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[Markie]

Oky short and sweet and not strictly relevent to Omegas....but seeing as this is the best forum for goood answers  

currently stripping down a 2.6 vectra b, turning over and starting but boy is it rought, gunk EVERYWHERE, radiator has hole at bottom. And al from a 2002 41000mile model v6!

Usual HGF checks suggest initially it doesnt have a problem - water and oil contamination nil but a coolant tank full of very thick sludge.

Using the omega principles i am replacing oil cooler first.
Nearly got to the one thats in the engine currently and my question is when i get to it will i be able to tell if its suspect or not?

Also whilst i this deep into its guts....anything else i should change or check ?

[Admin]

Oh yes, when you get there you will know!

[Markie]

thats what concerns me, i am nearly there and nothing untoward...so far

[Admin]

I have seen them sitting in what looks like syrup mixed with cream and also look normal....until you look a little closer and see all the holes!

Don't worry too much, it sounds exactly like the cooler.

[Martin_1962]

Yes there is lots you should change.

Firstly the body shel, then the gearbox, then the axles then you will have a nice car

[Matchless]

You could try a pressure test with the cooler in a bucket of water but you will need a set of oil pipes to do it.
Vx do a 'kit' of oil cooler, banjo seals and cover at a special price. PM MarksDTM, he should be able to give you the part number.
You might want to re-seal the thermostat housing while you can see it, use the same grey sealant as used on the oil cooler cover, make sure you clean the mating surfaces well and degrease with cellulose thinner before applying sealant.

[x25xe]

Whilst you are there, it would be a good idea to renew the thermostat.

[Markie]

Okay an update to this...

getting worried it may NOT be oil cooler - i am now at the plate connecting to oil cooler and so far everything is bone dry and even a bit dusty!!! see pics below.





Question should i by now see the masses of gunk or should it only be below the plate? I cant take the plate off now as i have run out of time for today....

Thinking logically i dont see what else it could be as it starts ( very rough) so not timing belt?!? and its got no contamination except in header tanks.

Thoughts?

[TheBoy]

If its oil cooler failure, you won't see anything wrong until you lift that plate....

[Marks DTM Calib]

Yep, its under the plate.....

You need to

1) remove the coolant bridge
2) remove the oil filter housing
3) remove the oil cooler to block fixings (by oil filter housing, 19mm crows foot spanner works best)
4) remove the oil cooler pipes to cooler banjo bolts.
5) remove the oil cooler to plate nuts
6) remove the oil cooler plate

Marvel at the joy that is thick mayo.......

I would pop the water pump out and flush it through realy well.......

[Markie]

thanks guys - i doubt Jamie, Dave and Mark are all going to be wrong so i cant wait to see that mayo!!!

PINT of champagne for you all when your right  

Cant do too much more today and need to get sealant on Wednesday when vx reopen!
Jamie you mentioned elsewhere a 2.6 v6 was tight under there - Hell yeah !!!!! can hardly breath never mind remove things  

[TheBoy]

thanks guys - i doubt Jamie, Dave and Mark are all going to be wrong so i cant wait to see that mayo!!!

PINT of champagne for you all when your right  

Cant do too much more today and need to get sealant on Wednesday when vx reopen!
Jamie you mentioned elsewhere a 2.6 v6 was tight under there - Hell yeah !!!!! can hardly breath never mind remove things  

Never one to contridict M_DTM, but I would consider renewing the water pump, possibly coz it will be full of the stuff, and secondly, the oil would have softened the pump's rubber seal....

[Markjay]

The oil cooler is immersed in coolant, if it leaks than oil and coolant get mixed without the top plate leaking. As said by all, lift that plate...

As for the 41k miles, I had an oil cooler leak at 25k/3y which was sorted by Vx under warranty. And my car is well maintained... I guess the oil cooler is just a weak point, obviously poor maintenance makes things worst but even with proper looking-after it can fail...

Also, while everything is off, I would give the water passages in the block a good cleaning with a pressure hose.

[Markie]

Ok i am reassured i am going along the correct lines.......

Those of you that know about this car will remember i have also bought a new radiator on TC for it....and for the last few weeks have pondered if it was the radiator that was at fault ( water pouring out front bottom of engine bay....YES I REALLY SHOULD HAVE CHECKED BOTTOM HOSE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Guess i was a bit presumptious there and over eager to use my trade card.



Note all the lovely goo / gunk / mayo underside of car on passenger side!!

So thats kind of good news.....pondering though wheter i should still fit the  brand new boxed v radiator with new hoses to minimise the cooland flushing process  :-/

Its a chicken or egg questions this one...But how would that bottom hose come off ( jubilee is stll on it where it should be) would the pressure of oil cooler cause any back presure ?

[TheBoy]

As its been obviously driven, and then left in that state, all the rubber hoses will have softened and be prone to failure....