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[Dan1005]

So today I was fiddling round with the brake lights and engine, decided I should change the air filter as I have a new one I had ordered since buying the car a month ago. Today was warm and sunny here so I got around to doing it after work..

Anyway decided I should check oil even though I know its losing some (as told about in simple service thread). And found it was near low mark.. 500ml and back to almost full.. Then decided I should check the coolant header tank as I had only checked fluid levels quickly in the snowy conditions since I bought the car...

Opened the cap and low and behold I am greeted with brown liquid inside.. dipped finger in and the water is thick with oil...
It should be going in to be repaired some time next week with the insurance company seeming to be in agreement that the engine repairs (again detailed in other thread) are not as a result of my doing...

BUT.. I need to drive about 200km this weekend for some work, is it worth doing this in the Omega with so much oil in the water, even though chances are its being repaired next week??
If not I shall have to try and cancel the trip..

[albitz]

your oil cooler is goosed. If you do your trip you will probably do a lot of damage to the various parts of the cooling system and maybe cook the engine as well.

[amba]

If your journey is that important then hire a car...it will cost you a lot less than the damage you are likely to cause to your Omega....and even if it is going to be repaired,if you intend keeping the car for any time it deserves better treatment than it will get driving in that condition.
My advise is park it up and don,t touch the keys till its fixed,although your call at the end of the day !

[Dan1005]

Thanks guys,

Journey is not really important at all, could be canceled and rescheduled. No Probs.

When I found this had already pretty much decided not to drive it as I am way to fond of her to consider doing any damage (even though insurance from purchase should cover any damage to the engine)... Just wanted to see what general consensus was with such a small trip on the horizon..

Hopefully it will be slotted in and all fixed next week.. Then cant wait to hit the road and start getting some real k's under my belt in her

[Entwood]

Your next problem will be to ENSURE that when the repairs are done the WHOLE coolant system, including the radiator and heater matrix are PROPERLY cleaned of oil residue.

When oil and water mix they form an emulsion .. the brown gooey mess you have seen in the header tank...... that mess is now throughout the coolant system and in every small drilling, pipe and matrix.

It takes a LOT of shifting, 20-30 flushes with a low suds biological detergent is just one way .. there are others... HOWEVER... if not cleared then it is a problem building up ..... your coolant system will not work correctly.. this can lead to overheating, damaged heads, no cabin heating, and many other problems, as the oil attacks the rubber components of the system.

You MUST make sure they clean it all PROPERLY, and not a cursory fluid change.

Sorry to give you more angst .. but it is important

[Dan1005]

Entwood, thanks for the info.. I was just thinking about this...
Is there a way I can check that they have done these fluid changes?
possible at home checks??
I know here, one thing to do is guarentee the mechanics give you the parts they replaced, otherwise you cant be sure here that they changed things and not just bodged them together...

At least with this one, some comfort comes from the year engine insurance, so 11 months left...