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[simonh1]

Hi guys, I've had my Omega for 7 years now and had the small niggles you get over the years, it's a 97 3.0 elite, but about 3 weeks ago developed a bad overheating problem, it boils up within about 10 mins, the top and bottom rad hoses are cold and she boils like a trooper, I have recently replaced the HBV as it was leaking coolant into the passeger cabin thru the vac hoses that control the climate solenoids, after that it was fine, I have read all manner of things about the possible cause, ie, head gasket/s, thermostat, rad etc... So, i decided to strip her down, I have removed the thermostat, which as far as I can see by placing in a pan of boiling water seems to work, I have flushed the rad, there is some 'cream' inside the oil filler cap, but that has always been there, there is no loss of power and it still 'embarreses' the boy racers, there is a little light smoke from the exhaust but it does not smell of coolant, I really am out of ideas, I'm thinking possibly water pump, the car is well serviced, has 149k on the clock with 4 cambelts. At the moment I'm thinking scrap her and get another but apart from this problem she is fine, can someone help???

[henryd]

if your hoses are staying cold then you may have been unlucky enough to lose the impeller off the water pump,either that or the thermostat stuck shut but you have checked the stat already.
does the heater get hot when the engine is running?,if it doesn't it would support the water pump theory

[mathewst]

Are the fans working ok?

[simonh1]

the fans do indeed click in and it steams like an Icelandic volcanoe...lol.

[mathewst]

If the hoses stay cold all the time it means the thermostat is stuck closed.
They should suddenly get warm so check that first.
Coolant cap doesn't smell on oil?

[cem_devecioglu]

if you are suspicious about HG problem,
did you try compression test ?

[I_want_an_Omega]

Any progress Simon - I have a similar problem?

Thanks

[PxMetro]

If as you say you have confirmed that the thermostat is working correctly, then theory would suggest the coolant circulating pump is not working as it should.
I take it the Aux belt is still in good order?

[Welung666]

If the rad is clear, the fans are working and so is the stat then I'd go for waterpump to. Time to bite the bullet I think and drop the aux belt and pump. I have seen them where the impellor disc has become detached from the shaft.

[I_want_an_Omega]

That would sort of make sense for me actually. My rad gets warm but not hot - which could be explained by convection around the system rather than a blocked stat which would have zero flow.

I've got a spare water pump - so will change it - its also a damm sight easier than changing the stat .........  :-/

[PxMetro]

I've got a spare water pump - so will change it - its also a damm sight easier than changing the stat .........  :-/

Please post your findings and results.