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[onthehill1]

Hi all.
Here's my problem. Got a 1996 omega 2.0l gls estate.
The car started to have problems about 18 months ago. I had whitish smoke coming from exstaust, oil filler cap when open and dipstick when open and running. It also didn't seem to be firing correctly.
I don't know much about cars and have little money for when things go wrong.
Someone told me its head gasket failure and another piston on way out!
There is NO mayo on the dipstick or oil filler cap.
There is NO bubbles in the water expansion bottle and looks fairly normal to me.
It has always used a fair bit of oil.
When it was going it failed the emisions mot test.

I need a plan of attack. Do i keep it or scrap it. I think it is to good to get rid off. When it was going it has been the best and most comfortable car i have driven. Not only that it is the most practical for my family being wife two kids and two dogs.
Some of you have said thats its rare for head gasket to go on an omega. My car has done 113000 miles, which isn't alot in my mind.

Advice welcome please.
Thanks.
Chris

[tunnie]

its not uncommon for 4 pots to blow the HG, the main cause of them going is poor coolant.

It should be changed at least every 5 years on Vx red, sooner on some others, and should have a good 50/50 mix with anti-freeze.

Does the car start lumpy in the morning and misfire, but then clear?

[VX1]

Also check the crankcase breather pipe, its the one to the right of the engine looking from the front to the windscreen. You will se a hose with a bend in it coming from the cam cover.

Paul

[onthehill1]

Does the car start lumpy in the morning and misfire, but then clear?

Tunnie the car does not start now as the battery has gone flat. I intend to get it charged. I have tried to jump start it but it would go. It has been parked for a year.
When the car was going before this problem the car started fine. It didn't misfire or feel lumpy.

Also check the crankcase breather pipe

VX1 i have taken off the crankcase breather pipe and it isn't blocked but it does look very worn.

If there is alot of white smoke does that mean that the pistons are badly worn or something else?

The first time i knew something was wrong was when the car went into limp mode driving on the motorway and then it didn't feel as though it was firing correctly. I thought it could be HT leads so i put new Boush ones on but it didn't change.
The car always started after this but when it got to normal operating temp and i put it into drive it would cut out.

Thanks for the replys guys.

[tunnie]

You need to get the battery charged and the car up and running, and get some fault codes. Do the 'paper clip' test  

[Miggy24]

onthehill1 i see u have a 2.0 on an N plate is it the 16 v you have or the 8v

[onthehill1]

onthehill1 i see u have a 2.0 on an N plate is it the 16 v you have or the 8v

Its a 16v and im going to get the battery sorted.
Thank you for helping.

[Martin_1962]

Ebay head gaskets and bolts are not that expensive