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[Mikes1670]

Hi all, after putting up with an annoying water leak over winter I've finally got round to investigating the problem having no under cover working facilities! I have been topping up 50/50 mix approx. 1 litre per week and the leak has remained constant.

Removed the air intake this afternoon and discovered water in the vee of the engine - so I guess I now need to remove the injector rail to get access to the thermostat housing etc - still haven't identified exactly where the leak is coming from.

I have made a pressure tester out of a second hand expansion tank cap with a schraeder connection so I was going to pressure test the system tomorrow - What pressure can I go to 10psi?

Any advice/words of wisdom on how to proceed welcome.

[RobG]

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90598.0

[Radar]

Sounds like it could be the oil cooler plate needing resealing, but the link provided will certainly help confirm the problem area.

[dbug]

Oill cooler plate, thermostat housing, coolant bridge seals or hose from coolant bridge to HBV.

[robson]

I looked at the post suggested. How do you pressurise the system with the gauge on the shradder valve.

[Mikes1670]

In answer to the last question - I just used a car tyre foot pump which has a press. gauge attached to pressurise the system via the schraeder valve to approx. 15psi.

Update:- Found the source of the leak to be coming from the oil cooler plate at the thermostat end.

So, I was thinking as I will have to re-seal the oil cooler and replace the seals on the coolant bridge I might as well do the thermostat housing while I'm there - me thinks?

[Radar]

you might as well seeing as everything is stripped down

[Andy H]

If you do take it off then you will learn why the b*bolt got its name. You will need new 'O' rings for the thermostat and transfer tube (& probably a new transfer tube too).

You don't have to disturb the thermostat to get the oil cooler plate off. I would be inclined to inspect it carefully but leave alone if it is OK.

[Mikes1670]

Thanks for all the advice & credit to the maintenance guides. Sounds like good advice though from Andy H re. the stat, have given it a thorough inspection as you said and it is sound, the leak is definitely from the oil cooler plate so I'll do that and the bridge coolant connector as that has to come off anyway (only 4 washer/seals) - no doubt I'll get ripped off at the Vx stealers on Tuesday and they'll huff & puff at the age of the car, tell me they are discontinued parts and have to special order most of the items!

The shopping list so far:-
Engine oil & filter
New spark plugs while access is clear
5 litres long life anti-freeze
Small breather hose from back of plenum which split on removal
Coolant bridge sealing washers x4
'O' rings for underside of plenum x6
Seals for the inlet manifold top & bottom
Oil cooler seals & VX sealant 15 03 296

I had to clean out the threads (with an M8 tap) where the base manifold is mounted to the block as whoever had assembled it had used excessive amounts of blue thread sealant!

Just need to drop the oil and remove the oil cooler tomorrow.

[omega3000]

I replaced the coolant bridge seals not so long ago but was advised to use new bolts as they are hollow and fragile . Not that expensive to replace either 

[Andy H]

Thanks for all the advice & credit to the maintenance guides. Sounds like good advice though from Andy H re. the stat, have given it a thorough inspection as you said and it is sound, the leak is definitely from the oil cooler plate so I'll do that and the bridge coolant connector as that has to come off anyway (only 4 washer/seals) - no doubt I'll get ripped off at the Vx stealers on Tuesday and they'll huff & puff at the age of the car, tell me they are discontinued parts and have to special order most of the items!

The shopping list so far:-
Engine oil & filter
New spark plugs while access is clear
5 litres long life anti-freeze
Small breather hose from back of plenum which split on removal
Coolant bridge sealing washers x4
'O' rings for underside of plenum x6
Seals for the inlet manifold top & bottom
Oil cooler seals & VX sealant 15 03 296

I had to clean out the threads (with an M8 tap) where the base manifold is mounted to the block as whoever had assembled it had used excessive amounts of blue thread sealant!

Just need to drop the oil and remove the oil cooler tomorrow.

This is the kind of job where paying list price really hurts.

With Trade Club the prices become acceptable for most things and even best value for consumables like oil & antifreeze.

Andyc (Drive - Bury St Edmunds) can often match the Trade Club prices for small items but postage is a problem with oil & antifreeze.

If you join Autobahnstormers you get Trade Club as part of your membership.

(ignore the guff on their website about it being a club for straight 6's & V8's........ )

[kcl]

I'd be buying also a new oil cooler. It is very likely you will find the old one destroyed on removal, the threads for big nuts over oil pipe unions will shear when removing.

[Mikes1670]

Just set about dropping the oil this morning to discover the sump plug is a T45 torx plug! Quick trip to local Motorway for yet another socket set - OK sump plug removed, oil draining. I thought I would remove the oil filler cap to help draining to be confronted with the dreaded sight of mayonnaise on the underside of the filler and down the filler tube Is this what I think it is? I have heard a lot of horror stories of what this indicates. All I can say is there is no evidence of oil in the coolant I have just drained. I have been doing a lot of short runs (approx. 4 miles) and start/stop driving for some time now - could that explain it?

My motivation has just nose dived - money pit, bottomless pit spring to mind

[The Red Baron]

Just set about dropping the oil this morning to discover the sump plug is a T45 torx plug! Quick trip to local Motorway for yet another socket set - OK sump plug removed, oil draining. I thought I would remove the oil filler cap to help draining to be confronted with the dreaded sight of mayonnaise on the underside of the filler and down the filler tube Is this what I think it is? I have heard a lot of horror stories of what this indicates. All I can say is there is no evidence of oil in the coolant I have just drained. I have been doing a lot of short runs (approx. 4 miles) and start/stop driving for some time now - could that explain it?

My motivation has just nose dived - money pit, bottomless pit spring to mind

thats why. common thing tbh.

[Mikes1670]

That is such a relief - thanks - right motivation restored - back to the job

Aren't Bank Holidays brilliant - we should have more of them