Oily sludge in coolant expansion tank

[docksboy]

Hi all,   I have had my 52 plate 2.6 v6 Petrol for the last 6 mths and had a full service and cam belt chage as soon as I had it.  About 2 mths ago the EMC light came on thought nothing of it as car was running well. Then last week Check oil level appeared on the display and sure enough it needed a top up.  Today just came back from a 35 mile trip and the Check oil light came on again. Checked Dipstick all nice and clean no sign of water or anything else but level was very low.  No blue smoke out of the exhaust and no over heating.  Just was about to close the bonnet and noticed what looked like Oil around the expansion tank.  Tried to take the top off and the expansion tank is full of Oily watery sludge would this be the Oil cooler failing or more likely to be the head gasket?  any ideas on the cost to get repaired?

Thanks Guys

Graeme

[Amego52]

From my own experience its the oil cooler.
Plenty of threads about it to confirm it, but i'm sure the teccies will be along shortly though.

[TheBoy]

Oil cooler.  And a reminder not to ignore warnings, as now you'll have a job getting all the sludge from the cooling system.

[Mikejr]

Not to worry you too much but when my oil cooler went last year - when I was on holiday - it cost me £1,400   from a Vauxhall main dealer to get it repaired, all the sludge cleaned out, new radiator etc.

If I hadn't been on holiday and desperate for the car (and thinking more clearly) I would have scrapped the car and spent the money on another.    

[Dazzler]

sounds very much like an oil cooler.
You will not need a new rad etc... it will just need a very thougher flushing.
The oil cooler is about £100 and you will need quite a few gaskets and seals as well, so about another £100.
So if you do it yourself with help from here £200 should see it back to its former glory

[TheBoy]

sounds very much like an oil cooler.
You will not need a new rad etc... it will just need a very thougher flushing.
The oil cooler is about £100 and you will need quite a few gaskets and seals as well, so about another £100.
So if you do it yourself with help from here £200 should see it back to its former glory

If its been driven for a while like it, the rad may not be recoverable, and certainly coolant hoses may have softened badly...

[Andy B]

Not to worry you too much but when my oil cooler went last year - when I was on holiday - it cost me £1,400   from a Vauxhall main dealer to get it repaired, all the sludge cleaned out, new radiator etc.

If I hadn't been on holiday and desperate for the car (and thinking more clearly) I would have scrapped the car and spent the money on another.    

Bloody Hell!      

[docksboy]

Thx guys looks like a day on the phone to various Vaux specialist tomorrow then.

[tunnie]

Not to worry you too much but when my oil cooler went last year - when I was on holiday - it cost me £1,400   from a Vauxhall main dealer to get it repaired, all the sludge cleaned out, new radiator etc.

If I hadn't been on holiday and desperate for the car (and thinking more clearly) I would have scrapped the car and spent the money on another.    

Bloody Hell!      

Bloody hell i got change from £120 doing an oil cooler! So thats £1300 odd in labour!