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16

Omega General Help / squeaky wiper

« on: 24 March 2013, 00:25:42 »

N/s wiper squeaks seems to be at the spindle (squeaks when the wiper is lifted too).  I've try squirting oil and grease at it, still squeaking. Never had it before in 260K miles in migs is it a known problem?

17

Omega General Help / best engine oil

« on: 23 March 2013, 15:18:48 »

Unless I'm not using the search properly there doesn't seem to have been an oil thread for 5 years.   Oils have changed a bit in that time, plus its more difficult to get 10W/40 compared to 5W/40.  So what make and spec is best for a V6 petrol?

Grade: My original manual says 10W/30, 10W/40, 10W/50 for -20C to > 40C
5W/30, 5W/40, 5W/50 for -25C to > 40C
0W/30, 0W/40 all temperature ranges
That's a pretty wide range. My car's done 70+K so I'm staying clear of 0W and would instincively go for 10W/40. However as said 5w/40 and 5W30 seem to be the norm now.  Castrol recommend 5W/40 http://www.castrol.com/castrol/sectionbodycopy.do?categoryId=9024084&contentId=7073092

Fully synthetic or part:  I was thinking of just part synthetic but now fully synthetic seems to be reasonably priced so why not? I assume it lasts longer between changes eg Comma claim so for their longlife fully syn.

ACEA grade:  The ACEA grades are here http://www.acea.be/images/uploads/files/2012_ACEA_Oil_Sequences.pdf
.  Reading that A3 seems to be the best option, A1 not being for high performance.  C (catalyst) grades seem to be best avoided "Warning: these oils have the lowest SAPS limit
s and are unsuitable for use in some engines. " I assume they are aimed at diesel cats.

Make: I note the posts about fake Vaux oils with missing hologram so am avoiding them.  In fact I am dubious about any web bought oil being genuine except those in weird and sealed 4l cans like Castrol. Plus postage for oil will always be expensive even if 'free'.  So am thinking about ASDA fully syn, £20 for 5L. Or maybe the other supermarkets. 

18

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / whats this fuse for?

« on: 06 March 2013, 16:46:14 »

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-xBoRcwTLZfX05DZjdqTXhVNXM/edit?usp=sharing&pli=1
It's in the additional fuse box to the auxillary fuse box in the engine bay.  I've got .2amp going through it when the car is locked and settled down. Seems to be connected to the central locking.

19

Omega General Help / battery drain

« on: 05 March 2013, 17:03:35 »

My battery is draining at about 0.2amp.  I've been through all the fuses and it was the second to last one I tested, a large 30amp in the auxillary fuse box in the engine bay.  Seems to be associated with the central locking and probably qutie a few other things. It is the pulled one with the arrow pointing to it here
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-xBoRcwTLZfX05DZjdqTXhVNXM/edit?usp=sharing
Anyone know what the drain is likely to be and where to check next.  I have checked every fuse in the car that I know of, none were draining except this one. I waited half an hour  for it to settle down.

20

Omega General Help / oil and filter change west london please

« on: 04 March 2013, 00:14:04 »

Can anyone do this or recommend a place to do it near twickenham? Thanks.  (If it was a spin on I'd do it myself on my car ramps).

21

Omega General Help / diesel battery in petrol 2.6

« on: 11 February 2013, 06:22:32 »

Am I right in thinking I can fit the heavier duty diesel battery in my petrol 2.6 V6?  The diesel v petrol battery dimensions appear to be the same except the length - 315mm v 278mm. 

I don't need the extra CCA but the 30% extra AH will be useful.

22

Omega General Help / live permanent

« on: 11 February 2013, 05:27:13 »

Am I right in thinking the boot light supply is permanently live? Or is it on the 30min timer? I could lock myself in the boot for 30 minutes I suppose to find out.  I need a permanent live near the rear parcel shelf to wire in a solar panel.

23

Omega General Help / battery disconnect pain

« on: 30 January 2013, 02:04:11 »

I need to take out the battery and charge it.  I can't charge it in situ.   I've done this many times and it is a bit of a chore - making sure the alarm doesn't sound on removal,  re-programming the radio code,  the windows and the sunroof on replacement.  I assume the Elite seats retain their memory or will I have to re-store them as well?

Anyway what I'm thinking of is a small 12v battery (the 20a/h one built into my jump starter) plugged in to the rear cigar lighter socket, positive to positive and neg to neg.  So it's connected in parallel with the main battery.  Then take out the main battery and let the 20ah one keep all my settings while I swap it immediately for a spare main I have or even overnight while I charge the flat main. Are there any disadvantages?  Obviously I won't run anything big like the starter or the HRW on the small batt.

After that I need to identify what the drain is, with my shiny new DC amps clamp meter  .  I do know the batt wasn't self draining.

24

Omega General Help / removable tow bar key

« on: 14 December 2012, 23:17:16 »

I am missing the key to my towbar and have never seen one could somone post a picture of one (key not the towbar)?

25

Omega General Help / engine oil flush - national tyres

« on: 10 December 2012, 19:34:26 »

I'm going for a new oil change this week, has to be National again as apart from being very cheap their 'mechanic' over-tightened the filter IMHO despite me saying not to.  So he can undo it.

One query, has anyone ever taken the flush option (£8 more)?  Normally I wouldn't dream of adding flush mix to my oil but if they are going to drain the oil, replace it with flushing oil, drain that then add new oil and filter (i.e. two changes of oil) I could easily be pursuaded.   I can't find out from their website but what I suspect they actually do is add a flush mix, run the engine a bit and then just change the oil as normal, i.e. only one change.  Is that what they do?

26

Omega General Help / self levelling suspension pump coming on a lot

« on: 22 November 2012, 00:17:55 »

This pump seems to come on a lot, is that normal? Seems to be on every time I stop in traffic. One of the rear shocks was replaced just before I bought it I wonder if there is a leak.

27

Omega General Help / snow chains on 235/45 17 M&S tyres

« on: 20 November 2012, 14:52:59 »

my manual says "Tyre chains Restrictions.  Tyre chains must not be used on Winter tyres of size 235/45 R 17 (M+S tyres)"

Anyone know why that is?  I'm looking at some new 'M+S'  marked tyres and they seem to be standard spec tyres http://www.tyre-shopper.co.uk/ts/Manufacturers/TyreInfo.aspx?id=4726&title=Westlake+SV308+XL  I assume the M&S tyres perhaps keep a higher profile in use so the clearances are less?

Or does it mean snow chains must not be used on any 235/45 17 tyre, not just M&S ones?

28

Omega General Help / snow chains

« on: 03 November 2012, 00:11:06 »

Just got some snow chains and I got two pairs.  This was even though I had read the manual which says they are only permitted on the rear (the price was so good).   So question is has anyone ever broken that permission and put them on the front? Did they work and is there any point? They are  new Maggi Rapid Matic V2 size 100 which fits my Elite 235/45 17 inch and also fits  225/55 16s and 205 15s which I think covers all Omegas .     

Its gonner be a cold winter even down sarth.                                                                                               

29

Omega General Help / fuel consumption test, inc air con

« on: 02 November 2012, 02:30:37 »

Here are the results of my mpg test. Anyone can repeat it and compare.

Car: 2001 facelift 2.6V6 Elite saloon 70K miles.  Tyres: standard (17") at 30PSI. No passengers, tank a notch under full, not much weight in boot (7kg hydraulic jack and litre oil).

Route: empty reasonably flat motorway 5 miles each way with mpg averaged out to allow for wind and slope. No rain, little wind. Outside temp 5C

Mpg 36.8 with air con off ('eco'), 35.0mpg with air con on. 

My immediate conclusion is air con adds about 5% to your fuel consumption (at 60mph), about what I'd expect. I imagine at lower speeds it adds more, perhaps 10%.

Still seem a bit thirsty to me compared to my old 2.5 V6. I recall getting 50mpg at 55mph. I did have non standard 225/45 16s on it though so speedo was out.

30

Omega General Help / fuel consumption

« on: 30 October 2012, 02:35:22 »

Has anyone done a table of what fuel consumption to expect at what constant speed for what engine and transmission?  Apologies if they have, I had a look in the archives and couldn't see it.   

My 2.6 manual Elite seems to drink noticeably more than my old 2.5 manual Reflection.      I'll do a test run, say 60mph on cruise for a flatish quiet motorway stretch and the return journey to average out any gradient. If anyoen has done anything similar let me know and I'll replicate it.

I have tested the 'range' function, twice on my 2.5 and once on the 2.6.  The 2.5 ran out at exactly 0 miles range, the 2.6 went almost 1 mile after zero appeared. So I trust the computer for accurate fuel consumption figures.