Omega B Caravan MV6 3.0 - Radiator Replacing Operation

Hi all, I wonder if someone can help me on this one. I need to change my old radiator from my 1998 omega which has the incoming plastic tube completely broken. Anyway, my main worries are the speed box cooling tubes attached to the old radiator and the aircon...

Should I prepare some kind of plug to seal the oil tubes?
Will I have to refill the gearbox level after replacement?
Is there any chance of gearbox damage when replacing the radiator?
What about the aircon radiator, is there any particular care?

Help needed...

fcc-pt wrote on 29. Apr 2011 at 22:58:

Omega B Caravan MV6 3.0 - Radiator Replacing Operation Hi all, I wonder if someone can help me on this one. I need to change my old radiator from my 1998 omega which has the incoming plastic tube completely broken. Anyway, my main worries are the speed box cooling tubes attached to the old radiator and the aircon... Should I prepare some kind of plug to seal the oil tubes? Yep Will I have to refill the gearbox level after replacement? Nope Is there any chance of gearbox damage when replacing the radiator? Nope What about the aircon radiator, is there any particular care? Yep Help needed...

Oil cooler pipes.......you`ll only lose a slight amount......when disconnected wrap a plastic bag or similar round each and secure with a cable tie or similar.
A/C condenser.........just take your time when lifting the radiator out

fcc-pt wrote on 29. Apr 2011 at 22:58:

Omega B Caravan MV6 3.0 - Radiator Replacing Operation Hi all, I wonder if someone can help me on this one. I need to change my old radiator from my 1998 omega which has the incoming plastic tube completely broken. Anyway, my main worries are the speed box cooling tubes attached to the old radiator and the aircon... Should I prepare some kind of plug to seal the oil tubes? Will I have to refill the gearbox level after replacement? Is there any chance of gearbox damage when replacing the radiator? What about the aircon radiator, is there any particular care? Help needed...

Just remove the hollow bolts from the 'banjo' fittings on the gearbox oil cooler pipes. Be careful you don't lose the copper washers (2 on each pipe) but you'll only lose a small amount of oil and so won't damage your gearbox at all.  :y
You won't need to do anything with your air conditioning radiator (condenser) because it lives in front of the main engine radiator.  ;) ;)

Is there any problem if air enters the oil circuit?
What cares should I take with the aircon?
Is there anything in particular like an hidden screw or something?
Should I take the air inlet or no need for that?

fcc-pt wrote on 29. Apr 2011 at 23:08:

Is there any problem if air enters the oil circuit? What cares should I take with the aircon? Is there anything in particular like an hidden screw or something? Should I take the air inlet or no need for that?

Air intake is negligible.
Just make sure you don`t damage A/C condenser when removing rad.
No hidden screws, 3 electrical connectors on passenger side of radiator, two 8 or 10mm bolts either end of top of rad + the two inverted "U" spring clips on top corners.
No need to remove the "air inlet" (bagpipes)

I'm looking for a new radiator... those with plastic covers are really fragile, in particularly the plastic tubes! What is your opinion about it?
Anyway, when refitting the hoses can I apply any contact glue between the hose and the tube?

fcc-pt wrote on 29. Apr 2011 at 23:08:

Is there any problem if air enters the oil circuit?

No. The gearbox isn't completely full of oil/ATF and any way there's a breather on top of the gearbox.



fcc-pt wrote on 29. Apr 2011 at 23:08:

What cares should I take with the aircon?

You don't need to do anything with the condenser if you are just replacing the main radiator.


fcc-pt wrote on 29. Apr 2011 at 23:08:

Is there anything in particular like an hidden screw or something?

Not really.  :-/


fcc-pt wrote on 29. Apr 2011 at 23:08:

Should I take the air inlet or no need for that?

I take it you mean all the induction pipes :-/ If so ..... Definitely!  :y :y

RobG wrote on 29. Apr 2011 at 23:12:

.... No need to remove the "air inlet" (bagpipes)

I disagree. you'll not get the new rad in passed the bagpipes if still fitted.  ;)

What about the fans? Is there any proper way to deal with it?

fcc-pt wrote on 29. Apr 2011 at 23:14:

I'm looking for a new radiator... those with plastic covers are really fragile, in particularly the plastic tubes! What is your opinion about it? Anyway, when refitting the hoses can I apply any contact glue between the hose and the tube?

Replacement radiator will also have the plastic sides, not ideal but that`s the way they`re designed. No contact adhesive necessary on the hoses or spigots. If you did that how would you remove them if one of them split. Decent pipe clips are more than adequate.

What about the fans? Is there any proper way to deal with it?

Well it's really tight... maybe it's not a bad idea after all

Andy B wrote on 29. Apr 2011 at 23:17:

RobG wrote on 29. Apr 2011 at 23:12: .... No need to remove the "air inlet" (bagpipes) I disagree. you'll not get the new rad in passed the bagpipes if still fitted.  ;)

I stand corrected :-X Although I removed the rad from the breaker with the bagpipes in situ

What kind of clips is best? Because the last hose replaced by a mechanic costed me some extra money... the clip has stuck the hose... :(

So OK, pipe-bags will remain in place unless i can't move my BIG hands lol...

fcc-pt wrote on 29. Apr 2011 at 23:26:

What kind of clips is best? Because the last hose replaced by a mechanic costed me some extra money... the clip has stuck the hose... :( So OK, pipe-bags will remain in place unless i can't move my BIG hands lol...

Use the original sprung hose clips & preferably not Jubilee hose clips.
Remove the bagpipes, you'll not manage to do the job at all with them in place.

Thank you very much...

The sprung hose clips are the best but you can use what we call "Jubilee" clips. Circular pipe clip with a 7mm screw head that closes the clip over a series of grooves, similar to a "worm drive"

Yes I totally agree with not using Jubilee hose clips

In my (bad) experience with those clips at least with the ones installed, the inside of the clip can easily cut a hose... anyway I can't tighten that much otherwise I will need a new rad... those plastic tubes are really fragile.

fcc-pt wrote on 29. Apr 2011 at 23:36:

In my (bad) experience with those clips at least with the ones installed, the inside of the clip can easily cut a hose... anyway I can't tighten that much otherwise I will need a new rad... those plastic tubes are really fragile.

That's why you need to be very careful with Jubilee clips on plastic hoses. The advantage of the original clips is that they'll expand & contract as the plastic does.  :y

Well It seems I got another doubt...

I've been looking for a new candidate to replace the radiator at the ebay.
But the ref number doesn't match, although the vendor say it fit.

What do you think?
My ref number is:52459375
The ref equivalent from the vendor is 52463050 / 6302006

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150575625050&fromMakeTrack=true#ht_2724wt_1141

Andy B wrote on 29. Apr 2011 at 23:38:

fcc-pt wrote on 29. Apr 2011 at 23:36: In my (bad) experience with those clips at least with the ones installed, the inside of the clip can easily cut a hose... anyway I can't tighten that much otherwise I will need a new rad... those plastic tubes are really fragile. That's why you need to be very careful with Jubilee clips on plastic hoses. The advantage of the original clips is that they'll expand & contract as the plastic does.  :y

I couldn't agree more!
Where can I get the spring clips?

fcc-pt wrote on 30. Apr 2011 at 11:17:

.... .... Where can I get the spring clips?

They won't be very expensive from Opel

fcc-pt wrote on 30. Apr 2011 at 10:58:

Well It seems I got another doubt... I've been looking for a new candidate to replace the radiator at the ebay. But the ref number doesn't match, although the vendor say it fit. What do you think? My ref number is:52459375 The ref equivalent from the vendor is 52463050 / 6302006 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150575625050&fromMakeTrack=true#ht_2724wt_1141

I can't help with the differing part numbers but it does seem as though it should fit your car ie suitable for an automatic V6  :-/

Well it seems I'll have to take the risk...
I'm thinking to reinforce the plastic tubes with an aluminium or cooper bush, this way wont break easily :) what you think about?

I will try Opel for the spring clips...

What is this:
-> Radiator With thermoswitch?
-> Switch: With double thermal switch

fcc-pt wrote on 30. Apr 2011 at 15:40:

... I'm thinking to reinforce the plastic tubes with an aluminium or cooper bush, this way wont break easily :) what you think about? .....

There is no need to. The standard radiator pipes will be OL as they are.  ;)

fcc-pt wrote on 30. Apr 2011 at 15:54:

What's Radiator With thermoswitch?

Where have you seen this?

I think it'll mean the switches screwed into the side of the radiator that turns your radiator fans on or off ..... thermo = heat  :y

In here http://seekpart24.com/opel/omega-b-estate-21-22-23-94/3-0-v6-8/radiator-100103

and this one:
->With double thermocontact

This is getting very confusing...

fcc-pt wrote on 30. Apr 2011 at 16:02:

In here http://seekpart24.com/opel/omega-b-estate-21-22-23-94/3-0-v6-8/radiator-100103

As I thought it's for the switches in the end of the radiator that turn the fans on/off for both engine cooling & also the fan for the air con.
The description is not very clear, but I would think that it's saying that there is room for two thermostatic switches - which is what you need for you car.

fcc-pt wrote on 30. Apr 2011 at 16:06:

and this one: ->With double thermocontact

And what about this?

Andy B wrote on 30. Apr 2011 at 16:11:

fcc-pt wrote on 30. Apr 2011 at 16:02: In here http://seekpart24.com/opel/omega-b-estate-21-22-23-94/3-0-v6-8/radiator-100103 As I thought it's for the switches in the end of the radiator that turn the fans on/off for both engine cooling & also the fan for the air con. The description is not very clear, but I would think that it's saying that there is room for two thermostatic switches - which is what you need for you car.

Well I thought I just had to match:
->Transmission Type: For automatic transmission
->Vehicle Equipment: For vehicles with air conditioning

fcc-pt wrote on 30. Apr 2011 at 16:14:

fcc-pt wrote on 30. Apr 2011 at 16:06: and this one: ->With double thermocontact And what about this?

I saw that  :-/ ..... I thinks it's lost something in the translation  :-/
I think it's trying to say two ie double thermostatic switches ..... a switch could maybe also be called contacts

fcc-pt wrote on 30. Apr 2011 at 16:19:

.... Well I thought I just had to match: ->Transmission Type: For automatic transmission ->Vehicle Equipment: For vehicles with air conditioning

Correct. An auto needs the cooler in the side (your passenger side) of the rad. A car with air con needs to be fitted with two thermostatic switches.  :y

So what's the difference between the extra expensive and the most affordable radiators? Besides the obvious...

fcc-pt wrote on 30. Apr 2011 at 16:46:

So what's the difference between the extra expensive and the most affordable radiators? Besides the obvious...

I really don't know  :-/ Maybe you should email them  :-/

fcc-pt wrote on 30. Apr 2011 at 16:46:

So what's the difference between the extra expensive and the most affordable radiators? Besides the obvious...

Different manufacturer = different prices. You`re dealing with the distributor :)

What about a second hand radiator?? I have one here in very good condition from a 99 elite 3.0v6 with climate...would it be a direct replacement?? Certainly cheaper plus genuine part :y Just a thought

Edit...although just noticed its an Opel...where are you based?

I don't know,  never installed second hand stuff in my car...
Yes it's a direct replace :)
I'm in Portugal!
Anyway thank you very much for the proposal.

It's a really difficult job... I've been through a hell just to extract the old one! Many vacuum hoses, and sensor wires :) Till now I had to extract the air filter enclosure the intake pipe bags the battery! I believe that the fan should be left with the radiator and then when taken it's easier to reassemble in the new radiator. I will keep this update :) Cheers. :D