times, and keeping a regular (daily) eye out of oil.

[Humpy]

Will do that. How bad a job is it? I want to keep the car a few years, (even if it did only cost me peanuts ) as it's still in very good nick for the year (sorry forgot to mention '95 Elite estate) so if need be it'd be worth doing.

As an aside, if it's a '95, I know the earlier models suffered with these oil cooler thingies, do you think mine could stilll be original? Interesting!

Humpy

[TheBoy]

Will do that. How bad a job is it? I want to keep the car a few years, (even if it did only cost me peanuts ) as it's still in very good nick for the year (sorry forgot to mention '95 Elite estate) so if need be it'd be worth doing.

As an aside, if it's a '95, I know the earlier models suffered with these oil cooler thingies, do you think mine could stilll be original? Interesting!

Humpy

Not too bad, needs crowsfoot spanners though.

They fail, i believe, due to neglected coolant.  Could be original.

[Humpy]

By crows foot I guess you mean 90 degree angled heads?

I think I'll flush the coolant anyway as changing the pump's obviously stirred up some crap in the system and keep an eye on it as you suggest.

Meantime, I'll keep my eye open for one just in case!

Humpy

[justme]

Give the coolant system a very good flush out, a lot here use wyns coolant flush.
dont be afraid to do it a few times. then add the 50/50 antifreeze mix keep a check on your filler cap they tend to play up. Use your own judgement you will know if the oil cooler gives up. Check further weekly for water or oil loss. If you do short runs you will get mayo around the oil cap.
Bought an exact same car myself with alleged head gasket gone, would need a huge water container in order to drive it, having followed this site and one on the other side. I was able to convince myself it was not head gasket. it is still under test? nearly 12 months later never added a drop of oil to it.
I am about to take it off the road for belt and water pump change, complete suspension and brake change.

Only thing done to date is the tracking and camber front & rear. Very well worth doing or having done, from what you say regarding the water pump you can forget the oil cooler better to spend your money on tracking and camber you will get a very good return from it.  

[Humpy]

Well, no oil in the water as yet, keeping my fingers crossed

Humpy

[Marks DTM Calib]

Well in which case the cooler is fine.

The only possible is that the cooler plate seal is weeping a little water but, he wouldn't be able to tell this from a belt change conclusively.