Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Muroman on 17 April 2015, 14:42:23

Title: head gasket
Post by: Muroman on 17 April 2015, 14:42:23
Need fast help.

Half year ago changed oil cookel plate because water leak. Now leaking again and got the all intake systems off then disk pack and the plate where the disk pack is on and the plate also has the engine lift bracket. Behind that there is two "frozenplugs" sorry hope you understand. And they are not leaking but I look there with mirror and flashlight and I add pressure to system and a straight shower of water comes off from head gasket straight from the middle of the gasket is this clearly the head gasket change now?

Oil cooler plate is also a bit waterish but not wet.

Also if a clear head gasket failure do I need to take air conditioner things off?

Thanks!!
-Mika
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: 05omegav6 on 17 April 2015, 14:54:32
Blanking plugs, and yes that does actually sound like Hg failure :'(

Don't know if you need to remove the aircon gubbins unless for improved access :-\

Also not sure but the 2.6/3.2 gaskets are alot more durable if you can use them :-\
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: Gaffers on 17 April 2015, 16:22:20
Just be sure the coolant isn't coming out of the cooler plate and reflecting off the head.

A HG change on these engines is pretty straight-forward.  No need to take the AC off either.  Do not skim the heads, they will clean up with a bit of effort.  Take the opportunity to do a bit of maintenance of parts that will suddenly become easily available such as the breather box, renew the O ring at the back of the block plus I think the back of the alternator becomes more accessible so a good chance to clean up and grease the contacts there too.
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: Muroman on 19 April 2015, 15:28:19
Okay, the heads are now off and then I need to start finding parts but how do I know which timing belt kit I need to buy? Local seller offers 3 different kits "2.5,3.0,-->98" and "2.5,2.6,3.0,3.2, 99--> with motor number 08578511". The third option is "01--> with motornumber 08578512" but that it ain't.???

Does the breather box have own O-ring or is it that same stuff you put with the oil cooler plate?

What about the long steel water pipe does it have O-ring or is it somekind of different because it came off like in thousands pieces...

What about oil sump? New gaskets? I have understood that it is in two different pieces?

-Mika
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: 05omegav6 on 19 April 2015, 15:41:27
Second option for cambelt kit... compare against existing parts and if necessary swap your new pullies and tensioners onto the old backing plate... only required if the new plate is different  :y

Breather box is indeed grey goo to seal :y

Coolant transfer pipe from thermostat is GM only, costs around £12 new with seals :y

Sump is in two havles and uses a suitable sealant instead of gaskets... either grey or bkack goo should suffice :y
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: Steve B on 19 April 2015, 19:26:17
Okay, the heads are now off and then I need to start finding parts but how do I know which timing belt kit I need to buy? Local seller offers 3 different kits "2.5,3.0,-->98" and "2.5,2.6,3.0,3.2, 99--> with motor number 08578511". The third option is "01--> with motornumber 08578512" but that it ain't.???

Does the breather box have own O-ring or is it that same stuff you put with the oil cooler plate?

What about the long steel water pipe does it have O-ring or is it somekind of different because it came off like in thousands pieces...

What about oil sump? New gaskets? I have understood that it is in two different pieces?

-Mika
Al... Think OP means cam cover gaskets. Because Why would Oil Sump be off  :-\
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: 05omegav6 on 19 April 2015, 21:32:11
Guessing engine out and being stripped, cleaned, resealed and rebuilt :-\
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: Muroman on 19 April 2015, 21:49:30
Coolant transfer pipe from thermostat is GM only, costs around £12 new with seals :y

I meant the very long that goes to back of the engine block from the water cooler.

Guessing engine out and being stripped, cleaned, resealed and rebuilt :-\

Yes, kind of :) I want to make the engine to good shape now and do everything at the same time, its time efficient and also I got this avesome place to do this job so just using it to the limits :)
I also change front steering parts, exhaust and probably more while the heads are on local place being made :)

And thanks for the answers I bet I still got some :)
-Mika

EDIT1. Can the "camshaft wheels" wear out or is there swap time? 225 000km ontheclock.
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: Muroman on 20 April 2015, 14:19:17
Does the upper oil sump come off when engine on the car?
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: 05omegav6 on 20 April 2015, 17:03:36
No. Block needs lifting a couple or three inches for clearance :y
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: Muroman on 20 April 2015, 17:21:02
No. Block needs lifting a couple or three inches for clearance :y

F***.... moment for upper oil sump?  :D I already losened couple bolts...
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: Muroman on 23 April 2015, 04:32:25
I hope that the oil sump does not leak because I took couple bolts off and put them back in.

Lower oil sump torque?

Is it really so important to use the original gunk for the oil cooler plate and the breather box because I have this "loctite quick gasket" and it feela good and the specs tell that it's good. Is there any place where I could get it than the gm shop? Because they have run out of that and it comes only next week...?

Mika 
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: 05omegav6 on 23 April 2015, 09:38:06
Sump torque is in Haynes... :y

Not sure that I would chance the sealant tbh :-\ Might find summat suitable from Wurth...
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: Muroman on 26 April 2015, 11:30:12
Thermostat B-bolt has a spacer which is the right order?engine bracket, oil stick, thermostat, spacer?
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: 05omegav6 on 26 April 2015, 12:16:13
Head, Lifting eye, Dipstick, Thermostat, Spacer, Bolt :y
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: Muroman on 27 April 2015, 08:37:26
Al You are such a good help here :)

Still got work to do but most of the work has been done.

I have a professional friend coming to do the timing belt job for me and I think I got everything now ready.

Should I put new antifreezer at the first time or can I start with water and let it couple times or does the engine need antifreezer for the beginning? Just thinking if the water makes rust to the engine without the antifreezer?

Thanks again!
Mika
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: 05omegav6 on 27 April 2015, 11:16:22
Unless you need to flush oil from the system after oil cooler failure, always refill with 50/50 mix :y

Not sure if you guys use a stronger mix in the winter though :-\
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: Muroman on 28 April 2015, 08:19:03
Unless you need to flush oil from the system after oil cooler failure, always refill with 50/50 mix :y

Not sure if you guys use a stronger mix in the winter though :-\


Okay, ye, well I use red coolant liquid so its about 50/50 or a bit stronger :)
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 28 April 2015, 08:34:55


Should I put new antifreezer at the first time or can I start with water and let it couple times or does the engine need antifreezer for the beginning? Just thinking if the water makes rust to the engine without the antifreezer?

Thanks again!
Mika

Plain water will be fine for testing and for your first start up, but replace with antifreeze mix as soon as you are satisfied that the engine is running OK and that you don't have any leaks.  :y
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: Muroman on 20 May 2015, 05:44:29
Hello, just wanted to say that everything got together and working fine, aluminium cam covers also fitted nicely and the oil changing isn't even so hard that I have heard from people :)
Thanks for all the help! :)

-Mika
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: Muroman on 03 June 2019, 07:12:39
Hey, Same car, same gasket but slightly different leakage.....

Okay, so it seems that 4 years and 50tkm will do the trick to blow head gasket.... Still can't believe this.

Cylinder number 6 is losing pressure to the coolant system.
I did a leak down test and its bubbling into expansion tank. Also from the spark plug can be seen that there has been red glycol.

Is there another possible explanation than HG failure?
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: henryd on 03 June 2019, 09:59:09
Hey, Same car, same gasket but slightly different leakage.....

Okay, so it seems that 4 years and 50tkm will do the trick to blow head gasket.... Still can't believe this.

Cylinder number 6 is losing pressure to the coolant system.
I did a leak down test and its bubbling into expansion tank. Also from the spark plug can be seen that there has been red glycol.

Is there another possible explanation than HG failure?

Does sound like head gasket failure which is quite rare on the V6,were the heads skimmed last time it was done ?
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: TheBoy on 03 June 2019, 10:27:33
1998 3.0l engines are prone to HG failures, causing a waterleak from the block to the rear of cylinder 6.

I* had to replace mine twice due to this.



*When I said "I", I actually meant I drank tea and ate biscuits while Marks DTM/Fuse19 did it. Because he's a very nice man ;D
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: biggriffin on 03 June 2019, 10:37:28
Hey, Same car, same gasket but slightly different leakage.....

Okay, so it seems that 4 years and 50tkm will do the trick to blow head gasket.... Still can't believe this.

Cylinder number 6 is losing pressure to the coolant system.
I did a leak down test and its bubbling into expansion tank. Also from the spark plug can be seen that there has been red glycol.

Is there another possible explanation than HG failure?


Change gasket, common on 3.0L,  ensure Quality gasket, and clean both surfaces, very well, and ensure lots tight.
Title: Re: head gasket
Post by: Muroman on 04 June 2019, 05:55:22
Heads were skimmed, gaskets at least should've been quality ones. Only thing that I could have done better was the block, that was only cleaned but not skimmed or something like that.

If I'm still going to fix this car the engine is coming off from the car and it will get full rebuild. But I got zero motivation at the moment.....
Really don't know what to do...