Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Sixstring on 09 March 2010, 11:35:23
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Just been talking to a bloke from the local radiator and heater matrix re-builders (fearing the worst, and wanting some prices) he said to try this FIRST before condemning the matrix/radiator as a write -off and replacement.
1) mix up in a bucket a 50-50 mix of DISHWATER powder in warm water.
2) stir well, and add 1 tsp of ordinary vinegar.
3) drain off approx the same amount of water from your car via drain plug or removal of bottom hose
4) refil with smelly white liquid from bucket
5) drive around with everything on "full heat" for a couple of days or so (doesn't matter if its a week)
6) drain out, and flush well
7) refil with clean water, run with expansion cap off for about 30 mins or until hot
8) allow to cool to ok to the touch, and drain completely
9) refil with 50-50 mix of anti-freeze and water if you now have heat from your system, if no heat, mix up another batch and go back to item one again
10) if no results after two applications, assume the worst and condemn the matrix.
This solution cannot and does not damage anything in the engine, doesn't foam up, and is remarkably effective (just look at the colour when it comes out!!) as well as cleaning everything out of the system including limescale!!
Sounds silly, but he SWEARS by it, and I've seen the results when he drains it. Gonna do mine tomorrow............
comments, anybody??
Mike. :y :y
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Just been talking to a bloke from the local radiator and heater matrix re-builders (fearing the worst, and wanting some prices) he said to try this FIRST before condemning the matrix/radiator as a write -off and replacement.
1) mix up in a bucket a 50-50 mix of DISHWATER powder in warm water.
2) stir well, and add 1 tsp of ordinary vinegar.
3) drain off approx the same amount of water from your car via drain plug or removal of bottom hose
4) refil with smelly white liquid from bucket
5) drive around with everything on "full heat" for a couple of days or so (doesn't matter if its a week)
6) drain out, and flush well
7) refil with clean water, run with expansion cap off for about 30 mins or until hot
8) allow to cool to ok to the touch, and drain completely
9) refil with 50-50 mix of anti-freeze and water if you now have heat from your system, if no heat, mix up another batch and go back to item one again
10) if no results after two applications, assume the worst and condemn the matrix.
This solution cannot and does not damage anything in the engine, doesn't foam up, and is remarkably effective (just look at the colour when it comes out!!) as well as cleaning everything out of the system including limescale!!
Sounds silly, but he SWEARS by it, and I've seen the results when he drains it. Gonna do mine tomorrow............
comments, anybody??
Mike. :y :y
dishWASHER ??? :)
Dishwasher powder is pretty powerful stuff, and a 50/50mixture is well strong in comparison to what you use to wash dishes !!
It is a detergent :y :y It is low foam :y :y and some contain a descaling additive :y :y so yup .. I can see it working :)
I would imagine the powder he refers to is along the lines of "Calgon" ... and not trying to dissolve a load of "Finish" tablets !!!!! :)
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ABSOLUTELY!!!
Sounds good, though....................reckon the techy bit and theory is sound, won't make it quite so strong, and will report on the results on here afterwards. IF it works well, might save somebody a few shekels?????
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A dishwasher tablet worked wonders for my Dad's Granada heater matrix. :y :y
A tried & trusted 'fix' ;)
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A new Omega heater matrix is sub 20 quid....
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A new Omega heater matrix is sub 20 quid....
So's a Granada's, he replaced it in the end & got instant heat. The difference is, you only need 20 minutes to change a MkII Granada's matrix, not a week end off work for an Omega's ;D ;D ;D
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A new Omega heater matrix is sub 20 quid....
So's a Granada's, he replaced it in the end & got instant heat. The difference is, you only need 20 minutes to change a MkII Granada's matrix, not a week end off work for an Omega's ;D ;D ;D
NAH ... Mark can do it in 30 minutes... it is only us mere mortals that need 4 days and a degree in upholstery !!!
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Dishwasher powder is highly caustic.....'Hot tanking' (as used in automotive machine shops) uses a similarly aggressive chemical-approach...but, that`s for cast iron or steel engine blocks/head/components.....I`d have concerns about it`s contact with aluminium components. :-/
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Dishwasher powder is highly caustic.....'Hot tanking' (as used in automotive machine shops) uses a similarly aggressive chemical-approach...but, that`s for cast iron or steel engine blocks/head/components.....I`d have concerns about it`s contact with aluminium components. :-/
A lad at work used to work where they had a similar caustic tank. One of the lads he worked with decided that the would clean up his ally cylinder head and put them on the coveyor through the tank :-?
Not a lot came out the other end! ;D ;D ;D ;D
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ABSOLUTELY!!!
Sounds good, though....................reckon the techy bit and theory is sound, won't make it quite so strong, and will report on the results on here afterwards. IF it works well, might save somebody a few shekels?????
Hmmm - I'm wondering if this theory holds water (no pun intended!).
:D :D :D :D
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A new Omega heater matrix is sub 20 quid....
I don't know where from? I would be very interested in finding out! Car Cooling is £47.85 inc Vat and UK delivery. Aaron rads is £62.94 ditto.
There was a S/H one on Ebay recently but even that was £25 plus carriage.
Personally I will be using a new one to replace mine next month. Money is a consideration but so is taking it out dishwasher powdering it, putting it back in, testing and maybe repeating................ :)
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Didn't want to open up a can of worms here........!
Thought with a weak mix it might save me a matrix change, and since VX dealers say its a mornings job inc v.a.t making over £220, its GOT to be a try...................?? :-X
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A new Omega heater matrix is sub 20 quid....
I don't know where from? I would be very interested in finding out! Car Cooling is £47.85 inc Vat and UK delivery. Aaron rads is £62.94 ditto.
There was a S/H one on Ebay recently but even that was £25 plus carriage.
Personally I will be using a new one to replace mine next month. Money is a consideration but so is taking it out dishwasher powdering it, putting it back in, testing and maybe repeating................ :)
Here:
http://www.buypartsby.co.uk/radiators-final.php?year=2000&Submit=Next&make=Vauxhall&model=Omega&sub=&eng=3.0000
Bottom of the page. £14.82 + VAT
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Splendid, had stuff(cambelt, water pump) from partsbuy before. Thanks Mark
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Ok, if I HAVE to bite the bullet, its not too bad.
Now, how long to fit the bloody thing?? Is there a "how to" guide???
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Ok, if I HAVE to bite the bullet, its not too bad.
Now, how long to fit the bloody thing?? Is there a "how to" guide???
Some info here .... :)
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1262554909
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WOW!!!
Thats a B*tch of a job......hope my dishwasher liquid flush works!!
thanks for info Entwood.
Mike. :o :o :o
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WOW!!!
Thats a B*tch of a job......hope my dishwasher liquid flush works!!
thanks for info Entwood.
Mike. :o :o :o
and supposedly easier than taking the dash right out .. which I believe is the other option .... :-/ :-/ :-/
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A new Omega heater matrix is sub 20 quid....
I don't know where from? I would be very interested in finding out! Car Cooling is £47.85 inc Vat and UK delivery. Aaron rads is £62.94 ditto.
There was a S/H one on Ebay recently but even that was £25 plus carriage.
Personally I will be using a new one to replace mine next month. Money is a consideration but so is taking it out dishwasher powdering it, putting it back in, testing and maybe repeating................ :)
Here:
http://www.buypartsby.co.uk/radiators-final.php?year=2000&Submit=Next&make=Vauxhall&model=Omega&sub=&eng=3.0000
Bottom of the page. £14.82 + VAT
Bloo*y hell thats cheap!! Saw prices £50 - over £70 - thought i got a bargain with mine just over £30!!
Is it any good for £15 though????
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A new Omega heater matrix is sub 20 quid....
I don't know where from? I would be very interested in finding out! Car Cooling is £47.85 inc Vat and UK delivery. Aaron rads is £62.94 ditto.
There was a S/H one on Ebay recently but even that was £25 plus carriage.
Personally I will be using a new one to replace mine next month. Money is a consideration but so is taking it out dishwasher powdering it, putting it back in, testing and maybe repeating................ :)
Here:
http://www.buypartsby.co.uk/radiators-final.php?year=2000&Submit=Next&make=Vauxhall&model=Omega&sub=&eng=3.0000
Bottom of the page. £14.82 + VAT
Bloo*y hell thats cheap!! Saw prices £50 - over £70 - thought i got a bargain with mine just over £30!!
Is it any good for £15 though????
From past experiance, it will be a valeo part....
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I'll let you know.
I have had a mystery water leak for ages. In the normal summer heat here the water had just been evaporating from inside the cabin or running out of the condensate pipe above the gearbox. had always put that down to air con.Until recently didn't have any problems with the car misting up inside either.
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I've often wondered if dishwasher detergents would be good for coolant system cleaning after oil cooler failure :-/
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When I flushed my mates after his oil cooler failure we used some stuff called "Balance Bio Automatic" .. its a low foam washing machine detergent that he "acquired" from where he works.
We did about 20 flushes, running it up to normal temp each time, on the first couple we then shut down quite soon, let it cool a while then drained and started again .. last couple of goes we left it idling, with the heater on max hot, for an hour or so ... took a while to get the crud out .. but it seemed to work.. eventually !!!
The comments above about the caustic effects of dishwasher tablets would now make me unwilling to try them, if I had to do it again I'd stick to low foam detergent and plenty of time .. :)
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OK. Time for some scientific answers, courtesy of our company chemist.
A 40-50% caustic soda mix run through an engine and flushed within the hour does no harm at all, PROVIDED the engine is not run longer than 15 mins because of the heat the chemical reaction makes, DISHWASHER powder is only composed of less than 10% caustic ingredient, and a 50/50 mix of this and H2O is still only 22% vv of the permissable mix before possible gasket disolution, so safe. As long as it is used as a "flush" and not left in for a substantial time it is an excellant flush, and leaves no residue or damages any rubber pipework. It MAY have an effect on silicone hoses, but the effect is only to soften them temporarily, and when water is restored will revert to the original state. The chemical composition of "calgon" or "finish" is biologically safe, and although they are limescale dissolving, only HOT water activates this feature, and should not be detrimental to an engine in any way. Quote from Dr. James Mc Entire P pharm.Ed (hons)
hope this eases any fears on trying this.
mike :y
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Super job :y :y :y :y
Many thanks :) (and to the Doc as well ) :)
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...... (and to the Doc as well ) :)
Pah! What does he know? ::) ::) ::) ;) ;) ;) :y
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Doing it tomorrow.........but feel a little easier about it now. Will be putting a stronger mix into the matrix though, don't really want to replace that!!
STILL no heat in the car from the heater, blocked up the little pipe feeding the HBV, so will replace that, too.
What a hassle for a bit on heat on a cold morning!!