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[biggriffin]

Well I did have it from nearly new back in early 2000, so got some pics of it looking nice and fresh then 😎.

Was a Vauxhall fleet car before me. It had 8400 miles on it when I got it and ( very sadly ) still got the purchase invoice from the Vauxhall dealer.

The rub is, hence the wife discussion, is I've already got a 1999 MV6 which is a one previous owner, full specced car with 113k on clock. Although it's suffering head gasket failure and awaiting attention presently and on SORN.

Not many chances to acquire one these days as numbers in their teens available. Guess if I buy it at least I can decide at a later date what to do.

Not taking the piss here BUT head gasket ??


What symptoms ?

I would be on the side of Tigers Gonads here  . .& cautious of diagnosing HG failure. There were some '99 cars suspect of HG failure as I understand it . . .but these were 2.5's , yours being a MV6 & therefore, I think a 3.0, &  HG failure on 3.0 engines is very very rare.   Oil cooler issue maybe ?

3.0L head gaskets do go,  doesn't give the same symptoms as oil cooler failure,   oil in header tank is oil cooler, head gaskets normally go at the back,and leak coolant.

[TheBoy]

I would be on the side of Tigers Gonads here  . .& cautious of diagnosing HG failure. There were some '99 cars suspect of HG failure as I understand it . . .but these were 2.5's , yours being a MV6 & therefore, I think a 3.0, &  HG failure on 3.0 engines is very very rare.   Oil cooler issue maybe ?

Its actually the MY 1998 3.0l that are prone to HGF at the back of bank 2. Mine suffered it twice in the (long) time I had it.

As BG says, symptoms are losing coolant, no other issues.

[woolley11]

Well I'm no mechanic but I've tinkered with cars over 30 years and can only conclude it's a hgf.

Symptoms of this HGF :

All coolant gone out of expansion tank
Emulsification in oil
Compression in o/s bank, 1st cylinder from front is reading 5 whilst rest are 10-12
Very rough running - fires up but stalls again
When it was running with coolant - steam/very visible emissions coming from exhaust

If someone has other diagnostics then very greatful to receive them.

Re the Champagne Omega - I'm thinking of going for it. I did like the car at the time very much and only sold it to go towards a deposit on a house.

I'll go in cheap and see where we go 👍

[Alnico Blue]

I would be on the side of Tigers Gonads here  . .& cautious of diagnosing HG failure. There were some '99 cars suspect of HG failure as I understand it . . .but these were 2.5's , yours being a MV6 & therefore, I think a 3.0, &  HG failure on 3.0 engines is very very rare.   Oil cooler issue maybe ?

Its actually the MY 1998 3.0l that are prone to HGF at the back of bank 2. Mine suffered it twice in the (long) time I had it.

As BG says, symptoms are losing coolant, no other issues.

Oh crikey  . . .looks like I have got that totally wrong then    was sure there was an issue with 2.5's of that era & HG failure . . . my age & memory having a part to play in this no doubt the word  "senile" comes to mind 

[tigers_gonads]

Well I'm no mechanic but I've tinkered with cars over 30 years and can only conclude it's a hgf.

Symptoms of this HGF :

All coolant gone out of expansion tank
Emulsification in oil
Compression in o/s bank, 1st cylinder from front is reading 5 whilst rest are 10-12
Very rough running - fires up but stalls again
When it was running with coolant - steam/very visible emissions coming from exhaust

If someone has other diagnostics then very greatful to receive them.

Re the Champagne Omega - I'm thinking of going for it. I did like the car at the time very much and only sold it to go towards a deposit on a house.

I'll go in cheap and see where we go 👍

'dangle berries'
Sounds like you have that prognosis spot on sadly 

[TheBoy]

Emulsification in oil

That's probably a different fault, not the HG.

The duff cylinder, i'd put a drop of oil in the cylinder, and re-measure.

[Rods2]

When I had a head gasket go on a 1999 3l it was on the left bank rear cylinder, with low compression, but no oil in the coolant. As it got worse the water consumed increased and the cylinder would miss on tickover, but pickup at higher revs. With the hot engine running I could smell exhaust fumes coming from the expansion tank and the exhause always contained steam even on hot dry days with a hot engine.

[STEMO]

I think you need to change you sig, Rods, oil is higher again today. 

[dave the builder]

If you get the engine hot (cooling system under pressure ) then whip out the plug ,you may get coolant out the plug hole
(confirming fire ring ,h/gasket failure )

oh ye...

o/s bank, 1st cylinder
probably be cold again by the time you get all the stuff out the way to get to the plug 

low compression due to bore wash (water or fuel washing oil from round the rigs ) 

[BazaJT]

Think that's why TB suggested oil in the cylinder and re-measure?Take compression reading,put some oil in cylinder and take reading again.If reading improves it's rings/bore wear if no improvement it's valves[least ways I believe that's the way it works]

[woolley11]

Well I guess I've got some more investigative work for the weekend !! 😳

[TheBoy]

When I had a head gasket go on a 1999 3l

Was it a 98 MY though (what is last letter of VIN)

[2boxerdogs]

Buy it restore it & keep it, simples.😀