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[danzigfan]

Hi guys, omega has had a slight coolant leak for as long as I remember. I added some UV dye two years ago into the coolant and found an oil cooler leak so I replaced it at the same time as the cambelt and tensioners yet coolant leak was still there - slightly smaller but still noticeable.
Well two weaks ago leak became worse so I replaced the usual suspect - HBV and woila no leak!  Happy days I
 thought
The leak is back, half of the expansion bottle every 300 miles
Could it be that a replacement HBV failed so soon? It's FEBI branded.

I added some UV dye today again to track the leak

[Doctor Gollum]

The Hbv is a service item, be prepared to change it

[danzigfan]

Yes, but after two weeks? Which brand to buy to be safe for at least a year?

[Doctor Gollum]

Misread that as two years...

Re check your work

[YZ250]

In February 2018 I changed the HBV on mine (not for the first time obviously). It was purchased over the counter in a Vauxhall dealership. Seven months later, or 2300 miles later, I had to buy and fit another one as it had failed. That one was still fine when I sold the car in November 2019.
I just looked through my previous posts and I commented at the time that even though I purchased the poor lasting one over the counter in a Vauxhall dealership, and it was GM packaged, it had no markings on it.
I did wonder if they stocked a cheaper, less reliable alternative. 
So, to answer your question, I've had them last anything from seven months (2300 miles) to ten years (40000 miles).

[danzigfan]

Thanks, so it's a lottery with HBV. I'll check where the leak is with uv light, if HBV has failed again I'll order another one and see if I'm lucky

[Nick W]

I just looked through my previous posts and I commented at the time that even though I purchased the poor lasting one over the counter in a Vauxhall dealership, and it was GM packaged, it had no markings on it.
I did wonder if they stocked a cheaper, less reliable alternative. 

It's much more likely that the part you bought had been abandoned on a shelf somewhere for the previous 20years, disturbed once a year when the work experience kid looked at the part number for stocktaking. That meant the rubber parts and the spring were only slightly better than the part you replaced.


This is the main reason why when buying parts for old cars(and even the youngest Omega is one) that I prefer to buy NEW parts rather than NOS. This is especially true for rubber components. The NOS brake master cylinder I bought from a specialist supplier for my Avenger(single circuit, non-servo only used on early automatics) was supplied with a much newer seal kit with the strong recommendation it was used for reliability reasons.

[danzigfan]

Yes, old stock probably. It was sitting on shelf in my garage for 5 years after all I ordered another one, hopefully not that old

[TheBoy]

I recall a couple of members having very early life failures from some they had bought from dealers.

Every one I've bought has come in a proper GM hologrammed bag, and have lasted reasonably well (6+ years).  Its been a long time since I've not had to get one ordered in though.

[TheBoy]

Yes, old stock probably. It was sitting on shelf in my garage for 5 years after all I ordered another one, hopefully not that old

As I always keep a spare, I bet most of mine are 5 years old before fitting