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[humbucker]

Hi everyone

As many of you will be aware, I've been having problems with a continued slow coolant loss. The coolant drips down the back of the engine onto the ground and subsequently I have to top it up once a week or so. Last week the heater matrix burst. I've changed HBV and flushed but still problem. Advice on here pointed to oil cooler / plate and since I did the cam cover gaskets and breather system at the weekend I thought I'd take a snap or two of what I saw around the oil cooler area to show those of you more knowledgable than I. Any feedback greatly appreciated as I want to get this sorted once and for all.

So what's the verdict? Fair bit of sludge by the looks of it? Look familiar to anyone? Thanks in advance!

[Marks DTM Calib]

Yep....

[humbucker]

'k thanks mark, at least i can try and get this problem sorted once and for all.

the guide i mentioned to you previously for replacing the oil cooler (http://www.vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk/showthread.php?t=63566) lists the required parts but i wondered if there were part numbers for the bits available? i did a scout around on here a while back but to no avail. apologies if i've temporarily gone blind and there's a more definitive answer here.

shame i've put it all back together again hehe, would have been an ideal opportunity to have done the oil cooler this weekend at the same time as the cam covers!

[psnimv6]

my omega 3.0 has some of this sludge as well but none in the the collant does this mean mine needs a oil coller as well? does your car have any oil in the collant ilovemyelite? i too would be very interested in parts required + part numbers because my local vx dealer thought a omega was front wheel drive so this is to complecated for them to get right without the correct part numbers

[humbucker]

my omega 3.0 has some of this sludge as well but none in the the collant does this mean mine needs a oil coller as well? does your car have any oil in the collant ilovemyelite? i too would be very interested in parts required + part numbers because my local vx dealer thought a omega was front wheel drive so this is to complecated for them to get right without the correct part numbers

hi psnimv6

i havent noticed any sludge in the expansion tank, i did a flush recently when i replaced the heater bypass valve and put some nice new red coolant in so it might be difficult to tell if there's a slight oil contamination in there at the moment. from the suggestions and comments i have received on the forum i wouldn't hesitate to act on the recommendations of mark and others and go with replacing the oil cooler.

[humbucker]

it was mainly the o-rings relating to the cooler and the channel bolts i was keen to get part numbers for.

also, is it important to change the thermostat while you're replacing the oil cooler?

[psnimv6]

my omega 3.0 has some of this sludge as well but none in the the collant does this mean mine needs a oil coller as well? does your car have any oil in the collant ilovemyelite? i too would be very interested in parts required + part numbers because my local vx dealer thought a omega was front wheel drive so this is to complecated for them to get right without the correct part numbers

hi psnimv6

i havent noticed any sludge in the expansion tank, i did a flush recently when i replaced the heater bypass valve and put some nice new red coolant in so it might be difficult to tell if there's a slight oil contamination in there at the moment. from the suggestions and comments i have received on the forum i wouldn't hesitate to act on the recommendations of mark and others and go with replacing the oil cooler.

thanks for the reply i to just replaced my collant with nice red stuff so it may be the same as you but the collant that i removed did not have any oil in it for sure but it is all sludgey around the 'V' area so it looks as if it is on its the oil coller is on its way out and my car is ex cop car that was kept as a spare car and only had 20'000 miles on it when i got it and by the looks of the collant it was never changed as it was still the blue stuff and very weak looking and as you no this will f**k up the oil cooler so it looks as if i am going to be spending again real soon

[Dazzler]

I would redo the thermostate as well judging by those pics as its quite hard to tell from that which one or both are leaking.

[humbucker]

if it helps, the oil cooler itself is £99.00 but with a VX trade card it's £89.00

[Markie]

Yep for £20-30 odd quid you may as well do stat..

[ians]

Is this just the cover plate that needs re-sealing or the complete oil cooler that needs replacing?

Those pics look very similar to my Elite when I changed the camcover seals.   There was a dry waxy substance (sealant?) along the length of the oil cooler and a sludgy residue in the triangular gap between oil cooler and stat just like in the pic.

Its not loosing coolant and no sign of oil in coolant though.

[Dazzler]

If the mileage is up and the cooler is unknown if its ever been replaced then i would change it whilst at this point in the strip.

[humbucker]

If the mileage is up and the cooler is unknown if its ever been replaced then i would change it whilst at this point in the strip.

sadly i have had to put it all back together, i didnt have the parts as until i'd had confirmation here i wasnt entirely sure whether or not it would be the oil cooler. i'm going to have to strip it down again to do the oil cooler, but as i won't be cleaning the breathers etc as i did that this weekend it shouldn't take as long to dismantle and put back together.

pain though; you're right it would have been the ideal opportunity to sort it. vx parts depts don't seem to be open saturdays though  

[ians]

Oh yes, believe me it is much much quicker second time.

[Timbuk]

One bit of advice i will give is next time you are working with the plenum or the inlet off get some rag or kitchen roll in them ports, last thing you want is anything dropping down them