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[stevenwoody]

Hi all

just got myself a 3.0 elite, manual and it has develoed a massive coolant leak, when the car is cold it doesn't leak at all but when the thermostat opens it happily dumps around a litre or so of coolant from the n/s/r of the engine i have removed the scuttle trim but can't find the source of the leak mainly due to lack of vision, so before stripping it to bits has anyone had this before??? oh yeah and to make it a mission its going to cornwall on the 21st 

[Jimbob]

sounds like the heater bypass valve, awkward, but not hard to replace.
looks like a small black starship enterprise.

recommend genuine, pattern often leak.

taking the plenum or scuttle off improves access a little.

check around that its not just a hose burst etc.

[stevenwoody]

sounds like the heater bypass valve, awkward, but not hard to replace.
looks like a small black starship enterprise.

recommend genuine, pattern often leak.

taking the plenum or scuttle off improves access a little.

check around that its not just a hose burst etc.

i have checked the bypass valve and that seems fine, im hoping it is a hose but access is rather poo

[Mike Collins]

Have a look at my recent post on nearside rear leak, the head is close to coming off now!

Mike.

[stevenwoody]

Have a look at my recent post on nearside rear leak, the head is close to coming off now!

Mike.

was it head gasket or core plug?? the trivial thing is its higher than the head gasket and on further inspection its a lil more central and from a hose out of the back of the inlet manifold. has anyone got pics of the hose setup in this area?? 

[Mike Collins]

Mine is definately head gasket, yours sounds like somewhere in the coolant bridge area, if so, much less work and expense.

Mike.

[stevenwoody]

[size=18]FOUND THE PROBLEM[/size][size=11]

after stripping off the plenum me and my dad spotted a large wet patch around the thermostat housing and a trail of where the coolant and run to the back of the engine, upon stripping further we found that the seal on the thermostat had split and therefore under pressure it was spraying coolant down the valley, im guessing the thermostat had stuck shut for this kinda pressure to have built up. However i do have a couple more questions 

1. whats the implications of running a different spec thermostat for example a cooler running one??

2. silly question but do all o-rings and gaskets for inlet etc need replacing as they are rubber and with some you can re-use???

3. does anyone know of a product that will clean the cooling system and dissolve crap etc without flushing a million times??? /size]

all help muchly appreciated 

[VX1]

1. whats the implications of running a different spec thermostat for example a cooler running one??

This will enable your thermostat to open earlier and keep the engine running cooler.

 2. silly question but do all o-rings and gaskets for inlet etc need replacing as they are rubber and with some you can re-use???

No. they only need replacing if they are damaged.

3. does anyone know of a product that will clean the cooling system and dissolve crap etc without flushing a million times???

Washing detergent non bio can do a good job, engine degreaser is another one, just remember that if you do use any of these then you must flush the cooling system out completely so you have no residue left, then refill with coolant.

[stevenwoody]

1. whats the implications of running a different spec thermostat for example a cooler running one??

This will enable your thermostat to open earlier and keep the engine running cooler.

 2. silly question but do all o-rings and gaskets for inlet etc need replacing as they are rubber and with some you can re-use???

No. they only need replacing if they are damaged.

3. does anyone know of a product that will clean the cooling system and dissolve crap etc without flushing a million times???

Washing detergent non bio can do a good job, engine degreaser is another one, just remember that if you do use any of these then you must flush the cooling system out completely so you have no residue left, then refill with coolant.

excellent thanks for the help i used to run a cool running thermostat on my C20XE astra but because of the emissions on the omega didn't think it could be done, gaskets are in good condition just need cleaning RESULT

[Andy H]

excellent thanks for the help i used to run a cool running thermostat on my C20XE astra but because of the emissions on the omega didn't think it could be done, gaskets are in good condition just need cleaning RESULT

I wouldn't advise fitting a cool running thermostat. When I got my 2.6 the thermostat was opening too early and the fuel consumption was dreadful. I fitted a new stat and that fixed it.

You are right in assuming that the car would fail the emissions test without the standard thermostat.

[albitz]

Agreed. The standard thermostat (in good working condition) keeps the engine running at just the right temperature. Afaik, Omegas are quite senstive to this. Economy and performance can easily be adversely affected if its running outside the normal range.