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[knitware]

2.6 V6  
Hello.
I have just read the article on this site about changing head gaskets. It said that I should check first in General Help to see whether the consensus is that the head gaskets need changing. Well I didn’t and took my car, Omega 2.6, to the garage to get the gaskets changed.

The symptoms’ were:
After about 4 months of ownership, upon stating the car, I noticed a cloud of white smoke, quite large not water condensation,  pass my drivers window. This would happen around once a week.

Then after a few weeks and a few puffs of smoke I began to notice in my rear view mirror that when overtaking or going uphill the car would generate clouds of white smoke, quite embarrassing!

I then, about 2 weeks ago noticed during an oil check etc that my coolant level was low. I topped it up with over  1ltr of coolant.

I knew something wasn’t right but thought when I saw the first puff of smoke, a few months ago, it would hopefully go away, it didn’t’.
I also had noticed that on 4 occasions that when re-starting the car after a short run, the car wouldn’t start in it’s normal ‘free’ manor. When you turned it over it was sluggish and fired after about 4 secs. This might seem quick but the car starts normally after about, well first click.

So I took the car to a garage. They found exhaust in the coolant and said the couldn’t tell which gasket needed doing so are doing both, under warranty phew!

In the How to remove and replace Gaskets in this forum there is a statement saying that you should avoid skimming a V6 head. Is this right, I hope not because apparently both mine have been sent away to be skimmed.

I will let you know how the car is when I pick it up on Friday. Its been in the garage since last Tuesday, but it’s a big job and some fannying about between the garage and the warranty people.

Apart from this my 2001 CDX has been a delight, everything works, no problems, comfy, quiet and excellent fuel economy for this car too, love it.

The head gaskets needed doing, was I right, tell me I’m right………

[Kevin Wood]

Your symptoms sound pretty conclusive. If there's exhaust getting into the coolant it can only come from one place.

Head gaskets are commonly diagnosed when oil gets into the coolant, which is common on the Omega when the oil-to-water heat exchanger fails, and not likely to happen as a result of head gasket failure. It sounds like you have been unlucky and have a real failure, which aren't common on the V6.

At least it's under warranty.

Kevin