Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: shell on 08 February 2011, 21:00:08

Title: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: shell on 08 February 2011, 21:00:08
Hi all, My car has always tended to over heat although this has usually been manageable. Recently in cold weather, I have noticed that the temp gauge seems to go right down, almost to the very bottom, especially at speed, on motorway trips. 
Could this be a stuck thermostat?

Thanks Shell.
Title: Re: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: tunnie on 08 February 2011, 21:08:25
It should sit in the middle of the gauge for motorway cruise, being facelift that would be 85, its fairly common for V6 to get a sticking stat. There is a guide in the maint section, if your handy with a set of spanners  :y
Title: Re: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: shell on 08 February 2011, 21:13:21
I'm no good with spanners. any idea how much it may be for a garage to replace the thermostat?

Thanks again.

shell.
Title: Re: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: Entwood on 08 February 2011, 21:13:28
Easy way to check the 'stat

Start engine from cold and leave to idle. Stand with one hand on the large top pipe from the engine to the radiator .. the one that comes from the 'stat to the radiator.

This should remain cold and then get a sudden surge of HOT water as the 'stat opens.

If the pipe slowly and gradualy warms up as the engine warms .. the 'stat is stuck open

HTH  :)
Title: Re: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: Andy B on 08 February 2011, 21:15:59
Quote
...
its fairly common for V6 to get a sticking stat.  .....


Phew!!! Back to normal!  ;D ;D

Since when was it normal for a V6 'stat to stick?  ;D ;D ;D ;D
I suppose I'd better change mine then .............. I've never even seen my stat in 7 years  ;) ;) ;)
Title: Re: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: shell on 08 February 2011, 21:16:10
Thanks Entwood, I will try that tomorrow to be sure.

cheers,

shell.
Title: Re: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: Andy B on 08 February 2011, 21:17:54
Quote
..... any idea how much it may be for a garage to replace the thermostat?
....

Lots! The stat is buried in the the middle of the engine so isn't the 5 min job it is on other cars/engines.  :(
Title: Re: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: Entwood on 08 February 2011, 21:20:41
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Quote
..... any idea how much it may be for a garage to replace the thermostat?
....

Lots! The stat is buried in the the middle of the engine so isn't the 5 min job it is on other cars/engines.  :(


and there are one or two "awkward" bits that can bite and make the job a lot longer ....  The Transfer Pipe and the B*******d Bolt come readily to mind .....  ( I'm SO glad I paid DLK/EP to do mine ...   :)  )
Title: Re: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 08 February 2011, 21:22:15
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Quote
Quote
..... any idea how much it may be for a garage to replace the thermostat?
....

Lots! The stat is buried in the the middle of the engine so isn't the 5 min job it is on other cars/engines.  :(


and there are one or two "awkward" bits that can bite and make the job a lot longer ....  The Transfer Pipe and the B*******d Bolt come readily to mind .....  ( I'm SO glad I paid DLK/EP to do mine ...   :)  )

I would also prefer to pay instead of messing with bas***d bolt ;D
Title: Re: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: shell on 08 February 2011, 21:25:32
Thanks Andy, its probably not a viable repair then, will that do any other damage to the engine? or can I sort of live with it? The car is really on its way out, but don't want to give her up until necessary.

Thanks again.

Shell.
Title: Re: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 08 February 2011, 21:28:49
Quote
Thanks Andy, its probably not a viable repair then, will that do any other damage to the engine? or can I sort of live with it? The car is really on its way out, but don't want to give her up until necessary.

Thanks again.

Shell.

you will consume more fuel, and cats will face unburnt fuel which can cook them..
Title: Re: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: tunnie on 08 February 2011, 21:36:15
Quote
Quote
...
its fairly common for V6 to get a sticking stat.  .....


Phew!!! Back to normal!  ;D ;D

Since when was it normal for a V6 'stat to stick?  ;D ;D ;D ;D
I suppose I'd better change mine then .............. I've never even seen my stat in 7 years  ;) ;) ;)

Right then you.....  ;D

I've had to do the stat on all 3 of our Omegas, the 2.2's went at approx 100k and 9 years, Mother T's 3.0 Elite failed at about 85k and 9 years

I did say fairly.....  ::)
Title: Re: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: shell on 08 February 2011, 21:37:21
OK, thank you, to all of you, for brilliant help and advice!
This forum has already kept my car going many times, and has saved me a small fortune.
I'm grateful to you all! I guess the writing is on the wall for my old mig, but I will persevere with her for a few miles yet.

Cheers Shell.
Title: Re: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: Dave Elite on 08 February 2011, 21:49:34
Quote
Quote
Quote
..... any idea how much it may be for a garage to replace the thermostat?
....

Lots! The stat is buried in the the middle of the engine so isn't the 5 min job it is on other cars/engines.  :(


and there are one or two "awkward" bits that can bite and make the job a lot longer ....  The Transfer Pipe and the B*******d Bolt come readily to mind .....  ( I'm SO glad I paid DLK/EP to do mine ...   :)  )
I found the job fairly easy to be honest when I did mine. The ba....d bolt was not the ba....d I thought/and was told it would be. Not too bad at all, I couldnt work out what all the fuss was about to be honest.
Title: Re: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 08 February 2011, 21:58:52
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
..... any idea how much it may be for a garage to replace the thermostat?
....

Lots! The stat is buried in the the middle of the engine so isn't the 5 min job it is on other cars/engines.  :(


and there are one or two "awkward" bits that can bite and make the job a lot longer ....  The Transfer Pipe and the B*******d Bolt come readily to mind .....  ( I'm SO glad I paid DLK/EP to do mine ...   :)  )
I found the job fairly easy to be honest when I did mine. The ba....d bolt was not the ba....d I thought/and was told it would be. Not too bad at all, I couldnt work out what all the fuss was about to be honest.

your hands must be tiny or you had  a lucky day ;D

seen many mechanics having trouble with it.. 
Title: Re: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: Dave Elite on 08 February 2011, 22:01:48
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Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
..... any idea how much it may be for a garage to replace the thermostat?
....

Lots! The stat is buried in the the middle of the engine so isn't the 5 min job it is on other cars/engines.  :(


and there are one or two "awkward" bits that can bite and make the job a lot longer ....  The Transfer Pipe and the B*******d Bolt come readily to mind .....  ( I'm SO glad I paid DLK/EP to do mine ...   :)  )
I found the job fairly easy to be honest when I did mine. The ba....d bolt was not the ba....d I thought/and was told it would be. Not too bad at all, I couldnt work out what all the fuss was about to be honest.

your hands must be tiny or you had  a lucky day ;D

seen many mechanics having trouble with it.. 
No I have very large hands.
Title: Re: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: Dave Elite on 08 February 2011, 22:04:11
It seems most of the people who harp on about how difficult this job is have never done it before.
Title: Re: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: Andy B on 08 February 2011, 22:05:26
Quote
Thanks Andy, its probably not a viable repair then, will that do any other damage to the engine? or can I sort of live with it? The car is really on its way out, but don't want to give her up until necessary.

Thanks again.

Shell.

Don't write the car off yet. I only said a garage would charge lots, they do so cos they don't/won't work on a Vx V6 because apparently they're too complicated to work on.
I'm sure that there's an OOF'er local-ish to you that might help.  :y :y
Or there might be a local meet where someone would be willing to help you change it with/for you.   :y :y :y
Title: Re: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 08 February 2011, 22:10:17
Quote
It seems most of the people who harp on about how difficult this job is have never done it before.

done it before and the position of bolt is definitely too bad especially if you drop..

and also seen it done many times by different mechanics , all had trouble without exception..
Title: Re: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: shell on 08 February 2011, 22:10:58
It took me a whole day to change my expansion tank, and I still tell the story to any who would listen.
So there is no danger,  :) of attempting any b*** bolts.
Although I do have little hands...
Thanks all
 Shell.
Title: Re: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: Entwood on 08 February 2011, 22:12:27
Quote
It seems most of the people who harp on about how difficult this job is have never done it before.

Well .... I stood and watched 2 very experienced OOFers working together doing mine ... and one (rather fond of pink I believe) made the loverly quote  "this is the bastard bolt, if you know what you are doing its a piece of piss" .... an hour later, and if a swear box had been present some charity would have won the lottery, it eventually did what it was supposed to do ... :) .. and he can't blame the LPG as it did not affect that part of the job ....   :)

Excellent job done, and I was, and still am, very pleased ..  :) just glad it was them not me ..  :)
Title: Re: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: Dave Elite on 08 February 2011, 22:37:14
Quote
Quote
It seems most of the people who harp on about how difficult this job is have never done it before.

Well .... I stood and watched 2 very experienced OOFers working together doing mine ... and one (rather fond of pink I believe) made the loverly quote  "this is the blank bolt, if you know what you are doing its a piece of piss" .... an hour later, and if a swear box had been present some charity would have won the lottery, it eventually did what it was supposed to do ... :) .. and he can't blame the LPG as it did not affect that part of the job ....   :)

Excellent job done, and I was, and still am, very pleased ..  :) just glad it was them not me ..  :)
I've done it twice now, I just didnt find it that difficult.
Title: Re: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: dbug on 09 February 2011, 01:05:15
Quote
Quote
Quote
It seems most of the people who harp on about how difficult this job is have never done it before.

Well .... I stood and watched 2 very experienced OOFers working together doing mine ... and one (rather fond of pink I believe) made the loverly quote  "this is the blank bolt, if you know what you are doing its a piece of piss" .... an hour later, and if a swear box had been present some charity would have won the lottery, it eventually did what it was supposed to do ... :) .. and he can't blame the LPG as it did not affect that part of the job ....   :)

Excellent job done, and I was, and still am, very pleased ..  :) just glad it was them not me ..  :)
I've done it twice now, I just didnt find it that difficult.

Well - well done mate  :-/
Title: Re: Car seems to be running cold in cold weather
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 09 February 2011, 09:00:41
Quote
Quote
Quote
It seems most of the people who harp on about how difficult this job is have never done it before.

Well .... I stood and watched 2 very experienced OOFers working together doing mine ... and one (rather fond of pink I believe) made the loverly quote  "this is the blank bolt, if you know what you are doing its a piece of piss" .... an hour later, and if a swear box had been present some charity would have won the lottery, it eventually did what it was supposed to do ... :) .. and he can't blame the LPG as it did not affect that part of the job ....   :)

Excellent job done, and I was, and still am, very pleased ..  :) just glad it was them not me ..  :)
I've done it twice now, I just didnt find it that difficult.

I'm sure at the next meet , some miggy owners will be happy to see their problem sorted quickly ;D :D :y