Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: woolley11 on 02 April 2017, 20:06:15

Title: Head gaskets - I guess
Post by: woolley11 on 02 April 2017, 20:06:15
 Well looked in depth today on my pfl 3.0 MV6 as using coolant and running a little hot.

Checked oil level and all ok but unfortunately "emulsion" on inside of oil filler gap when I checked

I guess that can only mean one thing - head gasket ?  :-[

I don't have the time so will probably take it to local Bosch garage. May as well get new thermostat and cam belt done too - ££££££

She's a keeper though as only 1 previous owner and full spec including;  Sat nav, Bose, cruise, leather, telephone headset

Any ideas on typical head gasket prices ?

Thanks
Title: Re: Head gaskets - I guess
Post by: TheBoy on 02 April 2017, 20:10:26
No, it won't be HG.

Look for a traditional coolant leak, just wipe the mayo away from cap, caused by short journeys, cold temps and/or shitty Castrol oil.
Title: Re: Head gaskets - I guess
Post by: Andy H on 02 April 2017, 20:40:51
Well looked in depth today on my pfl 3.0 MV6 as using coolant and running a little hot.

Checked oil level and all ok but unfortunately "emulsion" on inside of oil filler gap when I checked

I guess that can only mean one thing - head gasket ?  :-[

I don't have the time so will probably take it to local Bosch garage. May as well get new thermostat and cam belt done too - ££££££

She's a keeper though as only 1 previous owner and full spec including;  Sat nav, Bose, cruise, leather, telephone headset

Any ideas on typical head gasket prices ?

Thanks
How hot?

Omega thermostats usually fail by sticking slightly open and preventing the engine getting up to proper running temperature.

From memory the pre-facelift should run at about 90C on the gauge.
Title: Re: Head gaskets - I guess
Post by: Entwood on 02 April 2017, 20:56:54
Well looked in depth today on my pfl 3.0 MV6 as using coolant and running a little hot.

Checked oil level and all ok but unfortunately "emulsion" on inside of oil filler gap when I checked

I guess that can only mean one thing - head gasket ?  :-[

I don't have the time so will probably take it to local Bosch garage. May as well get new thermostat and cam belt done too - ££££££

She's a keeper though as only 1 previous owner and full spec including;  Sat nav, Bose, cruise, leather, telephone headset

Any ideas on typical head gasket prices ?

Thanks

Check the neck of the header tank for tiny cracks, if the system is not getting up to full pressure due to a very small leak it will run hotter and lose coolant through evaporation.

Highly unlikely to be a head gasket, mayo in the filler neck is very common, especially in winter
Title: Re: Head gaskets - I guess
Post by: woolley11 on 02 April 2017, 21:05:52
Thanks for the reassurance about HG - thought it was a cert.

The car doesn't do a lot of long runs - mostly short hops to be honest so that ties in.

Temp regularly gets upto 100 before fans kick in.

Took off header tank cap when cold this morning and there was a hiss so under pressure. Local garage had it for mot recently and I asked them to pressure system to see any visible coolant leaks - nothing was found

Mystery to me as a layman  ???
Title: Re: Head gaskets - I guess
Post by: tidla on 02 April 2017, 21:33:23
A lot of the external leaks vaporise or are just not visible from general inspection unless your running a nice concentrate of red/pink antifreeze.
Title: Re: Head gaskets - I guess
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 02 April 2017, 22:23:15
Apparently Willburys garage are good at ripping the arse out of Omega repairs ;)

Firstly change the oil for anything not Castrol.
Secondly clean the breathers out as per the guide.
Thirdly use it more.
Fourthly, changed the HBV... guess this is the first time this year you have turned the heating down :-X

Next... ;D
Title: Re: Head gaskets - I guess
Post by: jb on 03 April 2017, 00:32:37
And if still on original radiator it could be running hot due to clogging..
Title: Re: Head gaskets - I guess
Post by: robson on 03 April 2017, 12:00:12
I had a tiny leak on the base of the radiator very difficult to trace get under the front of the car with a torch.
Title: Re: Head gaskets - I guess
Post by: worzelof10acrefield on 04 April 2017, 20:49:46
I have a slight leak from the back of the head gasket on the right bank
I have started to use this under rccomendation
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142298363816?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Seems to be working well.
Title: Re: Head gaskets - I guess
Post by: woolley11 on 09 April 2017, 20:06:06
Well I've been using the MV6 more and took it to Leeds on Friday for a good run.

Temp fine - about 95 on A64 but once hit traffic in city it got to 100+  Had heaters full speed and on HI. When parked up eventually, there were no fans running on which I would have expected.

Temp gauge running very high in traffic on way back to motorway, then ok on M62 when plenty of draft into the front.

Doesn't seem to have lost any coolant for a couple of days.

Thinking the rads must be knacked or silted up - also mystery why fans not kicked in when temp rising - are there any fuses to check ?
Title: Re: Head gaskets - I guess
Post by: Lizzie Zoom on 09 April 2017, 20:34:47
Well I've been using the MV6 more and took it to Leeds on Friday for a good run.

Temp fine - about 95 on A64 but once hit traffic in city it got to 100+  Had heaters full speed and on HI. When parked up eventually, there were no fans running on which I would have expected.

Temp gauge running very high in traffic on way back to motorway, then ok on M62 when plenty of draft into the front.

Doesn't seem to have lost any coolant for a couple of days.

Thinking the rads must be knacked or silted up - also mystery why fans not kicked in when temp rising - are there any fuses to check ?

Yes, under the bonnet in the fuse box next to the battery. There is a 30 amp fuse, one of two running up on the inside of the fuses/relays. You should find it is the one furthest away from you when looking from the front. It is that fuse that covers the main fans, and if it is blown then that is why the fans are not working :y
Title: Re: Head gaskets - I guess
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 09 April 2017, 20:43:43
Read the guides, there's one for fan testing.

Most likely a failed thermoswitch, of which there are two ;)
Title: Re: Head gaskets - I guess
Post by: woolley11 on 09 April 2017, 20:45:59
Thanks guys - will check tomorrow - hopefully get to the bottom of this conundrum !  :)
Title: Re: Head gaskets - I guess
Post by: woolley11 on 10 April 2017, 08:22:00
Morning - well checked 30A fuses - all seem fine.

I'll have a look at thermoswitches next.  :y