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[JamesV6CDX]

I'm sure I don't really need to ask, but just to put my mind at rest.....

Omega 3.0, W plate, Ex plod facelift. 70,000 miles.

Bought (not by me) as a non-runner.

Looked at it today

Code read (before attempting to start) - no codes

Oil level - extremely low. Coolant level - fine, with no cross contamination in the bottle.

Check for spark - a strong, healthy spark at each plug. Plugs all soaking with petrol, so that's getting through too!

Cam timing checked, and while not spot on, it was safe, and would run with that setup no problem.

Compression test -

1 - 4.0 bar
3 - 4.2 bar
5 - 4.6 bar

2 - 10.5bar
4 - 11 bar
6 - couldn't do, as too much oil dropped in from leaking camcover 

So - strip down, remove heads. Notice while doing so, coolant has probably been in there forever, it's a disgusting brown colour and consistency.

The 1-3-5 headgasket - well, pretty much all that was left of it, was the fire rings! It was in a really bad way, with most of the composite material long corroded away. (Amazingly, the head faces were fine)

2-4-6 was in a simelar state.

Other than this, there didn't seem to be anything of concern discovered on the strip down, other than lots of signs of bad workmanship.

There was also loads of black, caked staining in the camshaft areas, showing signs of very poor oil maintenance.

It's a gamble, and no guarantee it will run - but to others agree that a top-end rebuild (Currently underway!) is likely to see this old girl back on the road?

I will try and take a few piccies, tomorrow

[JamesV6CDX]

Oh - and before someone takes the Micheal that I've stopped doing Omega work - I agreed to this job some time ago, and hence am honouring it 

[tunnie]

i'd be cautions of 70k miles on a W plate that been x-plod, is it white? If its been a traffic car, they retire them at those miles, so would have had more miles put on. Possible something like a fire-arms car would have that low miles on something like '03 plate, but not a W......

[JamesV6CDX]

i'd be cautions of 70k miles on a W plate that been x-plod, is it white? If its been a traffic car, they retire them at those miles, so would have had more miles put on. Possible something like a fire-arms car would have that low miles on something like '03 plate, but not a W......

Unsure of it's history personally - but, ultimately our aim is to just get it running.

Previous life matters not, really, as it's an ongoing project

[tunnie]

if millage is genuine its worth getting on the road again, but plod cars are usually bit rough, unless its just been a transport car.

But old facelift plodders are going to be worth next to nothing, who ever owns it can't spend too much getting it running again

[Kevin Wood]

I would have tried the compression test again with a little oil in each bore in case it had been washed by attempting to start. There is some compression so it should have run.

I wouldn't be surprised if there's another issue. Sounds like the head gasket needed doing anyway, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's not the reason it's a non-runner.

Kevin

[feeutfo]

lifters ok? has it been standing long?

[damon80]

i'd be cautions of 70k miles on a W plate that been x-plod, is it white? If its been a traffic car, they retire them at those miles...

Eh??  My last ex-plod had done nearly 120k when I bought it - and I was the first civvy keeper??  :-/  And I've been known to see them come up at auction with well over 140k on them, direct from police??  :-/

[damon80]

if millage is genuine its worth getting on the road again, but plod cars are usually bit rough, unless its just been a transport car.

But old facelift plodders are going to be worth next to nothing, who ever owns it can't spend too much getting it running again

Yep, agree - my ex-plod's a bit rough too  , as per pics:
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1271471027

All ex-plods are the same - never get looked after, and are worth nothing more than a couple of buttons and a bit of fluff.


 :-/

[damon80]

I would have tried the compression test again with a little oil in each bore in case it had been washed by attempting to start. There is some compression so it should have run.

I wouldn't be surprised if there's another issue. Sounds like the head gasket needed doing anyway, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's not the reason it's a non-runner.

Kevin

Yes, back to the subject in matter in point, as oppose to conjecture and generalisation... 

My money too would be on the headgasket given the differences in compression from one bank to the other.  I know you mention the coolant is manky - is it manky as in water/oil mixing manky, or manky as in it's never been flushed/changed since it came out of Russelheim?  Any sign of oil-in-water on the dipstick at all? 

But... although you mention the plugs were damp with petrol, what condition where they in, in comparison from one bank to the other?  (I'm wanting to rule out piston rings here?)

Cheers