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[bobk]

Any one have the kit to do a pressure test on a v6 to try to determine a head gasket or not, do you have one I could hire, or do you know where I could buy one.
Car has been off road 3 weeks now; all previous postings say they don’t think its HG need a pressure test done but I can’t get hold of the correct type of tester. Desperate and p****d off at the moment.

[Matchless]

If you want to pressure test the coolant then get a spare filler cap (scrappers) scrounge a tyre valve from the local tyre fitters and drill a hole in the cap to accept the valve. seal with silicone or araldite.

You can then pump-up with a foot pump to about 12psi and go looking for water leaks.

[bobk]

If you want to pressure test the coolant then get a spare filler cap (scrappers) scrounge a tyre valve from the local tyre fitters and drill a hole in the cap to accept the valve. seal with silicone or araldite.

You can then pump-up with a foot pump to about 12psi and go looking for water leaks.

If I've understood right the one I'm after goes into the plug socket and can pressure that pot

[Bandit127]

http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/Tool-Shop/Compression-Testers

Fairly cheap to buy... Esecially when compared with the cost of a mis-diagnosed HG!

I don't know which one is right for the V6 though, sorry.

[iainb]

Hi. I think you are trying to do a compression test of the pot, and thats a slightly different think to a cooling system pressure test.
But if you get a compression test done you will see some bubbles in the expansion tank as well as getting a low reading if thats the route of the leak.

[manny]

Any one have the kit to do a pressure test on a v6 to try to determine a head gasket or not, do you have one I could hire, or do you know where I could buy one.
Car has been off road 3 weeks now; all previous postings say they don’t think its HG need a pressure test done but I can’t get hold of the correct type of tester. Desperate and p****d off at the moment.

You can buy one in halfords.

[feeutfo]

from reading your other post, iirc, it was suggested to test the coolant system. But both tests would be of use i imagine. Looking at your pictures it does look like liquid in the bore. Could be fuel tho? The steam out the exhaust could well be water getting in, as mine did, through the rusted section behind the back box/joint to connector pipes area and running down into the exhaust and just sitting there, i an fairly certain the pipes are seperate up to the back box where they join in the silencer. The leak could be any number of the omega usualls. But, put them all together and does make
HG more likely. Have you changed the oil recently, while you have been having these issues? If so and the oil is fine, ie good texture and thickness, still thick and good colour, ranging from gold yellow to dark brown, then the hg is fine imho. But if its milky, frothy, thin, grey, chocolatey, with white mayo deposits then you have water in the oil seeping/blowing past the piston rings and into the sump. I would drop the oil out and see whats its like.
I have read on here of bottle caps blowing off and bottles destroyed by hg failure at 60mph. So still some more tests to do before you dive in as you say.
Maybe have a look at the dipstick as a clue and drop the oil when you get it home. Do that before you spend money on test equipment maybe? Cheaper and if there is no water you can fill up with fresh oil and all the better. Hth

[bobk]

from reading your other post, iirc, it was suggested to test the coolant system. But both tests would be of use i imagine. Looking at your pictures it does look like liquid in the bore. Could be fuel tho? The steam out the exhaust could well be water getting in, as mine did, through the rusted section behind the back box/joint to connector pipes area and running down into the exhaust and just sitting there, i an fairly certain the pipes are seperate up to the back box where they join in the silencer. The leak could be any number of the omega usualls. But, put them all together and does make
HG more likely. Have you changed the oil recently, while you have been having these issues? If so and the oil is fine, ie good texture and thickness, still thick and good colour, ranging from gold yellow to dark brown, then the hg is fine imho. But if its milky, frothy, thin, grey, chocolatey, with white mayo deposits then you have water in the oil seeping/blowing past the piston rings and into the sump. I would drop the oil out and see whats its like.
I have read on here of bottle caps blowing off and bottles destroyed by hg failure at 60mph. So still some more tests to do before you dive in as you say.
Maybe have a look at the dipstick as a clue and drop the oil when you get it home. Do that before you spend money on test equipment maybe? Cheaper and if there is no water you can fill up with fresh oil and all the better. Hth

Here’s where I’m at.
First posted head gasket or not http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1223315201
Got lots saying not HG, had a forum member have a look, undecided. Tried to get pressure test done, nothing doing.  Pressured the system coolant system as best I could.  I’d lost water out of header tank, no visible leaks. Then took plenum etc off down to oil cooler thought I’d found leak by stat.  Took plugs out found tiny droplets in back pot, convinced myself must be head gasket and started stripping it down.  

Now I think I might have bitten off more than I can handle on my own. Trawling through the forum text It all says head gasket don’t go very often, so before I try to go any further thought I’d have one last go at this pressure test.

[bobk]

Sorry for dragging this one on but I'm really stuck.
Have pressurized the cooling system and left overnight, system still pressurized in morning no leaks visible, can't see any thing in the pots.  Managed to pressurize each pot in turn, no bubbles out of the header tank.
There is some water contamination in the oil and the there was some milkiness on the underside of the cam covers.  Is it possible that I could get water/moisture through the breather system as all the pipes to the plenum and the inside of the plenum were wet. http://images.omegaowners.com/forum/yabbfiles22/Templates/Forum/default/cry.gif

[iainb]

Hi buddy. Its comin from somewhere so I would be going back through the induction system, the air cleaner box may have some water in it.
If my memory serves me you said before your commute was 6 miles and this is not enough for it to dry out, I stand by what I said before give it a run down the A46 to the Longbridge Island and back it will be warm then and that should take care of the mayo.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Using Castrol oil per chance?

[bobk]

Hi buddy. Its comin from somewhere so I would be going back through the induction system, the air cleaner box may have some water in it.
If my memory serves me you said before your commute was 6 miles and this is not enough for it to dry out, I stand by what I said before give it a run down the A46 to the Longbridge Island and back it will be warm then and that should take care of the mayo.

Air filter box and all intake pipes were dry when I took them off. The problem is the engine is stripped to take the heads off, a forum member was going to help me out by getting me a cam locking kit but I get the feeling they have backed off, so reluctant to go any further on the strip down.

[bobk]

Using Castrol oil per chance?

No not castrol - Total if I remember right

[bobk]

Just thought I post this, http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp147/rkeirle/Omega%20Photos/DSC00388.jpg
(found this I think it was a head gasket!)
and say thank you to all that responded to my call for help.

[jonathanh]

so you've got the head off then?

I've got a locking kit around and not far from Cov so if you need help with cam locking kit, PM me.  I can shoot over to you and help you get the belt back on at the least