Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: chrisgc on 31 January 2010, 14:45:00

Title: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: chrisgc on 31 January 2010, 14:45:00
Hi all,

I have noticed on my 2.5 v6 Omega Elite that it was smelling hot.

I have only had the car a short while but it has not overheated.

I opend the coolant tank when the engine was cold only to find it was just a brown sludge!!

I was thinking the best way forward was to flush the coolant system and then refill and go from there.

It was quite a thick stodgy brown sludge so must have been like this prior to me getting the car.

Can anyone tell me if they too recommend first of all just flushing and re-filling?

Also how easy is it on my car AND when re-filling can I use normal coolant from a general motor factors store or do i have to use Vauxhall own brand?

Your quick response would be most appreciated.

Chris
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: PhilRich on 31 January 2010, 14:50:33
It sounds like your Oil Cooler has given up the ghost Chris. Have a look in the 'Maintenance Guide' section for more info. I am sure someone more knowledgeable with a 'real' 6 pot omega will be along shortly, I only have the 'bargain basement' 4 pot! HTH, Phil. ;) :y
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: Kevin Wood on 31 January 2010, 15:08:23
Yep. Sounds like the oil cooler has failed. :'(

Have a read of this: http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1221081908

Best to avoid driving it until it's sorted to prevent further contamination.

Kevin
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: chrisgc on 31 January 2010, 15:16:27
Is there any way the Oil cooler is reusable by cleaning it (sorry not mechanically minded)?

If not where can I buy a cheap one as I am in the process of selling the vehicle but have only stumbled on this problem yesterday.

Chris
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: tunnie on 31 January 2010, 15:20:34
Quote
Is there any way the Oil cooler is reusable by cleaning it (sorry not mechanically minded)?

If not where can I buy a cheap one as I am in the process of selling the vehicle but have only stumbled on this problem yesterday.

Chris

No, its metal and its degraded so much its now letting oil out of the cooler. Best option is to get the oil cooler kit from a Vx dealer on TC its around £90+ vat

If your handy ish with tools tis not a bad job, otherwise its a 3/4 hour ish job at a garage
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: Entwood on 31 January 2010, 15:24:14
Be careful of taking it to a garage ...  :(

I know of at least 3 people who have been "told" that it is a head gasket problem by garages .. and quoted for an exorbitant amount of work.

Oil cooler / head gasket are two totally different problems .. if the garage won't listen .. go elsewhere !!!
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: chrisgc on 31 January 2010, 16:08:53
When it comes to re-filling the antifreeze can I use the Halfords Advance antifreeze or do I have to use genuine Vauxhall antifreeze?

And how many litres is required?

Note: it does say on the halfords site that there advanced antifreeze meets manufacturers requirements.
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: ScottieMV6 on 31 January 2010, 16:13:21
Quote
When it comes to re-filling the antifreeze can I use the Halfords Advance antifreeze or do I have to use genuine Vauxhall antifreeze?

And how many litres is required?


Note: it does say on the halfords site that there advanced antifreeze meets manufacturers requirements.

Is it any cheaper than Vx stuff if bought on TC? From memory Vx is £10.89 for 5 litres (which is all you need) on trade club.

There must be someone near you with a TC card. Alternatively PM andyc on here and he will sort it for you (although postage might be a bit steep for 5 litres of antifreeze)?? :y :y :y
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: Kevin Wood on 31 January 2010, 16:14:22
Either antifreeze will be fine. The GM stuff is very attractively priced on trade club though. :y

You'll need 5 litres of concentrate. Give the cooling system several rounds of thorough flushing before you finally fill with antifreeze, though.

Kevin
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: albitz on 31 January 2010, 16:15:03
Vauxhall anti freeze is best and if you have a trade club card its also much cheaper.
You will need to flush the cooling system lots of times after the job has been done to clear all the sludge out of the system.
Dont drive the car if you can possibly avoid it in the meantime, the cooling system is not working effectively and you risk cooking the engine.




Must type faster. ::)
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: Andy H on 31 January 2010, 16:17:01
Quote
Quote
Is there any way the Oil cooler is reusable by cleaning it (sorry not mechanically minded)?

If not where can I buy a cheap one as I am in the process of selling the vehicle but have only stumbled on this problem yesterday.

Chris

No, its metal and its degraded so much its now letting oil out of the cooler. Best option is to get the oil cooler kit from a Vx dealer on TC its around £90+ vat

If your handy ish with tools tis not a bad job, otherwise its a 3/4 hour ish job at a garage
45 minutes? :-/

3 to 4 hours spanner time sounds do-able....

Flushing out the old oil from the cooling system will take more time and it makes sense to flush out the heater matrix while the system is empty.
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: PhilRich on 31 January 2010, 16:21:53
Quote
Quote
Quote
Is there any way the Oil cooler is reusable by cleaning it (sorry not mechanically minded)?

If not where can I buy a cheap one as I am in the process of selling the vehicle but have only stumbled on this problem yesterday.

Chris

No, its metal and its degraded so much its now letting oil out of the cooler. Best option is to get the oil cooler kit from a Vx dealer on TC its around £90+ vat

If your handy ish with tools tis not a bad job, otherwise its a 3/4 hour ish job at a garage
45 minutes? :-/

3 to 4 hours spanner time sounds do-able....

Flushing out the old oil from the cooling system will take more time and it makes sense to flush out the heater matrix while the system is empty.


I think Tunnie actually meant 3 to 4 hours ;D
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: tunnie on 31 January 2010, 16:24:47
sorry yes 3 or 4 hour job  :y
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: ScottieMV6 on 31 January 2010, 16:26:09
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Is there any way the Oil cooler is reusable by cleaning it (sorry not mechanically minded)?

If not where can I buy a cheap one as I am in the process of selling the vehicle but have only stumbled on this problem yesterday.

Chris

No, its metal and its degraded so much its now letting oil out of the cooler. Best option is to get the oil cooler kit from a Vx dealer on TC its around £90+ vat

If your handy ish with tools tis not a bad job, otherwise its a 3/4 hour ish job at a garage
45 minutes? :-/

3 to 4 hours spanner time sounds do-able....

Flushing out the old oil from the cooling system will take more time and it makes sense to flush out the heater matrix while the system is empty.


I think Tunnie actually meant 3 to 4 hours ;D

If Tunnie can do it in 45 minutes then he could make a fortune just doing oil coolers!! ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: chrisgc on 31 January 2010, 18:04:25
I am pretty new to this site so how do i go about getting a trade card?

Or is there someone near me (Swindon) who can get hold of it for me?

Also when flushing the system out do i simply use normal water along with a coolant flush?

Chris
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: tunnie on 31 January 2010, 18:06:44
drop 'entwood' a PM, he might help in exchange for a few beer vouchers  :y
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: ScottieMV6 on 31 January 2010, 18:37:34
Flush the system out severall times. Use a good detergent of some sort. Some on here recommend the product that Forte make especially for the job. When I did mine I found neat Traffic Film Remover from Machine Mart does the job (after advice from someone else on here) and is much cheaper! :y
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: Entwood on 31 January 2010, 18:42:34
As tunnie said .. I'm swidnod with a TC and a reasonable set of tools .. (don't know how to use em.. but I've got em) and a basic code reader/eml resetter

More than willing to help out if/when I can... drop me a PM and we'll sort something out .. :)
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: chrisgc on 31 January 2010, 19:49:14
Scottie MV6 and Entwood I have sent pm's.
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: Gaffers on 31 January 2010, 20:28:31
Having done the job recently I could help out too.  I am currently away from home mon - fri lunchtime but I could pop up one evening in return for a homecooked meal as I am in South Dorset.  I could replace the oil cooler and then show you how to flush the coolant (needs about 20+ flushes)

Drop me a PM or see if DLK is doing any work in your area soon...
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: Lazydocker on 31 January 2010, 20:32:24
Quote
I am pretty new to this site so how do i go about getting a trade card?

Or is there someone near me (Swindon) who can get hold of it for me?

Also when flushing the system out do i simply use normal water along with a coolant flush?

Chris

PM Entwood... He may be able to help ;) ;)
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: albitz on 31 January 2010, 20:33:48
I take it you didnt read the whole thread LD ? ::) :-X :D ;D
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: Lazydocker on 31 January 2010, 20:36:36
Quote
I take it you didnt read the whole thread LD ? ::) :-X :D ;D
What gave that away ::) ::) ::)

Got to the bottom of the page and didn't realise there was another page :-[ :-[ :-[

Been a long day! I was still awake at about 0200 and got up for work at 0520... Then 12 hour shift :( :(

That's my excuse anyway ;D ;D
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: albitz on 31 January 2010, 20:41:56
Know how you feel, shift work wrecks sleep patterns which leaves you in a state of appearing to be awake but the brain isnt in full agreement.  ;)
If I didnt do shiftwork I could teach Stephen Hawking a thing or two. :y






 :D :D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: Entwood on 31 January 2010, 22:58:32
PM replied too   :)

[off topic]

Quite a few swidnod members now .. at least 6 I can think of ... perhaps we should think about meeting for a beer one evening/weekend luchtime ???

Any thoughts  ??

[end off topic]
Title: Re: Brown Sludge - Help!!
Post by: ScottieMV6 on 01 February 2010, 08:32:55
PM replied to. Hope it is of use! :y