Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: joshwyatt on 14 August 2010, 21:03:48

Title: Oil strainer, oil change etc
Post by: joshwyatt on 14 August 2010, 21:03:48
I did have a bad experience with one Omega, a 2.6 MV6...the oil and filter was changed then the vehice sold, the vehicle was returned with a seized engine. It was later found to be the oil strainer blocked with crud, which I guess the fresh oil would have made worse.
I have two Omega's that are mine to keep, and neither have had an oil change in my ownership, not owned for long though  :D
To prevent any possibility of an oil pressure issue, would it be seen as a sensible precaution to remove the sump and clean it out, and check and clean the strainer? Or would a short 150 to 200 mile oil change two or three times get most of the crud out?
One's a 2.6 and the other's a 3.2, I've never had the sump off before...would it be easy to see the strainer and oil pick up?
Title: Re: Oil strainer, oil change etc
Post by: Agemo on 14 August 2010, 21:09:56
Have you been reading the saga by Abiton?

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1281733826
Title: Re: Oil strainer, oil change etc
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 14 August 2010, 21:28:51
A very good idea Josh you then have piece of mind  :y
Title: Re: Oil strainer, oil change etc
Post by: joshwyatt on 14 August 2010, 21:34:10
I have been reading that Saga Agemo, it's what made me think about it again. But mine being V6's, wasn't sure if it was any more involved in getting to the strainer etc.

And that's kind of what I was after Daz, I know it's been done and I won't have any issues with them. If the police Omega went bang I could live with that, but not my Elite...so I'd rather do anything possible to prevent it happening.
I think I might have to bring the Elite up to you Daz at some point for you to work your magic on it etc  :y
Title: Re: Oil strainer, oil change etc
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 14 August 2010, 21:37:06
What about bringing it to newent? We could do it there mate.  ;)
Title: Re: Oil strainer, oil change etc
Post by: Andy H on 14 August 2010, 22:12:39
I do wonder if this wasn't the cause of The Boys problems with the Silver Bullet and the Golden Nugget :-/

How difficult is it to remove the sump on a V6?
Title: Re: Oil strainer, oil change etc
Post by: I_want_an_Omega on 14 August 2010, 22:12:44
Hi Josh,

I took the sump pan off my '99 3.0 V6 to give it a good clean out a few weeks ago as it was obvious that the car had not had as many oil changes in its life as it should have had.

After draining the oil overnight, the next morning removal was  easy enough with about 20 torx screws to remove, then prised the cover off to break the seal - as its stuck on with sealant.

I then removed the oil level switch - 2 more torx screws and the pan comes off.

The sludge inside was blooming awful  :(, used a plastic scraper then paper with carb cleaner & got it all off.

Got it all off and then got to as much as I could reach inside the crank case walls with an old toothbrush/carb cleaner.

The oil strainer was actually ok - but I cleaned it anyway.

Its a messy job - but actually quite rewarding to do I must say.  :y

HTH - Rob
Title: Re: Oil strainer, oil change etc
Post by: joshwyatt on 14 August 2010, 22:20:15
That was most helpful Rob...thank you  :y
I think I'll order a new sump gasket and attempt it on the 3.2 as if that one goes wrong...I won't mind as much.
But, once again Rob thank you.
I'd much rather have done it, simply for the piece of mind, and I'm sure all the crud floating round can't do the engine any favours.
Title: Re: Oil strainer, oil change etc
Post by: Kieran on 14 August 2010, 22:43:25
Looks like one to add to the to do list :y
Title: Re: Oil strainer, oil change etc
Post by: I_want_an_Omega on 14 August 2010, 23:03:11
Your' very welcome.  :y

I know mine is a 3.0, but there wasn't a gasket - just sealant. It looked the same as black camcover sealant to me - so thats what I used & it's seemed to do the trick. Other members have mentioned instant gasket, but I had some black available and used that.

I forgot to say that I took the undertray off as well - that's easy enough to get off. I also raised both sides of the front of the car about 5 inches or so to gain access.

The torque settings are in Haynes.
Title: Re: Oil strainer, oil change etc
Post by: tidla on 14 August 2010, 23:05:22
crud use to be a problem in the eightys, improved oil additives helped a lot with these issues.

good oil at 10k intervals i would of thought would avoid these isues.

long life intervals what were they on?

i have seen ford zetecs which have not had an oil change for donkeys, and it shows in the rocker covers and cam areas.

i would have thought following on from that, if your cams are nice and golden. the sump area wont be too bad?
Title: Re: Oil strainer, oil change etc
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 14 August 2010, 23:09:52
Maybe Rob can do if for you Josh or show you how its done   :y
Title: Re: Oil strainer, oil change etc
Post by: I_want_an_Omega on 15 August 2010, 08:13:56
Only if he wants it done very very slowly  :)

If Josh wants to come up to Lincoln then I'll happily do it for him.  :y
Title: Re: Oil strainer, oil change etc
Post by: I_want_an_Omega on 15 August 2010, 08:18:45
Quote
crud use to be a problem in the eightys, improved oil additives helped a lot with these issues.

good oil at 10k intervals i would of thought would avoid these isues.

long life intervals what were they on?

i have seen ford zetecs which have not had an oil change for donkeys, and it shows in the rocker covers and cam areas.

i would have thought following on from that, if your cams are nice and golden. the sump area wont be too bad?

That's why I did my sump - golden the cams were certainly not