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[brett pocock]

hi guys, can i ask you for some knowledge again, I have 1998 3.0L V6, been having a problem with the coolent of late, loosing water had a couple of split pipes which have been replaced, HBV and oil cooler also replaced but still loosing water.
This weekend car had a full flush new anti freeze all bled and sorted heater nice and hot again perfect no water loss.
Came to go to work monday night drove 3 miles down the road and loads of steam from the exhaust, check coolent, pulled over let her cool down and topped up 50 50 water anti freeze mix drove away 3 miles later still steaming like a loco and check coolent.
Got her to the local garage and with EMS light on miss fire tried to top up with water but drank 7 liters and straight out the exhaust.
The question is has the head gasket gone or is there anything else it could be.
And what are the pitfulls i should look out for if I get it sorted. I know the heads will need skimming might as well do the cam belt and water pump at the same time is it worth it and would my trusted man need any special kit to get her all back together and running again.

Sorry for the long post !!

[Lazydocker]

It's unusual for the HG to fail on the V6's, although ISTR that there was a dodgy period around 1998 Although these tend to fail between the waterway and the outside... Very rare to go across the fire ring Before starting work on the HG it needs a compression test to confirm this is the fault

If it is then he needs the timing (locking) kit to time it up correctly. The heads may not need skimming but do need checking.

Hope that helps

[brett pocock]

It's unusual for the HG to fail on the V6's, although ISTR that there was a dodgy period around 1998 Although these tend to fail between the waterway and the outside... Very rare to go across the fire ring Before starting work on the HG it needs a compression test to confirm this is the fault

If it is then he needs the timing (locking) kit to time it up correctly. The heads may not need skimming but do need checking.

Hope that helps

Thanks very much yes it does help i just cant understand why the water is going straight out the exhaust, is there anything else worth replacing whilst there thought skimming the head would just make sure the job was the best to prevent any future problems

Thanks again
Brett

[Lazydocker]

It's unusual for the HG to fail on the V6's, although ISTR that there was a dodgy period around 1998 Although these tend to fail between the waterway and the outside... Very rare to go across the fire ring Before starting work on the HG it needs a compression test to confirm this is the fault

If it is then he needs the timing (locking) kit to time it up correctly. The heads may not need skimming but do need checking.

Hope that helps

Thanks very much yes it does help i just cant understand why the water is going straight out the exhaust, is there anything else worth replacing whilst there thought skimming the head would just make sure the job was the best to prevent any future problems

Thanks again
Brett

Brett, skimming the heads is only required if they are warped. This is (again) rare on an Omega V6 but may have happened, which is why I said they need to be checked by the engineering shop. They can then skim if required. The other option it to see if anyone here has some good 2nd hand heads

Other than the usual stuff there's no desperate need to change stuff, but make sure the thermostat is changed... Depends how flush you're feeling Could change the Oil Cooler if there is no history of it being done Other than that, just normal service type stuff (oil, filter, plugs etc)

I must emphasise that there must be conclusive evidence from a compression test (and only from a compression test) that the HG has failed across the fire ring/waterway before I would consider the HG replacement. Are you certain the water has been "burnt" and come through the exhaust? just checking because it's so rare

[brett pocock]

yes def from the exhaust clouds of steam put hand over the pipe and could smell the anti freeze, the oil cooler was done in december as when i brought the car in september there was no anti freeze in it so had the system flushed, which brought out loads of gunk, rad weld and all sorts, then about 6 weeks later the cooler went oil in the header tank, had that sorted £350 later water pipe at back of engine slipt, sorted that and new hbv and now this, love the car but spends more time in the garage than on the road at the moment.
Far to nice a car to right off just wont to make sure that if i spend the money it will be worth it. But will get a compression test first as you adviced.

[Lazydocker]

yes def from the exhaust clouds of steam put hand over the pipe and could smell the anti freeze, the oil cooler was done in december as when i brought the car in september there was no anti freeze in it so had the system flushed, which brought out loads of gunk, rad weld and all sorts, then about 6 weeks later the cooler went oil in the header tank, had that sorted £350 later water pipe at back of engine slipt, sorted that and new hbv and now this, love the car but spends more time in the garage than on the road at the moment.
Far to nice a car to right off just wont to make sure that if i spend the money it will be worth it. But will get a compression test first as you adviced.

IMO, the V6 Omega gets a bad reputation. It sounds like all your issues have been through neglect on the part of previous owners

If/when the work gets done, you need to use genuine Vx Cam Cover Gaskets and make sure the breathers are cleaned thoroughly 

It sounds like you should be getting to the end of issues... If radweld came out when it was flushed then there may have been an issue lurking that a previous owner has tried to hide

Good luck

[amba]

Any form of "quick fix/snake oil treatment" for fixing leaks  always casues more problems than it resolves

As advised get a full compression test done on each cylinder by somebody who knows what they are doing and then go from there.If you post up the compression test results sure guys on here will be able to point you in the right direction to get it fixed.

Was the previous work on the oil cooler/split pipe etc done by yourself or by a garage then ??

[cem_devecioglu]

when there is a big amount of coolant loss, there are only 2 ways of coolant loss, either down the engine (which you can see dripping from somewhere else or at least traces) or through the cylinders.. your case sounds more like a HG issue..  I changed it last summer, although mine didnt loose any compression it was dripping near the alternator..
 
you cant drive the car long time with an eye on temp gauge , it will soon build up heat and cause more damage than a head gasket change can solve..  my heads were not warped and they were like new (97 model) .. (although needs checked) so there was no need for skim.. 
 

[Darth Loo-knee]

Seen a few where water comes out of the exhaust like a hose pipe.

[Lazydocker]

Seen a few where water comes out of the exhaust like a hose pipe.

It does sound like it, but just want the OP to have the diagnosis confirmed by compression test before throwing money at it

[aaronjb]

Seen a few where water comes out of the exhaust like a hose pipe.

Engines make remarkably efficient water pumps, don't they! I remember a friend cracking a liner during a drag run once - as fast as you could pour water into the header tank it came straight out the other end.. "Oh well, time for another rebuild!" were his words, if I recall.

[Rods2]

If the HG has badly gone, you may find the cylinder(s) where the water is being sucked in will give a higher compression reading as this is what I found when testing mine and on stripping the engine, it had badly gone. It was not what I was expecting, as normally the compression is lower, but the large difference in compression, on the two cylinders, showed that something was amiss. 

[Elite Pete]

Seen a few where water comes out of the exhaust like a hose pipe.

Ah yes, the Peterborough trip and a tow home from an Escort Cab. I still have nightmares about that trip home now

[brett pocock]

guys thanks for all the advice, i will get the test done and go from there. will keep you posted with the results.