Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: tunnie on 04 August 2007, 20:05:06

Title: HBV?
Post by: tunnie on 04 August 2007, 20:05:06
Come back to find my dad has not been using his car, kept getting coolant warning.

I went to have a look, coolant expansion tank is empty  :o

Seamed to have a lot of pressure in the tank, checked the oil, its fine. No water, its how the oil should be, as is the filler cap.

Coolant Expansion tank is clear and dry, no gunge, just no coolant.

I am thinking HBV? (its a 2.2)
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: RolandL on 04 August 2007, 20:31:43
Worth checking.  :y :y
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: TheBoy on 04 August 2007, 21:39:08
Quote
Come back to find my dad has not been using his car, kept getting coolant warning.

I went to have a look, coolant expansion tank is empty  :o

Seamed to have a lot of pressure in the tank, checked the oil, its fine. No water, its how the oil should be, as is the filler cap.

Coolant Expansion tank is clear and dry, no gunge, just no coolant.

I am thinking HBV? (its a 2.2)
Mr DTM has a great bodge gadget for looking for coolant leaks.  But worth checking HBV and looking for other leaks.
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: tunnie on 04 August 2007, 21:40:50
Quote
Quote
Come back to find my dad has not been using his car, kept getting coolant warning.

I went to have a look, coolant expansion tank is empty  :o

Seamed to have a lot of pressure in the tank, checked the oil, its fine. No water, its how the oil should be, as is the filler cap.

Coolant Expansion tank is clear and dry, no gunge, just no coolant.

I am thinking HBV? (its a 2.2)
Mr DTM has a great bodge gadget for looking for coolant leaks.  But worth checking HBV and looking for other leaks.

No obvious leaks can be seen, it seams to go down very quickly when it does, which suggests HBV.

Whats best way to check a suspect HBV?
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: TheBoy on 04 August 2007, 21:50:53
Quote
Quote
Quote
Come back to find my dad has not been using his car, kept getting coolant warning.

I went to have a look, coolant expansion tank is empty  :o

Seamed to have a lot of pressure in the tank, checked the oil, its fine. No water, its how the oil should be, as is the filler cap.

Coolant Expansion tank is clear and dry, no gunge, just no coolant.

I am thinking HBV? (its a 2.2)
Mr DTM has a great bodge gadget for looking for coolant leaks.  But worth checking HBV and looking for other leaks.

No obvious leaks can be seen, it seams to go down very quickly when it does, which suggests HBV.

Whats best way to check a suspect HBV?
Visual check
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 05 August 2007, 04:59:44
Mark,

Preferably Get the car up on axle stands, get the scuttle off,  fill the header tank, and run it up to temperature.

As it's warming up, visual check around all the hoses, rad, stat housing on front of the engine, passenger side... and look/feel down the HBV area. Have a little torch handy.

If you've not spotted anything by this point, look underneith, if you see drips try and trace/pinpoint - I suspect you'll see drips on the passenger side of the bellhousing.

I once went to see an Omega MV6 with a mysterious coolant leak that couldn't be diagnosed. I finally traced it to the fan switch on the rad.

I strongly suspect a leak rather than anything serious - but do check the exhaust for white smoke when revved  ::)
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: tunnie on 05 August 2007, 10:14:39
When moving cars around before i left, i did notice a little smoke from my dads car  :-[

It was not a lot, just thought it was the usual steam. Took it for a 3 mile hard run, came back and it had dispeared so thought nothing more of it?

However it was smoking at idle when warm ish.... so will take a look.

If it is the HBV which i hope! - I see we have no maintenance guide... no here is a stupid question.....  :-[ :-[ where abouts is the HBV on the 2.2?

I am thinking right at the back of the engine, on the passenger side down a bit?
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: Jimbob on 05 August 2007, 10:16:23
Quote
When moving cars around before i left, i did notice a little smoke from my dads car  :-[

It was not a lot, just thought it was the usual steam. Took it for a 3 mile hard run, came back and it had dispeared so thought nothing more of it?

However it was smoking at idle when warm ish.... so will take a look.

If it is the HBV which i hope! - I see we have no maintenance guide... no here is a stupid question.....  :-[ :-[ where abouts is the HBV on the 2.2?

I am thinking right at the back of the engine, on the passenger side down a bit?

I think its a trickier location than the v6!  Underneath somewhere, I've looked for it before now, but could not see it.
(doesnt mean much)
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: tunnie on 05 August 2007, 11:48:34
right, just had the car up on a stand.

Filled the coolant tank back up, and got the car up to temp. Reved it at 2k for a few mins saw the temp rise nicely, but no sign of a leak, no white smoke from the exhaust on hard revs, looked at the back of the engine on the drivers side, where the 2 big black pipes go into the bulk head, all dry, looked all around the back of the engine, all dry!

 :-/ :-/
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: tunnie on 05 August 2007, 12:46:08
just been out again, not started it since before. The coolant has gone down by about 1cm in the tank, but the ground is still dry  :-/
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 05 August 2007, 12:46:19
Tunnie, peice od piss. up by bulkead towards drivers side. Usual place. (well , it is on the 2.0 anyhow)
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: tunnie on 05 August 2007, 12:49:54
Quote
Tunnie, peice od piss. up by bulkead towards drivers side. Usual place. (well , it is on the 2.0 anyhow)

I think i can see it, the 2 big black pipes that go though the bulk head on the drivers side?

If so still dry? - But at least there is no white smoke out the exhaust.
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: Jimbob on 05 August 2007, 13:06:34
Just had another look, Easy enough to check, about the same location as the V6, but a bit lower down.
No trouble for gadget arms!
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: TheBoy on 05 August 2007, 13:36:25
Mr DTM needs to do a sideline in his great little gadgets for pressuring the coolant system
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: wakeyomega on 05 August 2007, 14:34:25
Quote
I think i can see it, the 2 big black pipes that go though the bulk head on the drivers side?
 
If so still dry?

Does this help identify the HBV? Its a 2.5 V6.

(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s129/wakeypat/P8030044.jpg)

Good luck, Pat
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: ians on 05 August 2007, 20:47:08
Tunnie,

Depending on how the HBV fails (indeed if that is what it is) it may or may not leak depending on whether you have the AC switched on.  Worth trying on or off.

On my 2L I got to it from underneath the car - about half way up back of the engine on drivers side.  Can't check now as I've sold the car..

Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: tunnie on 05 August 2007, 20:50:12
thanks for the comments all but 99% sure its the head gasket thats gone  :-[
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: TheBoy on 05 August 2007, 21:36:49
I concur, I think its HG... :(
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 06 August 2007, 11:23:34
Do you need anything from me? I'm going on holiday in less than an hour....
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: Craig_R on 06 August 2007, 11:30:31
Sorry To say Tunnie Sounds Exactly the same as what mine was like :(

Heres is one to try make sure the Header tank is full run engine for abit then leave it over night if it misfires when starting and then clears after acouple of revs then its the head gasket.

Water leaks into one of the pots causing the misfire on startup after standing over night the engine quickly burns off the water.

get sniffing the header tank.

I had loss of coolent oil was fine dipstick was fine as the head Gasket had gone between the coolent and pot.

The HVB you cant miss it get under the Steering Box and its stright up and on the left hand side
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 06 August 2007, 11:30:32
Try it on both full cold and full hot climate panel settings.
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 06 August 2007, 11:33:32
A compression check might be a good next step if you can't locate a leak...  :(

Kevin
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 06 August 2007, 12:11:42
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A compression check might be a good next step if you can't locate a leak...  :(

Kevin

There is already exhaust in the header tank...
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 06 August 2007, 12:20:11
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There is already exhaust in the header tank...

D'oh! missed that bit. Pretty conclusive then :(

Kevin
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: tunnie on 07 August 2007, 09:52:36
Quote
Heres is one to try make sure the Header tank is full run engine for abit then leave it over night if it misfires when starting and then clears after acouple of revs then its the head gasket.


Thats exactly what happens!  :-[
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: Craig_R on 07 August 2007, 12:54:59
Yep Its the Head Gasket Mate  :( I bet its Number One Pot that has gone.

It cost me about £300 to get the Head Gasket Done Including A Head Skim and all the Bits and Bobs like Anifreeze.

How many Miles is on your dads 2.2 Tunnie ?  Was The Coolent Flushed and Changed Every 2 Years Odd ?

Craig
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: Jimbob on 07 August 2007, 13:05:26
Should make one hell of a how2!
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: VXL V6 on 07 August 2007, 13:15:53
If it hasn't actually overheated you might get away without the skim which means that you can leave the manifold attached and just disconnect
the exhaust at the downpipe join.
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: Craig_R on 07 August 2007, 13:24:01
To be honest for the price of a skim its not worth taking the chance
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: tunnie on 07 August 2007, 13:27:28
just ticked over on 93k, its been dealer serviced. (yes, yes i know!)

Not sure when the coolant was last changed, i know i should have flushed it....
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: Craig_R on 07 August 2007, 13:30:56
That one of the biggest Failings of the Head Gasket on a 2.0 2.2 4 Pot old Coolent

I change Mine Every Year Now
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: VXL V6 on 07 August 2007, 13:37:43
The X20XEV (Not sure about the 2.2 but looks the same) runs hotter than previous VX 16 Valvers so as you say, duff (as in not 50% mix) coolant due to lack of changes is the normal cause

When the HG went on mine it was from an oilway, not any of the waterways so I was very lucky, very common for them to let go from around the 80K mark.
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: tunnie on 07 August 2007, 13:37:54
Quote
That one of the biggest Failings of the Head Gasket on a 2.0 2.2 4 Pot old Coolent

I change Mine Every Year Now

Think we will do the same now!
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 07 August 2007, 13:51:11
In theory it should have had a full coolant change as a minimum at 40k and 80K miles when the cambelt, tensioner, idelrs adn water pump were done.....or was the water pump never changed?

Has it been loosing coolant and been topped up with just water?
Title: Re: HBV?
Post by: tunnie on 07 August 2007, 13:53:29
Quote
In theory it should have had a full coolant change as a minimum at 40k and 80K miles when the cambelt, tensioner, idelrs adn water pump were done.....or was the water pump never changed?

Has it been loosing coolant and been topped up with just water?

Never had an issue with it, not sure if the coolant or water pump was done at the dealer, it was done before OOF was around. I suspec the water pump was not changed, although the cambelt 'kit' was done.

Topped it up with a weak antifreeze mix before i went on hols, it was used couple of times when i was away, and was empty on my return.

Not used since....