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[deviney]

Ok so iv got a omega 3.2 V6.

The problem is its loosing coolant/water when i drive. There is no obvious leak other than when the engine gets hot the water leaks out the expansion tank. I bought a new expansion tank lid and this slowed it down to a dribble but i still lost about 2L every 50 mile and have to replace the lid every month

The coolant has sludge in it that sticks to the tank, iv flushed it out but it keeps coming back.

The engine sits nicely at 85 on the dash, so no over heating their.

Their is tiny pools of oil under the car if left to sit for a few days. But no huge oil lose.

Now i am unsure how i can tell if this is a head gasket issue or an oil cooler issue is there any way to tell in this situation?

Iv bought some steel seal encase its the head gasket so i can  temp fix it until i can afford a real fix.

Any advice would be great thanks

[Bojan]

Is there any mayo on the dipstick?

[deviney]

no the oil on the dip stick looks fine

[zirk]

Oil Cooler.

[Bojan]

as zirk said, oil cooler.
Oil pressure is significantly higher than coolant pressure, so when cooler is broken, oil is forced into the coolant system (and this is why the coolant doesn't get into the oil).
Also, that causes the pressure in cooling system to rise beyond desiged pressure, resulting in opening of the expansion tank lid.

[deviney]

Thanks guys. Would this cause a lot of coolant lose?

[zirk]

Thanks guys. Would this cause a lot of coolant lose?

Its probably being pushed out under pressure, bottom line is its all going to get worse not better till the cooler is replaced.

[deviney]

can it cause anything else other than a gunky coolant system to break because i need to drive it but also wait until next month when i get paid to fix it.

Also what will a garage charge to replace this because i have none to little mechanic skills

[zirk]

Your effectively putting your Coolant System under more stress, plus, your pushing oily gunk around the system, personally I wouldn't recommend driving it, not for any distance anyway.

[tigers_gonads]

can it cause anything else other than a gunky coolant system to break because i need to drive it but also wait until next month when i get paid to fix it.

Also what will a garage charge to replace this because i have none to little mechanic skills

Tear open a few ariel liquid tabs and pour the contents in the header bottle 
It will help stop the white sludge forming for a short while 

Where about are you ?
A few lads on here are decent mechanics
You might have one near you who could help out 

[deviney]

am near Liverpool. it would be grate if i could get someone off here as at-least id know they know there shit!

Am are you joking about the ariel tabs that does not sound healthy at all haha

[Diamond Black Geezer]

It's just a detergent/degreasant. Perfectly healthy. You wash your clothes that's you're wearing, after all! 

it's suggested after doing the oil cooler change to have a flush of the coolant system in this way anyway. What Tiger's suggesting is, in essence to 'give the car a couple of Codeines before going to see the doctor,' as it were, that's all 

[Nick W]

Oil cooler is by far the likeliest cause.

Whatever the cause, do NOT use any miracle sealant whatsoever.

[TheBoy]

The oil in the coolant will attack the rubber pipes and seals, so by continually using it will mean a bigger bill and decreased reliability when you do fix it.

Oil cooler failures on the V6 are normally as a result of poor coolant.

[05omegav6]

Could also simply be the header tank... They are prone to cracking around the cap...