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[jtypecav]

So on top of the diff seal I went to check on her today and after being sat after my parents using the car for a month I went to start it. Was a bit missy for the first few seconds, but after a rev all was OK. Drove to end of road.. coolant level... Back down the road, checked coolant, and well, I've heard of mayo, but.. really, this was entirely brown sludge everywhere. Kinda hoping it's oil cooler rather than HG, it's had loads spent on it recently and I love having a manual MV6. But was wondering what it more usually is, or how often one of the HG go vs. oil cooler problems (which I know late vectra 2.6s suffered with too..) ?


Also, anyone close to bath who would be recommended to fit / fix?

[albitz]

Oil cooler.100%. 

[cem_devecioglu]

probably+likely oil cooler.. 

but a compression test may/may not tell more..

at worst you can call an oof mobile mechanic..

[dbug]

Oil in water = oil cooler gone

Water in oil = possible head gasket

Yours most likely oil cooler failed

[TheBoy]

Cooler. On V6, HG failure does not put oil in coolant.

[jtypecav]

Thanks all  , I'll get one ordered up. Is £150 on the bay a reasonable cost for one?

[allen25]

Thanks all  , I'll get one ordered up. Is £150 on the bay a reasonable cost for one?

I had the same issue, was the oil cooler. I think I paid circa £150 through the dealer for the Vx replacement kit about 18 months ago so check them out too.

[albitz]

Thanks all  , I'll get one ordered up. Is £150 on the bay a reasonable cost for one?

No imo. Last time I looked they cost that from VX. Might as well buy genuine in that case.

[kevinp58]

Thanks all  , I'll get one ordered up. Is £150 on the bay a reasonable cost for one?

Mine was genuine from dealer with all the "o" rings, washers and the special sealer £170 inc vat. 
BTW when you do it don't forget to stand it over night without filling it with coolant to allow the sealer to set. 

[symes]

Cooler. On V6, HG failure does not put oil in coolant.

oh it can-HG can let go on corners and ;ets oil go around system

[jtypecav]

Rekon it'll be ok to my workshop 20 miles away. Temp is OK, think the coolant sensor is gummed up though. Will investigate the VX one! Going to be fun flushing it all!

[kevinp58]

Rekon it'll be ok to my workshop 20 miles away. Temp is OK, think the coolant sensor is gummed up though. Will investigate the VX one! Going to be fun flushing it all!

Oh yes.  If you have a oil remover that sucks oil from the dipstick tube then I found that you can suck most of the contaminated coolant out of the engine by sliding the tube down the cavity that is at the front of the oil cooler when removed it goes down to the water pump and you can manage to ease it down to suck it all out. 

[Entwood]

Rekon it'll be ok to my workshop 20 miles away. Temp is OK, think the coolant sensor is gummed up though. Will investigate the VX one! Going to be fun flushing it all!

About 2 weeks of twice a day flushing with a non-foaming bio washing powder works .... eventually ...

[albitz]

Apart from anything else, 2.6 and 3.2 don't suffer from head gasket failure - ever.
Flushing is a real pita.Ive done a few of these now,and am hoping to never have to do another one.

[symes]

Apart from anything else, 2.6 and 3.2 don't suffer from head gasket failure - ever.

thats like saying ships never sink

[Figureman52]

I've filled with water, run for a few days and emptied. No oil in the water when drained and nothing in the expansion tank, although there is a bit of an oily smell still in the tank.

Done this three times.

Does this mean the system is clear?

[symes]

I would say yes mate 

[tunnie]

Don't run it on water. Only for flushing, just look at a kettle at the damage water can do!

[Figureman52]

I would say yes mate 

Coolant in on Monday then.   

[albitz]

Apart from anything else, 2.6 and 3.2 don't suffer from head gasket failure - ever.

thats like saying ships never sink

Ok then.Its completely unheard off by anyone who knows the engines.
Plenty of failed oil coolers misdiagnosed as head gasket failure by shite garages though.I know, Ive bought them,fixed them, and flogged them,or dismantled them.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Cooler. On V6, HG failure does not put oil in coolant.

oh it can-HG can let go on corners and ;ets oil go around system

Bugger off, THE only place a head gasket can cause oil in the cooling system is if the small and well sealed single pressurised oil feed that passes through it fails and that's just not going to happen

[biggriffin]

They said the titanic was unsinkable.

but yes head gaskets are relatively bomb proof if the coolent history is good.

[jtypecav]

Is there an OOF member who is mobile who fancies an unlimited supply of tea (and anything the gf has baked - heck, even B&B) who fancies a challenge somewhere in the South West Bath-Bristol-Swindon area? The list of jobs before I have to drive it across europe at Xmas again is growing faster than I can tick them off!

* Rear diff seal
* Oil Cooler
* Belt, rollers & Pump

I'd pay a decent rate too, I'd just rather someone considerate. Normally I'd have a go myself, but time is relatively short - in that I have about a month to get it all done! Heck, if it'll limp there I can even come to you!

[jtypecav]

Right, the dealers both bath and chilcompton want £183.something for the oil cooler, so ebay one is cheaper now. Cam belt kits have come right down since the last time I checked though, so I guess it balances out!
 

[allen25]

Right, the dealers both bath and chilcompton want £183.something for the oil cooler, so ebay one is cheaper now. Cam belt kits have come right down since the last time I checked though, so I guess it balances out!

Are they/will they give you trade discount?, I'm 18 months out of date on dealer price for O/C though so £183 could be right today, don't know? Just a point though, when I did mine, I was supplied with a kit that included a new cooler plate (old one looked fine to be fair) and other replacement nuts/washers etc for the job. Might have included the sealant too, can't quite remember. Worth checking before you decide?

[biggriffin]

£183 for all the parts and sealent is a good price,so yes check what the dealer is quoting you for, somebody will be along soon who will know for sure.

[kevinp58]

Right, the dealers both bath and chilcompton want £183.something for the oil cooler, so ebay one is cheaper now. Cam belt kits have come right down since the last time I checked though, so I guess it balances out!

Are they/will they give you trade discount?, I'm 18 months out of date on dealer price for O/C though so £183 could be right today, don't know? Just a point though, when I did mine, I was supplied with a kit that included a new cooler plate (old one looked fine to be fair) and other replacement nuts/washers etc for the job. Might have included the sealant too, can't quite remember. Worth checking before you decide?

Yup it did come with my kit from dealer. 

So be careful as some of the ebay ones don't come with anything but the cooler and the plate, also are they much cop  the new ones from the dealers seem to be a lot more heavier built than the original. 

[jtypecav]

There was a seller selling genuine GM ones for less than the 3rd party one on the bay. Paid £150 full genuine. Now just waiting on cam belt kit.

Any advice on leaking rear diff seal?

[Marks DTM Calib]

There was a seller selling genuine GM ones for less than the 3rd party one on the bay. Paid £150 full genuine. Now just waiting on cam belt kit.

Any advice on leaking rear diff seal?

Not to bad to change, guide on here, sub an hour if you have done one before.

You do idealy need a puller (but can do it without) and a deep 30mm (from memory) socket.
 

[amba]

Rear diff pinion seal is probably the cause of the leak as it starts to through oil around the diff end.

Bought genuine from VX last year if I recall was around £40.Great guide how to replace it in maintenance section which you must follow to the letter.

It is a job that I would advise being able to get well under the car to do ..2 or 4 poster as you do need to have a good view of the working area .Large nut,seal body need punch marking and you must ensure you very carefully count the turns or flats on the nut to ensure you get the pre load back to original on the seal nut.Thing mine was 68 flats from start..will make sense when you read the guide.
 

[Marks DTM Calib]

Part number is 24435952, think I paid around 20 notes last time I bought one

[jtypecav]

Got diff case oil seal and crank pinion oil seal for £13 delivered, so am happy with that. Been an expensive week, but happy with the parts haul, and the other half can't say anything as we need the car to go to Germany and back this winter!

[jtypecav]

Diff oil seals, cambelt, waterpump, aux belt and oil cooler all done. Massive smile on my face, then on the way home EML and 301, 305 codes come up!

New coil pack on order for this bank.

Next up is cruise stalk. According to generic odb reader I have a brake switch, but clutch switch states active all the time - does this mean I don't have one I assume? (Manual y26se MV6)

I need to get the auto ecu to be told it is actually a manual so it doesn't look for a transmission ecu I assume! Then I need a clutch switch(??) and the cruise control enabling!

[blackviper90210]

Get in touch with Jamesv6, excellent mobile mechanic!!

Highly recommended and goes out of his way to make sure its right