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[Darth Loo-knee]

I am fixing a members car, which had a few signs of a head gasket problem. Water loss (but could not see where from) plus quiet a bit of steam out of the exhaust.. although, the car was not missing....

When I pressurised the coolant system, I could see no leaks at all, until water was passing my feet..... I looked under the car to find water pouring out of the centre boxes of the exhaust... I removed the spark plugs to find water was coming up two plug wells. I removed the Plenum which was full of water, the bagpipes too....Also water was coming past valves and filling Three inlets..










So yet again another V6 having seemingly a Head Gasket problem.....

A number of times now I have been told that "There is no need to swap head gaskets in a pair!" I have heard people have had work done on here, where only one side has being changed.... Have a look at this picture of one sides head gasket... what do you think the other side will be like?? Don't forget the pair have probably never been changed, they also share the same water/anti freeze....



Just too add, the Oil Cooler was rusty as sin and so was the Water Pump impeller


A few more pictures.

[mantahatch]

I am sorry to say it but if that was my engine it would be in the scrap yard.

[feeutfo]

So run with just water. 

[Darth Loo-knee]

People seem to forget, that anti freeze not only stops your car from freezing up like its name says, but is an anti corrosive too.
This car is a 3.0 Facelift so not the 1998 problem year with head gaskets...

We dont know how someone has serviced your car before we buy it. Full Vauxhall Service History aint worth the paper its written on, thats being proved more times than we can shake a stick at...

Me personally , I believe this engine when finished will be near as good as new. What servicing it gets from here after is the key.

[Andy B]

Yuk! I have to say I'm surprised that you got the gasket came off in one piece  . When we lifted a head on Scott's car, the gasket came off bits, mostly the inner bit with the fire rings & a hand full off gasket material. 

[Andy B]

People seem to forget, that anti freeze not only stops your car from freezing up like its name says, but is an anti corrosive too.
 ......

This used to be a problem years ago eg Triumph's V6 when people just put anti-freeze in during the winter, I thought that people were wiser these days .............. seems not though. 

[Darth Loo-knee]

If you look at the head gasket, part of the firing ring is missing.... I have seen no end of head gaskets looking a state but not the firing rings on an Omega..

[Darth Loo-knee]

I have had fun with bolts breaking in the heads when removing the exhaust manifolds too I have counted to ten several times doing this little beauty... Glad I don't have a swearbox

[albitz]

All for the want of a bit of basic regular servicing.

[Kevin Wood]

People seem to forget, that anti freeze not only stops your car from freezing up like its name says, but is an anti corrosive too.
 ......

This used to be a problem years ago eg Triumph's V8 when people just put anti-freeze in during the winter, I thought that people were wiser these days .............. seems not though. 

 

[waspy]

Rather you than me Daz. I hope you don't scrape your knuckles too many times

[Andy B]

....
This used to be a problem years ago eg Triumph's V8 when people just put anti-freeze in during the winter, I thought that people were wiser these days .............. seems not though. 

 

Well done Kevin  ................... you spotted my deliberate mistake       

[TheBoy]

Blimey, with that amount of water in the inlets, surely the cylinders would be pretty full . How come its not hydraulic'd itself 


Another, very dramatic/obvious/descriptive/visible reason why a proper 50:50 antifreeze mix is utterly critical, no matter what the temperature

[Elite Pete]

Not as bad and as expensive as Loo Knees but the same cause. Oil cooler cover plate

[Nick W]

I have had fun with bolts breaking in the heads when removing the exhaust manifolds too I have counted to ten several times doing this little beauty... Glad I don't have a swearbox

At least that happened as part of a job when the heads were coming off anyway. It's not that bad a job to sort out when they're on the bench.
I'd hate to drill out and helicoil(if necessary) exhaust studs on the car.