Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: batt45 on 13 August 2010, 20:17:26

Title: coolant lose no visible leak
Post by: batt45 on 13 August 2010, 20:17:26
Hello all. My Omega is giving me some grief of late. Crankshaft seal, Brakes now i think head gasket problem. Lose of coolant with no visible leak.Suspect head gasket(s) Any idea what sort of cost is involved on this problem on a V6 2.6 MV6. Mechanically minded but will not go near a modern car. Would just like to know a rough cost to prepare myself for the shock.....Thanks all
Title: Re: coolant lose no visible leak
Post by: Andy H on 13 August 2010, 20:25:32
Can you add your location to your profile?

There are some excellent mobile mechanics on the forum who will do a better job (& cheaper) than a dealer or garage will.
Title: Re: coolant lose no visible leak
Post by: batt45 on 13 August 2010, 20:29:57
Have an excellent private garage that have used for 15yrs. Very happy with them just wnated to know some ball park figures as you can imagine... thanks
Title: Re: coolant lose no visible leak
Post by: Andy H on 13 August 2010, 20:34:20
OK understood.

On my last V6 I did the job myself  :) so I don't know what the typical cost might be. sorry.
Title: Re: coolant lose no visible leak
Post by: batt45 on 13 August 2010, 20:36:22
Thankyou i am in Birmingham (Great Barr)
Title: Re: coolant lose no visible leak
Post by: alank46 on 13 August 2010, 20:46:13
Hi
Why don't you ask them as it sounds like they will be doing the work??
Alan

Quote
Have an excellent private garage that have used for 15yrs. Very happy with them just wnated to know some ball park figures as you can imagine... thanks
Title: Re: coolant lose no visible leak
Post by: batt45 on 13 August 2010, 21:19:17
amazingly enough they dont work 24hrs a day. Will be phoning them tomorrow. As i said just wondered if anyone had a ball park figure to prepare me for the shock. Thanks
Title: Re: coolant lose no visible leak
Post by: feeutfo on 13 August 2010, 22:04:26
Mechanics a side for a minute.....

Would like to make the point that there are numerous and far more likely causes of unexplained water loss than a failed head gaskit, odds are it's not hg at all. So don't let your mechanic replace both head gaskets only to find it's the hbv, a £35 part, or associated plumbing, or oil cooler cover plate in the v of the engine etc etc

Many a failed head gasket has been diagnosed in error on the omega.

Perhaps an explanation of the symptoms/diagnosis.....? If the only problem is low coolant, it's not a hg problem.

Sorry, but no idea on price, but you won't do better than Daz or elite Pete on here. And I have no vested interest in recommending them. If nothing else get a second opinion from them.

Hth
Title: Re: coolant lose no visible leak
Post by: Andy H on 13 August 2010, 22:14:21
I agree with Chris.

I don't know how much experience your local garage have with Omega V6s but if they don't have any there is a risk of them learning at your expense.
Title: Re: coolant lose no visible leak
Post by: batt45 on 13 August 2010, 22:49:07
chrisgixer...thanks. Out of interest what is a hbv???? Think i saw some condensation on the inside of the oil filler cap this morning....
Title: Re: coolant lose no visible leak
Post by: batt45 on 13 August 2010, 22:52:19
They are a very experinced bunch of chaps that i trust my car to but i just think abit of knowledge does not hurt. Some may say a bit of knowledge is dangerous but am mechanically minded so can understand stuff which i think is good...Chrisfixer Thanks
Title: Re: coolant lose no visible leak
Post by: batt45 on 13 August 2010, 23:26:00
please what is an HBV??????
Title: Re: coolant lose no visible leak
Post by: feeutfo on 14 August 2010, 08:26:52
Heater bypass valve. The most common source of water leaks on the omega. See maintenance for the guide on replacement, for location. It's rightbat the back of the engine under the scuttle. Get a hand inn there and see if it's wet, heater settings sometimes affect it leaking or not. With the heat of the v6 the coolant evaporates off before hittingbthe floor.

If it's ok remove plenum, inlet manifold and plastic wedge and check the valley of the v for leaks on stat housing, oil cooler cover plate and coolant bridge. Also water pump seal at the front and coolant transfer pipe at the back of the block above bell housing.

At various points pressure test the system, I just blow into the coolant bottle mouth around the rim (then spend the rest of the day spitting) or make a pressure cap by drilling a push bike tyre valve into a spare cap or bike brake master cylinder cap.
Title: Re: coolant lose no visible leak
Post by: batt45 on 14 August 2010, 09:42:08
thanks appreciate that info....
Title: Re: coolant lose no visible leak
Post by: wideboy on 14 August 2010, 13:58:26
my head gasket has blown, car was towed away this morning.my local garage, which is very experienced, and has a good reputation, the cost, are you sitting down, would not get much change, out of a grand.

500 quid labour, rest in parts, new head bolts gaskets, oil and all the other odds and sods.

my oil filler cap was full,of mayo, and was losing a header tank of water a week, with no visible leaks. i also agree pm daz,

other option is second engine, good luck :-/ :-/ :-/ :-/
Title: Re: coolant lose no visible leak
Post by: 180pete on 15 August 2010, 16:15:48
Hi Batt45, I've got a 2.5 v6 on an X plate, drive it like a nunn and you will get mayo in the filler cap, or very short trips will also do it, but mine was also losing a bit of water and I went straight for the head gasket as well, turned out it had a slight weep from the oil cooler, which as you know sits in the 'V' so no sign of loss on the floor, it was evaporating off as it sat in the 'V' after my trip.  I had all the cam belts, Rocker cover gaskets, HT leads, HBV, water pump, plugs, C.P.S., Dis pack and oil cooler rebuilt at the same time so no idea of cost if it is a head gasket, but it aint gona be cheap.
best of luck and hope it's the HBV.