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[oregad]

So a cross in the water and chanting ave maria wont fix it? 

Wondering if the weeping water would be intermittent if its the HG (seem unlikely doesnt it?)? Idled for 30 min and took a 10min drive around 1500rpm today just to ... I dont really know. But no lower coolant...

Realise I still most likely have a oil cooler leakage though. Would that mean the heat-exhanger is leaking, or just the sealant leaking (resulting in oily coolant water), i.g. should I prepare to replace the cooler instead of just cleaning it up and replace sealant.

Questions, questions.

[Doctor Gollum]

You misunderstood.

1. Failure of the cooler = oil in the coolant

2. Failure of the cover plate = coolant loss
2a. Failure of the head gasket as described = coolant loss
2b. Failure of the HBV = coolant loss.

1 is fixed by replacing the oil cooler (and flushing the cooling system with dishwasher tablets about 26 times.

2. Is not fixed with sealant. But rather replacing the porous aluminium plate with a new one. And maintain it by renewing the correct coolant every four years.

[oregad]

You misunderstood.

1. Failure of the cooler = oil in the coolant

2. Failure of the cover plate = coolant loss
2a. Failure of the head gasket as described = coolant loss
2b. Failure of the HBV = coolant loss.

1 is fixed by replacing the oil cooler (and flushing the cooling system with dishwasher tablets about 26 times.

2. Is not fixed with sealant. But rather replacing the porous aluminium plate with a new one. And maintain it by renewing the correct coolant every four years.

So, yes. New plate and oil cooler. Thanks.

[cam.in.head]

why were these engines designed with an oil cooler anyway in the first place.
is the engine stressed enough to need one ?

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

In certain countries in certain circumstances - probably.
Imo, (based on no science whatsoever) I seriously doubt there would be any adverse affect to binning it on a UK car, unless you tow a huge caravan long distance every August .

[oregad]

Binning it means simply put, connecting the two unions together in the middle of the v (or removing and plugging from where the pipes should have been)?

It allways have a purpose, but I also doubt its function on normal drive (also, its ridicolously tiny, wouldnt function as a preheater for wvo-diesel)). Will search to replace it though. Wouldnt be fine finding it overheat at a long road away from home. But first I want it freed from problem.

Great thanks for the replies all. Strangely enough looking forward for some more wrench-friendly weather (longer days, less snow/mud, more sun) so I can start...

Any takers if intermittent leak can be HG? Leak been present for +6 months (of course I realize it can be, but putting it on a counter of probability).

[Doctor Gollum]

It allows the oil to warm the coolant more quickly in order to get the engine up to temp more quickly and reduce the cold idle times for emissions purposes.

Once upto temperature the cooling system maintains the overall engine temperature.

It isn't an oil cooler in the traditional sense, rather a liquid to liquid heat exchanger, although it could be modified to run through the radiator in cars with a separate trans cooler. (it's almost impossible to buy an Omega radiator without the trans cooler built in even though later cars are fitted with an external one. 

[TheBoy]

And intermittent coolant loss is far more likely to be HBV, and is easily checked visually.

But as you have to change the oil cooler anyway, you'd be radio rental not to change the cover plate.

Top tip when changing the oil cooler - do not bend the pipes.  Do it properly and undo the pipes near the oil filiter.  Bending them will stress them enough to cause them to leak at the oil filter end anyway, and also make them a complete arse to refit.  No need to ask how I know that, after I chose to ignore the good advice here

[oregad]

And intermittent coolant loss is far more likely to be HBV, and is easily checked visually.

But as you have to change the oil cooler anyway, you'd be radio rental not to change the cover plate.

Top tip when changing the oil cooler - do not bend the pipes.  Do it properly and undo the pipes near the oil filiter.  Bending them will stress them enough to cause them to leak at the oil filter end anyway, and also make them a complete arse to refit.  No need to ask how I know that, after I chose to ignore the good advice here

HBV is brand new (was spraying coolant like a mist), double-check and the engine watery just at the middle of the "v" when leaking.

Yeah Ove had my fair share of ruptured metal pipes.

[countrywoman]

The cover plate I had come with the stainless Vectra cooler was almost perforated through so good idea to get a new one.

[oregad]

Would a 3.2 cover work its magic? There are no 2.5 or 3.0 scrapped in Sweden.

[Doctor Gollum]

All exactly the same