Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Webby the Bear on 13 October 2015, 21:04:47

Title: Drivers side exhaust manifold blowing. . .
Post by: Webby the Bear on 13 October 2015, 21:04:47
Hi guys,

As above, the drivers side exhaust manifold has a leak and I'd like to replace the gasket mines the 2.5 v6). I'm not overly concerned with shearing studs as I had the manifold off a year ago so they should come out ok) however I'm struggling to remember what I did.

Am I correct in thinking I get the air box and coolant bottle out for more room, I can undo all studs/nuts, move the manifold back, slip in new gasket, refit studs/nuts. Is that right?

Also, the last time I used a single piece graphite gasket and I've read that these are not the best. I read somewhere (forgive my vagueness) that there's a 3 piece gasket that's best to use.

Any info would be great. Cheers ladies  :y
Title: Re: Drivers side exhaust manifold blowing. . .
Post by: amba on 13 October 2015, 21:16:13
Bit more involved Webby as you will need the coolant transfer pipe out the way to get at all the stud nuts so it's plenum/injector rails out the way to as you need access to back of block to get onto the bolts that secure the transfer pipe .

Coolant bottle and air filter improve working space as you also need to get aux belt tensioner out the way as again it's easier especially if you still have SAI pipe work fitted.

Best gasket is the metal multilayer type sure somebody will prove part number for it
Title: Re: Drivers side exhaust manifold blowing. . .
Post by: Webby the Bear on 13 October 2015, 21:19:42
Thanks amba.

That's all no problem. I just had a feeling that I 'sneaked past' the transfer pipe last time but maybe I'm talking out of my arse  ;D
Title: Re: Drivers side exhaust manifold blowing. . .
Post by: amba on 13 October 2015, 21:31:17
Dont think you can get onto all the stud nuts with transfer pipe in situ ,so will need removing which given the silly method its secured to the back of the block by means removing all the top "deck" to get enough clearance to even feel the fixings .
Title: Re: Drivers side exhaust manifold blowing. . .
Post by: terry paget on 13 October 2015, 23:26:32
And to get off the transfer pipe I had to remove the entire inlet manifold, the oil filter and the oil cooler pipes. The job taught me a lot, just to change the ezhaust manifold.
Title: Re: Drivers side exhaust manifold blowing. . .
Post by: Webby the Bear on 14 October 2015, 00:19:32
Dont think you can get onto all the stud nuts with transfer pipe in situ ,so will need removing which given the silly method its secured to the back of the block by means removing all the top "deck" to get enough clearance to even feel the fixings .

Thanks amba. Out of interest would I be able to get to them without touching the transfer pipe if it was up on a lift?
Title: Re: Drivers side exhaust manifold blowing. . .
Post by: amba on 14 October 2015, 08:41:39
I never had such luxuries ,Webby,so not too sure if all the stud nuts are accessable.

Even if they were and you managed to get them out you still wouldnt be able to pull the manifold off the head as the transfer pipe would stop it from moving very far.I wouldnt recommend just tyring to slide the new gasket in place either as you may have residue of the old gasket stuck to the head and the seal would then be effected and you would be back with an exhaust blow.

Best advise ,as before ,is to remove transfer pipe which "may" be accessable from below on a lift with a selection of elbows/swivels but its pretty tight up there so think you will be wise just stripping it down as first advised.

Not such a bad job really ,but seems a huge amount of work just to replace a gasket.Think youself fortunate its not the N/S as that is another whole world of grief in comparison.
Title: Re: Drivers side exhaust manifold blowing. . .
Post by: Webby the Bear on 14 October 2015, 09:16:09
yeah all really good points. thanks for all the info mate  :y :y :y
Title: Re: Drivers side exhaust manifold blowing. . .
Post by: BazaJT on 14 October 2015, 21:28:06
Now see what you get for all this speed testing ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Drivers side exhaust manifold blowing. . .
Post by: Webby the Bear on 14 October 2015, 23:00:45
Now see what you get for all this speed testing ;D ;D ;D

 ;D ;D to be honest mate it always clears up after ten minutes anyway. But I'd rather get it done so I can see if it had anything to do with any power loss.  :y
Title: Re: Drivers side exhaust manifold blowing. . .
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 15 October 2015, 12:55:39
Are you using this chance to replace your manifolds for the later 2.6/3.2 versions, Mr The Bear?
Title: Re: Drivers side exhaust manifold blowing. . .
Post by: Webby the Bear on 15 October 2015, 20:16:17
Are you using this chance to replace your manifolds for the later 2.6/3.2 versions, Mr The Bear?

im not mate cos I want everything stock for testing purposes (see other thread  ::) ;D)
Title: Re: Drivers side exhaust manifold blowing. . .
Post by: minifreek on 15 October 2015, 21:09:42
Im hopefully getting myself some of these manifolds off the 2.6/3.2 Omega :y

IIRC you can get to all the studs etc.. from the top, but if you have access to a lift, they may be a lot more access from underneath.... maybe LOL

Title: Re: Drivers side exhaust manifold blowing. . .
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 16 October 2015, 12:20:31
Im hopefully getting myself some of these manifolds off the 2.6/3.2 Omega :y

IIRC you can get to all the studs etc.. from the top, but if you have access to a lift, they may be a lot more access from underneath.... maybe LOL

Ta  :y


Also Mr The Bear, you've tested that thing more than Vauxhall did!!! Consider it tested!!!!  :y :D
Title: Re: Drivers side exhaust manifold blowing. . .
Post by: minifreek on 16 October 2015, 20:42:30
A blowing manifold - if it aint too bad - wont effect it much on the 0-62 sprint....

Optimal gear changes is where the power/speed is at and keep the engine 'on song' to get most out of it... if a manual...

If an auto, change to a manual gearbox and try again.... the autobox's really strangle the power.... OK for cruisin' though...
Title: Re: Drivers side exhaust manifold blowing. . .
Post by: Webby the Bear on 16 October 2015, 20:46:33
it does go away after ten minutes or so so I doubt its too bad (as the heat must be closing the hole up). im wondering though if it blew due to an exhaust blockage that side. this would explain why the powers potentially down and would explain why this side went and the other side didn't. but we'll see after testing  :y