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[ranja]

Hi all
Omega 03 2.6i 31000 genuine milage.
Slight film of oil in expansion bottle, no other symptoms, engine running normal, does my motor have an oil cooler which am led to beleive does not.
Thanks in anticipation

[Marks DTM Calib]

It does have an oil cooler (so you ahev been misled!) which sits in the valley of the engine......When they fail you get a mayo mix in the header tank, a very fine oil film is probably nothing.

So the question is, do you have loads of oil/mayo mix or just the slightest trace.

Remember also that anti freeze on any car should be regularly changed and kept at a constant 50;50 mix so NEVER top up with plain water and change it every 4 years worst case or more idealy every 2

[ranja]

Thanks Marks DTM Calib for you quick response, have removed a thin layer (eighth of inch) of oil from bottle 2 weeks ago, but since only thin film returned.

[Marks DTM Calib]

I would flush the coolant system and re-fill with a 50:50 antifreeze mix and see how you go....a 1/8 inch thick film is not a great sign but, do you know the history of the car?

[ranja]

Had car from April 2004 (10,000 on clock) fsh regular servicing.

[Marks DTM Calib]

And I am guessing the oil cooler has never been changed in that period.....has it ever had a coolant change with fresh correct concentration antifreeze?

Do you ever have to top the coolant up and if so do you use water or a the coorect 50:50 mix?

Sorry for the questions but, they are key to giving us a better view of if the oil cooler may be failing. 

[ranja]

No oil cooler change, no antifreeze change (according to my service invoices), no coolent top-ups required.

[tunnie]

No oil cooler change, no antifreeze change (according to my service invoices), no coolent top-ups required.

Should have had at least one, Vx Red Anti-freeze on paper lasts 5 years so should have been changed.

For the minimal cost, and fact it can only help head gaskets and oil coolers, i change the coolant on our Omegas every year 

[Kevin Wood]

No oil cooler change, no antifreeze change (according to my service invoices), no coolent top-ups required.

Should have had at least one, Vx Red Anti-freeze on paper lasts 5 years so should have been changed.

For the minimal cost, and fact it can only help head gaskets and oil coolers, i change the coolant on our Omegas every year 

I don't think it's on the service schedule for later cars, is it? :-/

Kevin

[tunnie]

No oil cooler change, no antifreeze change (according to my service invoices), no coolent top-ups required.

Should have had at least one, Vx Red Anti-freeze on paper lasts 5 years so should have been changed.

For the minimal cost, and fact it can only help head gaskets and oil coolers, i change the coolant on our Omegas every year 

I don't think it's on the service schedule for later cars, is it? :-/

Kevin

As facelift came out in '99 guess not as it was only sold for 4 years  :-/

Still, if its on the same coolant since 2004, that needs a change

[ranja]

You are right Kevin, says in service manual only to check.
Is this a reason for a breakdown of the oil cooler, and is it the oil cooler that is my problem.

[Kevin Wood]

You are right Kevin, says in service manual only to check.
Is this a reason for a breakdown of the oil cooler, and is it the oil cooler that is my problem.

Yes, it's certainly the main factor. The oil cooler is an area where several metals are in contact so it is prone to corrosion if the coolant's corrosion protection is no longer up to scratch.

I think it's worth flushing the system and seeing if the oil contamination returns. If it does, change the oil cooler before the system gets too badly contaminated as it can be a pain to flush all the oil out of the cooling system.

Kevin

[tunnie]

the good news is the oil cooler is not to bad a job to replace. You want to watch this carefully, as getting oil out of the cooling system takes a lot of flushes.

Have a read of my guide: http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1167917774

It is a long way of doing it, but it ensures you replace all the coolant, as most of it sits in the matrix, and you don't get most of it out when you drain the system.