Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Koomorph on 18 January 2010, 21:27:41
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I'm considering doing a full coolant change on the 2.6 - have read the guide - but am still unsure as to exactly how much total mixture the car takes (and as such how much coolant/anti-freeze I should get for a for a flush and fill).
Any pointers welcome? :)
Cheers
Raf
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Try the following link from the maintenance guide:
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1167917774
It says for a V6 9 litres of coolant, which means 4.5 ltrs coolant and 4.5 ltrs water. But note that you will probably need a bit more when flushing the system.
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Thanks mate - wasn't quite sure if that was the case. Is there a V6 coolant guide change guide around - to explain further why you can only remove 50% of the coolant at a time and the process...?
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If you drain via drain tap bottom of radiator you will only get 5 Lits out - keep flushing and eventually left with clear water in block. Add 5 lits red antifreeze and your at ~ 50% af mixture.
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I guess then start her up and let the pump do the mixing?
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Thanks mate - wasn't quite sure if that was the case. Is there a V6 coolant guide change guide around - to explain further why you can only remove 50% of the coolant at a time and the process...?
Because some is always left in the water pump
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I guess then start her up and let the pump do the mixing?
Yep - make sure climate on hi and squeeze hoses with cap off, engine running to bleed air. Fill to level, cap on, quick blast up to normal running temperature, allow to cool and then top up if needed. Provided heaters blowing hot just keep an eye on level for a few days to ensure all air out of system.
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Thanks mate - wasn't quite sure if that was the case. Is there a V6 coolant guide change guide around - to explain further why you can only remove 50% of the coolant at a time and the process...?
Because some is always left in the water pump
In the block mate !!
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Thanks mate - wasn't quite sure if that was the case. Is there a V6 coolant guide change guide around - to explain further why you can only remove 50% of the coolant at a time and the process...?
Because some is always left in the water pump
In the block mate !!
;D :y
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I guess then start her up and let the pump do the mixing?
Yep - make sure climate on hi and squeeze hoses with cap off, engine running to bleed air. Fill to level, cap on, quick blast up to normal running temperature, allow to cool and then top up if needed. Provided heaters blowing hot just keep an eye on level for a few days to ensure all air out of system.
Righto - think I got the process down - sorry if this sounds really ignorant:
1)Remove radiator drain tap (and header tank cap)
2)Allow it to drain
3)Fill with water again (approx 5lt) - should drain through I'm guessing... if drain plug is out?
4)Once filled and drained through a few times - replace radiator drain tap.
5)Fill with 4.5lt of antifreez (approx) (to header tank level).
6)Run engine with header cap off, climate on HI, squeeze hoses (for 5-10mins?).
7) Top up if necessary if looking slightly low after it starts circulating?
8)Go for a drive, and check levels etc...
Thanks again
Raf
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Just a couple of slight amendments.. :)
.... once you've loosened the drain tap (you don't need to "remove" it) stick a hose pipe in the header tank and turn it on, leave for 5 minutes.. this will give both the block and rad a good flush. Do up the rad drain, fill with clean water from the hose, start the engine and turn the heating to MAX, run the engine until the temp guage has moved a small amount. Switch off and leave for 15 minutes to cool
repeat from .... a couple of times.
This ensures that ALL the water in the heater side is also cleared out, as it is easy for dirty cold water to get left there.
Once happy do a final drain from the rad drain then tighten. pour in 5 litres neat Vx red antifreeze then continue as in your 6,7,8
HTH :)
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Brilliant - thanks everyone for the guidance. :)
Now I'll just need to go and find the rad drain tap... ;D
Thanks again!
Raf
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Brilliant - thanks everyone for the guidance. :)
Now I'll just need to go and find the rad drain tap... ;D
Thanks again!
Raf
Red thing right at the bottom of the rad, passenger side. You might need pliers/similar to slacken it off, & don't swing of it when you tighten it, tightening doesn't make it seal any better, it's the O rings that seal.
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k17/Tiff4327/Omega/S73F0284.jpg)
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Bottom of radiator on near side - can't miss it its bright red!!
Tip loosen drain tap before removing header tank cap - you'll get less water up your sleeve!! :y
[edit]Bugga must type faster - and a piccy as well :-/[/edit]
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Excellent - can't get much clearer than that - thanks chaps! :y
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I just had a quick thought - thought I'd ask everyone's opinion.... sorry if this sounds strange....
I went to some VX dealers in the SE today getting printouts of all the services of the miggy - following the stamps in the service book (as this was all I had when it was bought).
So now I have all paperwork as well so can see exactly what was done and when.... :y It's a good history too... serviced every year - at quite an expense by the previous owner... especially at VX prices!! :o
But I've noticed that the coolant is never mentioned anywhere.... on any of the annual services.
So my question is:
If the coolant had never been changed in 7/8 years - is it possible that it may be down by 1.5-2 inches in the expansion tank..... (as is the case here) or should I start looking for leaks?!?!?
Haven't driven the car more than 30 miles in the month (due to crank sensor fault etc..) to tell if it's loosing coolant yet.... just wondering if the slightly low level could be due it never being changed..... or would it NEVER drop... even in 7/8 years?
Many thanks as always!
Raf :)
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Could be any number of things ;) ;)
I'd be amazed if it had never been topped up in that time :y :y
Don't panic until you've had a chance to run it and check things ;) ;)
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One thing though - I did ask the previous ovener (who has owned the car since it was 6 months old (so for 7 years).. whether he has ever had to top up the coolant - and he said no..... and if VX never topped it or changed it....
..... makes me think... maybe there ISN'T a leak - it's just dropped in that time by a small amount..... wondering if that is possible.... :y
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One thing though - I did ask the previous ovener (who has owned the car since it was 6 months old (so for 7 years).. whether he has ever had to top up the coolant - and he said no..... and if VX never topped it or changed it....???
Makes me think... maybe there ISN'T a leak - it's just dropped in that time by a small amount..... wondering if that is possible.... :y
Don't see any reason why not :y :y
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Too check for a leak you need to start from a definitive "known" level.
So park on a specific spot, where you can always park again, and fill to the"level" mark with the engine cold.
You can now keep a close eye on the system by parking on the same spot and checking the level, again with the engine cold, any time you like.
If it don't move it ain't leaking ...... :)
If it is .. investigate .. :)
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Yeh - that makes sense..... just the car hasn't been driven much yet due to the crank sensor.... so can't tell yet.... I've marked on the tank with some masking tape where the level curently is....
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Following on from my "coolant quicky"... ;D.... When Daz did the cambelt change, he obviously replaced the water pump and I drained the radiator. When we filled her up with 5lt of antifreeze, she only took about 2lt of water before the expansion tank was full.
We thouroughly let her get up to temperature, squeezed hoses, took her for a drive etc...
7lt doesn't seem enough even though the heater is blowing hot and level is correct in the expansion tank. Could 2lt have been left in the system somewhere before we added the antifreeze and water... (so making 9lt total) ?
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Following on from my "coolant quicky"... ;D.... When Daz did the cambelt change, he obviously replaced the water pump and I drained the radiator. When we filled her up with 5lt of antifreeze, she only took about 2lt of water before the expansion tank was full.
We thouroughly let her get up to temperature, squeezed hoses, took her for a drive etc...
7lt doesn't seem enough even though the heater is blowing hot and level is correct in the expansion tank. Could 2lt have been left in the system somewhere before we added the antifreeze and water... (so making 9lt total) ?
Easily... Will have been some in the block and some of the pipework... And of course the matrix and pipework :y :y
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Nice one - thanks for the quick reply.... :y