Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: portomega on 04 August 2009, 14:47:29

Title: another problem/problems!
Post by: portomega on 04 August 2009, 14:47:29
Right just went to start the car and .....nothing. dashlight all came on then dimmed when key was turned and nothing from the engine, did it 5-6 times then it fired up but there was white puffs of smoke from where the exhuast joins to the engine, where theres sort of a silver heat shield over it, and then when idling a fair bit of white smoke coming out of the exhuast , took it for a spin and the smoke seems to have cleared. But then i noticed my coolant had dropped when i looked and when i took the cap off it all of a sudden nearly filled the bottle to the top! any ideas what up with the dam thing now!!!  :(
Title: Re: another problem/problems!
Post by: Jimbob on 04 August 2009, 14:50:21
dunno about the route cause, but if you take the lid of the coolant tank when hot, it will fill the tank very rapidy, and scald you if it gets the chance, its pressurised  :y  .  Release the pressure and the fluid will then boil (and give the volcano effect you saw)

being a 4 pot, it could be the HG  :(
Title: Re: another problem/problems!
Post by: portomega on 04 August 2009, 14:51:53
yeah it was hot and the engine was running, i expected the level to rise but didnt expect it to fill right to the top lol but also there were a fair few bubbles coming from the pipe of the coolant tank at the bottom
Title: Re: another problem/problems!
Post by: joshwyatt on 04 August 2009, 14:56:00
When the engines cold take the oil filler cap off and have a look at it and the same with the dip stick. Is there any white/cream gunk you can see?
Title: Re: another problem/problems!
Post by: portomega on 04 August 2009, 14:57:20
no both of those are free from any gunk
Title: Re: another problem/problems!
Post by: joshwyatt on 04 August 2009, 15:00:28
Oh, that's good news. That is one of the signs of a possible hg failiure, but we can't discount that atm though. Are there any dash lights still on when the engine was running or did any come on whilst driving?
Title: Re: another problem/problems!
Post by: portomega on 04 August 2009, 15:02:02
Nope free from any of the warning lights , only thing i can think of was yesturday i had a O ring replaced as it was leaking and ever since i got it back its been blowing the white smoke when idling before been driven
Title: Re: another problem/problems!
Post by: Andy H on 04 August 2009, 15:04:48
Did you get your sump changed?

Were any electrical connections undone in the process?

In particular the heavy cable to the starter motor and any earth straps between the body and engine or gearbox.

If there are loose connections or damaged cables or earth straps you could have intermittent starting (and puffs of smoke  :o)
Title: Re: another problem/problems!
Post by: Elite Pete on 04 August 2009, 15:06:09
Could be the water getting into one or more cylinders making it hard for the starter motor to turn the engine
Title: Re: another problem/problems!
Post by: portomega on 04 August 2009, 15:06:35
Sump still hasnt been changed as i aint got any time off work until next week  so having to wait until then. its been patched with that epoxy putty stuff and its not leaking anymore
Title: Re: another problem/problems!
Post by: portomega on 04 August 2009, 15:08:21
Quote
Could be the water getting into one or more cylinders making it hard for the starter motor to turn the engine

is that a major problem? could i drive it for another week or an i ruining the engine? also if it is HG is that a costly job?
Title: Re: another problem/problems!
Post by: joshwyatt on 04 August 2009, 15:09:54
I bet it's connected, oil could be leaking and being burnt. How confident are you at a bit of mechanics? I must admit I'm not, but have the same engine as you. You could try taking the heatshild off to have a look, or the top of the engine to have a look at the spark plugs and just a general poke around. I'm afaraid I can't be much more help than that as I've never had a similiar problem.
Title: Re: another problem/problems!
Post by: portomega on 04 August 2009, 15:12:47
ive got no mechanical knowledge or confidence at all  :( wish i did, just cant believe all these problems have hit me when i got no time off work and cant get them sorted  >:(
Title: Re: another problem/problems!
Post by: Elite Pete on 04 August 2009, 15:16:49
Quote
Quote
Could be the water getting into one or more cylinders making it hard for the starter motor to turn the engine

is that a major problem? could i drive it for another week or an i ruining the engine? also if it is HG is that a costly job?
If it is using quite a bit of water with no apparent leaks I would say its the head gasket.
Title: Re: another problem/problems!
Post by: portomega on 04 August 2009, 15:19:44
Quote
Quote
Quote
Could be the water getting into one or more cylinders making it hard for the starter motor to turn the engine

is that a major problem? could i drive it for another week or an i ruining the engine? also if it is HG is that a costly job?
If it is using quite a bit of water with no apparent leaks I would say its the head gasket.

well the coolant level had only dropped slighty and ive just had a look now and the level is right where it should be, so i dont think the coolant has been lost , with hg failure would the coolant be lost completey and not return to the tank when i took the top off?
Title: Re: another problem/problems!
Post by: mathewst on 04 August 2009, 15:28:42
Check the oil level.
It could be the oil got in the plug wells ( leaking cam cover gasket) and that it also leaked on the exhaust manifold.
I had mine blown tvice by blocked breathers.
Check the back part of the engine (is there any oil on it)?
Title: Re: another problem/problems!
Post by: portomega on 04 August 2009, 15:29:28
i got to go to work folks hopefully it wont explode on the M4 lol if anyone has any advice of what it could be or ways to cure it or if it is the problems uv suggested what the costs will be? i'll check them when i get in from work in the morning .
cheers everyone  :y wish me luck!
Title: Re: another problem/problems!
Post by: portomega on 04 August 2009, 15:31:17
doesnt appear to be any oil leaks from the back of the engine, the leaky o ring was on the front plug on the right hand side ( same side as the exhuast )
Title: Re: another problem/problems!
Post by: portomega on 05 August 2009, 04:50:41
Right just an update, got to work and it was still blowing white smoke from the exhuast, so got a local mechanic to come have a look and the result was, definately HG failure  :'( white smoke, rough running engine, low coolant and strong smell of Fuel/Exhuast from expansion tank  :'(
So its having the whole lot done, HG, timming belt, oil, coolant, skimming, plus a list of other things i cant remember all for around £500-700  :o :'( going to take 2 days maybe 3 ........poxy car!  >:(