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[Gwilym]

Went to Alton Towers today! Weather crap but no queues for rides and I had a half price ticket.

Journey there OK but was running a bit hot! On return journey temperature warning light came on and I had to put in 500ml of water, made it to garage and put in 1 litre of coolant (premixed).

Got home with no further warning lights but level back down to roughly where it was when the light came on. That means it drank around 1.5 litres over 180 miles!

It was checked last month and was on correct level.

Why has it started drinking coolant so quick?

Before anyone suggests there is a leak I have considered that! What I would like to know is where is it most likely to be and does this product work?

"http://www.motorshop1.co.uk/sealup.html"

[Gwilym]

or this one?

http://www.motorshop1.co.uk/k_seal.htm

[TheBoy]

HBV - heater bypass valve...  ...or hole in rad.

[TheBoy]

I would fix the problem rather than use that sort of stuff

[Gwilym]

HBV - heater bypass valve...  ...or hole in rad.

Heating wasn't blowing as hot as it has done in in the past, would this tie in with first option?

[Gwilym]

I would fix the problem rather than use that sort of stuff

Fair Point! But I am mechanically inept and I am reluctant to pay the theives at the local Vauxhall Garage £75 per hour labour

Is there an easy way of finding out exactly what (or where) the problem is?

[JamesV6CDX]

Potential dates would need to be looked at because I'm pretty busy over the next couple of weeks, BUT I'm only 35 miles north of Bristol. I wouldn't advise driving that car over any distance, but as a favour I'm happy to come and take off your Plenum and scuttle and check out the HBV/Rad/Valley etc for you if you cover my basic fuel cost to get there and back. £20 ish? I can't promise a fix but I've worked on a few Omega's now and am pretty confident with them - I have the tools too, eg torx sockets, torquewrench, etc. If you intend to keep the car and if it's due  - get a timing belt kit, and we'll do that and the water pump (could be leaking) at the same time.

Cheers

[JamesV6CDX]

As an afterthought, DO NOT USE ANY SORT OF SEALING FLUID.

It blocks water channels, blocks the Rad and the heater matrix, and will cause you a HUGE more amount of problems, which WHILL be expensive to fix!!!!!!

Please trust me on this one.

Been there, done that, got the T shirt (and wrecked the car!!)

[JamesV6CDX]

Those producs you post say they only work on Metal. If it's your HBV, which I suspect it is, then it won't work because it's made of plastic.

If your heaters are not blowing as hot as normal I'd STRONGLY suspect HBV. It'll be worth flushing out your heater matrix and cooling system too.

[Gwilym]

Potential dates would need to be looked at because I'm pretty busy over the next couple of weeks, BUT I'm only 35 miles north of Bristol. I wouldn't advise driving that car over any distance, but as a favour I'm happy to come and take off your Plenum and scuttle and check out the HBV/Rad/Valley etc for you if you cover my basic fuel cost to get there and back. £20 ish? I can't promise a fix but I've worked on a few Omega's now and am pretty confident with them - I have the tools too, eg torx sockets, torquewrench, etc. If you intend to keep the car and if it's due  - get a timing belt kit, and we'll do that and the water pump (could be leaking) at the same time.

Cheers

You are clearly a scholar and a gentleman. I only really have to drive to and from work (about 10 miles each way) for the next couple of weeks. I have a large Unit at work that we can work in (HIGHBRIDGE Junc 22) so weather will be no problem.

I have PM'd you.

Oh and I promise not to get any of that stuff!

[JamesV6CDX]

I wouldn't go as far as a scholar - My field is IT, but I've developed a love for V6 omega's and have learned a lot about them! I'm not a qualified mechanic but I'm confident with these engines...

Just keep a 5 litre bottle of coolant in the boot (50/50 antifreeze at this time of year is essential) in case the worst happens in the meantime. Keep a close watch on that temp guauge, if it creeps up past about 97 then stop and let it cool down. No point overheating it and warping both cylinder heads for the sake of a £30 component!!

I'll reply to your PM in a bit and we'll make some arrangements.

If we find the problem, we'll take some pics of the culprit and post up on here

[Gwilym]

Cool. Thanks in advance

[Markie]

You have identified the problem best fix that  

Rather than use this ( if i may be Frank) junk that is on the market that fixes the issue..