Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: LC0112G on 28 July 2017, 13:24:43
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Ok, what next after HBV?
I've had a slow water leak for a couple of years that has now got to the point where I decided to do something about it.
Last weekend I changed the expansion tank for a new one. The old one wasn't leaking, but the level sensor had packed up which isn't ideal if you've got a known water leak. ::)
I also changed the HBV. The old one wasn't showing any signs of leaking whilst in the car, and it appears to be water tight now it's off the car. The new has also been bone dry every time I've checked it in the car.
Today the water initially was dripping from both sides of the gearbox to the rear of the bell housing, so I self diagnosed heater matrix >:( and water coming out of the two vents. You do get whiffs of antifrees in the car, but as far as I can tell the carpets aren't ever wet, and the car doesn't steam up. So today I've just bypasses the matrix by replacing it with a copper U bend and jubilee clipping it up tight. Then ran the car for 30 minutes. Initially water was dripping from the same place, but water is now dripping from further forwards - off the passenger side exhaust manifold to exhaust junction, and off both bottom bolts of the bell housing. The water is warm/hot, and pink (I collected some in a Pot Noodle pot).
The heater matrix U bend bodge and the HBV are both bone dry. So whilst the heater matrix itself could still be faulty, it's not in the water circuit now so the leak ain't (only) that.
So what's the next likely candidate? The rubber pipework round the back of the engine is dry as far as I can reach it. Anyone got any good piccies of the rear/top of an engine. I've got vague memories of an aluminium pipe bolted to the back of the block with god awfull access to the bolts securing it.
Cheers
Malcolm
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Not knowing which engine, or its age .. this is purely a guess, but older V6's did have an issue with leaking oil coolers ... that lives in the "V" of the engine and any water escaping there would drip down the back eventually .... :(
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Water either side of gearbox is Aircon condensate and perfectly normal.
Heater matrix only ever leaks internally, but the sound insulation under the driver's footwell carpet will absorb a couple of litres before the carpet feels wet :y
Oil cooler cover plate or head gasket... Plenum off time...
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Malcolm, I feel your pain! I have a slow leak from (I think) the side tank of the radiator, as I posted a while back. I've used a UV tracer dye and a UV torch, which revealed some areas of leakiness, which I sealed with epoxy resin - and still the bugger leaks! Only a little; enough to require topping up after about 50 miles, but very annoying.
If you are interested, I'll find the ebay links for both the dye and the torch, as they were reasonably priced.
It was great fun shining the torch on various domestic items in the dark and seeing them glow.....perhaps I should get out more? :-[
Ron.
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Ahh yes, sorry all. X30XE RHD saloon Omega.
Water either side of gearbox is Aircon condensate and perfectly normal.
Not if it's pink and full of antifreeze though, which this is.
Heater matrix only ever leaks internally, but the sound insulation under the driver's footwell carpet will absorb a couple of litres before the carpet feels wet :y
I had the carpets up/out a while back and everything was dry which is why I had previously discounted the matrix. I really, REALLY don't want it to be the matrix for obvious reasons, but sods law says... Never had an Omega apart, but on the Carlton there are two short rubber pipes under the HVAC box, one each side of the transmission tunnel. As you say these are for A/C water condensate, but a matrix leak on a Carlton can just leak out of these (although it usually pisses all over the carpets too). Is the Omega the same?
Oil cooler cover plate or head gasket... Plenum off time...
Great, Sooper, Cock.
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Ahh yes, sorry all. X30XE
1998 year?
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Ahh yes, sorry all. X30XE
1998 year?
Car is 2001/Y. Engine is newer, but don't have the number here. The original was replaced by one I bought from someone on here about 5 years ago when I had an oil pickup blockage that destroyed the bottom end.
Scrub that - Just remembered I wrote the numbers in the Haynes manual I carry in the boot. Original engine was 08247090, new one is 08491727.
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Reason for asking is for some reason 1998 3.0's appeared to have more HG failure's than any other year.
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I changed HBV to no avail, ended up being heater hose connection. Renewed hose and all was well .Might be worth a look as it wasn't obvious.
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My money is on the oil cooler plate. :y
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Reason for asking is for some reason 1998 3.0's appeared to have more HG failure's than any other year.
That issue is clearly visible that its dripping from the back of the 2/4/6 bank, so hopefully not the case here :)
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My money is on the oil cooler plate. :y
Mine too. :y
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Several coolant pipes at the back of the V and only really visible with the plenum off.
Best bet would be to remove the plenum and have a thorough look around all hoses and securing clips as all suspects to leak.Worth while getting a pressure test on it as that will be more conclusive ,but as mentioned..oil cooler plate/coolant hoses and clips usual suspects and straight forward fixes :y
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Ahh yes, sorry all. X30XE RHD saloon Omega.
Water either side of gearbox is Aircon condensate and perfectly normal.
Not if it's pink and full of antifreeze though, which this is.Aircon condensate drains from the tubes either side of the bell housing. Not from the bolts
Heater matrix only ever leaks internally, but the sound insulation under the driver's footwell carpet will absorb a couple of litres before the carpet feels wet :y
I had the carpets up/out a while back and everything was dry which is why I had previously discounted the matrix. I really, REALLY don't want it to be the matrix for obvious reasons, but sods law says... Never had an Omega apart, but on the Carlton there are two short rubber pipes under the HVAC box, one each side of the transmission tunnel. As you say these are for A/C water condensate, but a matrix leak on a Carlton can just leak out of these (although it usually pisses all over the carpets too). Is the Omega the same? Physically impossible on the Omega as the evaporator and its drains are ABOVE the heater matrix.
Oil cooler cover plate or head gasket... Plenum off time...
Great, Sooper, Cock.
Aye.
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Ahh yes, sorry all. X30XE
1998 year?
Car is 2001/Y. Engine is newer, but don't have the number here. The original was replaced by one I bought from someone on here about 5 years ago when I had an oil pickup blockage that destroyed the bottom end.
Scrub that - Just remembered I wrote the numbers in the Haynes manual I carry in the boot. Original engine was 08247090, new one is 08491727.
2001 Y is a very, very late 3.0... a newer engine would surely be a 3.2. ???
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2001 Y is a very, very late 3.0... a newer engine would surely be a 3.2. ???
Ahh, got the engine numbers arsi-tarsis.
The engine I wrecked when the oil pickup blocked was 08491727. I've no reason to believe this wasn't the engine delivered with the car, but I don't know that for certain. So it is very likely a 2001 engine and it is an X30XE. It's currently sitting under the bench in the man cave and once used Omega values exceed £20K I may repair and refit it to maintain originality. ;D
I bought engine number 08247090 from someone on here. It wasn't new-new. It was new to me. That's the engine currently in the car - the one that is now leaking and is also an X30XE. It did have a few differences to the original engine - one had a spin on oil filter, the other had a paper one. One had a horizontal DIS pack, the other was vertical. One had a sump pan gasket, the other didn't. Can't remember which was which. So going by engine numbers this one is approximately 500000 earlier/older so I suppose it could be as early as 1998.
Unlikely I'll get time to do anything this weekend - but I'll report back once I do find a spare nano-second and it stops raining long enough for a looksee.
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Where are you located
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Water either side of gearbox is Aircon condensate and perfectly normal.
Not if it's pink and full of antifreeze though, which this is.
Aircon condensate drains from the tubes either side of the bell housing. Not from the bolts
5 different pools/drip sources of water. 2 from down the side of the gearbox, 2 from the bolts on the bottom of the bell housing, and one from the passenger side exhaust. All 5 were pink antifreeze (collected in Pot noodle pots).
If the gearbox ones aren't coming from the heater drains then I guess it's just water pooling up on top of the gearbox and then being dislodged by the vibration when the engine is started, Hopefully from what you say it also means the heater matrix isn't the source either. Not sure I'll be that lucky but we'll see.
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Where are you located
Yeovil. But I'm out tomorrow and Sunday, working on the LC Monday and Tuesday, Bristol ABS meet Wednesday. Realistically next Saturday is the earliest I'll be able to look.
I did have the Plenium off last weekend to do the HBV. I didn't notice anything amiss with the pipes down the back of the engine, but then I wasn't really looking for it, and I was in a rush, and it was raining, and any number of other half ar5ed excuses.
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Ignoring the fact that the ill-informed keep changing the oil filter types, the last engine with spin on was 1998 (and it was very early MY98 engines that seem prone to passenger bank HG failure of waterway to outside, at back of engine - mine suffered this twice).
MY99 came with the paper element filter, as did all FLs.
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Ok, found an hour of good enough weather for a look. Plenium off and trumpets out :
(https://image.ibb.co/fQMPzk/IMG_4662a.jpg)
(https://image.ibb.co/fO2Wek/IMG_4664a.jpg)
There is water on top of the plastic trumpet to cylinder head bridge. Also the coolant bridge is coated in red antifreeze residue on the passenger side, but rust on the drivers side. Pipe clips are both rusty, but nothing wet back there. Anyway, off with the plastic bit for a look at the oil cooler stuff
(https://image.ibb.co/kGLjzk/IMG_4665a.jpg)
(https://image.ibb.co/foKBek/IMG_4667a.jpg)
(https://image.ibb.co/nfa6C5/IMG_4671a.jpg)
The rear oil cooler pipe bolt was wet on the top, and rusty all over. My gut feeling is that its water escaping from the coolant bridge rather than the oil cooler cover plate. I've nipped the two coolant bridge bolts up a bit tighter and thrown it all back together for now (need the car for the rest of the week). It seems much better, but it's still leaking.
So what's the Borg mind's opinion - 4 new coolant bridge dowty washers and a couple of bolts? or engine out and rebuild? Or somewhere in between?
Cheers
Malcolm
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4 new dowty washers on the coolant bridge and reseal the oil cooler plate for good measure if you have the luxury of time. :y
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If you still have a problem after Sir Tigger's suggestion, or if you want to confirm your findings before more major work, might I suggest:-
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RLD2-RING-AUTOMOTIVE-Coolant-Leak-Detection-Dye-RING-LEAK-DETECTION-LIGHTING/152551025792?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
together with:-
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-UV-Black-Light-Torch-Ultra-Violet-Gas-Leak-Forensic-Blood-Urine-Detector/321855415856?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2648
I share your pain; I am suffering too. :'(
Ron.
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If you still have a problem after Sir Tigger's suggestion, or if you want to confirm your findings before more major work, might I suggest:-
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RLD2-RING-AUTOMOTIVE-Coolant-Leak-Detection-Dye-RING-LEAK-DETECTION-LIGHTING/152551025792?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
together with:-
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-UV-Black-Light-Torch-Ultra-Violet-Gas-Leak-Forensic-Blood-Urine-Detector/321855415856?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2648
I share your pain; I am suffering too. :'(
Ron.
I've never had much luck with UV dies - the leaks are usually big enough that everything gets covered in either a fine mist or a gert flood of whatever is leaking, leaving you none the wiser.
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4 new dowty washers on the coolant bridge and reseal the oil cooler plate for good measure if you have the luxury of time. :y
Oil cooler plate is going to have to wait till I've finished the LC and the garage is free - early September if everything goes to plan. In the meantime the Omega is my main mode of transport, so can't be off the road for 24 hours waiting for sealants to cure/set. If the Omega packs up then I'm either on shanks' pony or my mums 1.0L Corsa.
So I'll throw some 12992647's at it and hope. Not convinced that'll totally fix it though - the dripping from the passenger side exhaust seems unlikely to be originating in the V to me.
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Might be worth pressurising the system with it stripped down that far to see if you can spot any fresh water emerging. It clearly has been leaking from something there, but might just be a perished hose IMHO.
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Might be worth pressurising the system with it stripped down that far to see if you can spot any fresh water emerging. It clearly has been leaking from something there, but might just be a perished hose IMHO.
The system was still pressurised when I took the photos. I'd driven the car home (about 20 mins) and left it ticking over for another 10 before stripping it down. I reckon it took 15-20 minutes to strip down, and some of the bolts were too hot to pick up with fingers and the water pipes were quite hard.
Been to the dealers this morning. The hollow coupling screws (12992646) are now NLS. Managed to order the 3 new HBV water pipes (9129566, 9129576 and 90466222 I hope!) and the Dowty washers. All still available although one of the pipes has to come from Germany.
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Might be worth pressurising the system with it stripped down that far to see if you can spot any fresh water emerging. It clearly has been leaking from something there, but might just be a perished hose IMHO.
The system was still pressurised when I took the photos. I'd driven the car home (about 20 mins) and left it ticking over for another 10 before stripping it down. I reckon it took 15-20 minutes to strip down, and some of the bolts were too hot to pick up with fingers and the water pipes were quite hard.
Been to the dealers this morning. The hollow coupling screws (12992646) are now NLS. Managed to order the 3 new HBV water pipes (9129566, 9129576 and 90466222 I hope!) and the Dowty washers. All still available although one of the pipes has to come from Germany.
Fair enough, but often leaks are more evident with a bit of pressure on the system when it's cold, since the water doesn't immediately evaporate leaving a dry stain.
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I think I've fixed the water leak.
Took the coolant bridge completely off today. All 4 Dowty washers delaminated (the rubber comes away from the aluminium outer). Marks on the cylinder head suggest the drivers side one has actually been leaking.
I had also ordered all 3 hoses from Vx but only one had come as of Saturday - the curly whirly one from the coolant bridge to the HBV. Took this off and I think it's got a pin hole under the spring clip at the coolant bridge. Anyway, replaced it. I could see the hose from the stub on the main metal water pipe from the block. It looks rusty, but I don't think it's leaking. However, will replace it once the other two hoses come from Vx.
Whilst the bridge was off I took a look at the other fitting - for the hose that goes to the throttle bodies. This was blocked with what seemed to be black silicone sealant - I wondered if it might be a one way valve so I unscrewed it from the bridge. Couldn't blow through it from either direction. So I took punt that it wasn't supposed to be blocked and ran it through with a stiff piece of wire. What came out didn't look like it was supposed to be there. Anyway, now the hose through the throttle bodies gets hot and I'd never noticed that before.
Put it all back together and fired it up. No water leaks after about half an hour, but should know more by the middle of the week. Idle is carp though, so I suspect I've introduced an air leak somewhere or the IACV needs a good clean. It'll have to come apart again to fit the two other hoses so I'll investigate then.
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Sounds like a collection of issues that caused/resulted in the seals failing... making progress though :y