Omega Owners Forum - Engine overheating

Sparks

Newbie

Offline

Posts: 8
Leeds, W.Yorks.
Gender: male

Drives: Omega 2.2 Automatic Saloon

Engine overheating
17. Mar 2011 at 12:07

Hi. I have found this site very usefull in the past and I now need help regarding my 2.2 omega 51 plate overheating. the temperature gauge keeps fluctuating between very hot and very cold. Sometimes it goes into the red and I have to stop the vehicle to allow it to cool down. I have changed the thermostat but it has made no difference and the temp. guage must be working ok because when it overheats and I lift the bonnet the water in the expansion tank is boiling up. Any advise on this matter would be greatly appreciated. Keith.

Back to top

IP Logged

Entwood

Omega King

Offline

Quietly Confident

Posts: 13708
North Wiltshire
Gender: male

Drives: 3.2 Elite (with LPG)

Re: Engine overheating
Reply #1 - 17. Mar 2011 at 12:20

I wonder if/when the water pump was last changed ?? I seem to remember that those with only 2/3rds an engine should change the water pump every cambelt change ?? or am I mistaken ??

Symptoms could well be a water pump that is either not spinning, or has no vanes left on it .. !!.. this can lead to localised boiling of "non-moving" water .. gentle use lets a "thermal siphon" effect keep things OK for a while .. but it can't cope with any heavier use...

Sad

Back to top

« Last Edit: 17. Mar 2011 at 12:22 by Entwood »

V6 Cam locking/setting kit, Maxscan GS500 OBDII code reader/EML resetter available. Click for some Pictures

IP Logged

TheBoy Administrator Offline TBE has an MOT! Posts: 64817 Brackley, Northants Gender: Drives: 98 MV6, 03 Elite, 00 25, 89 ZX10	Re: Engine overheating Reply #2 - 17. Mar 2011 at 12:21 I'd be checking for water pump, blockages or a HG...
Back to top	If you are going to kick a car, remember to wear appropriate footwear Any posts are the result of my own views as a member of OOF, which may or may not be the same as my views as part of the Admin Team. IP Logged

TheBoy Administrator Offline TBE has an MOT! Posts: 64817 Brackley, Northants Gender: Drives: 98 MV6, 03 Elite, 00 25, 89 ZX10	Re: Engine overheating Reply #3 - 17. Mar 2011 at 12:22 Does it only boil up when in traffic? If so, check cooling fans work
Back to top	If you are going to kick a car, remember to wear appropriate footwear Any posts are the result of my own views as a member of OOF, which may or may not be the same as my views as part of the Admin Team. IP Logged

Sparks Newbie Offline Posts: 8 Leeds, W.Yorks. Gender: Drives: Omega 2.2 Automatic Saloon	Re: Engine overheating Reply #4 - 18. Mar 2011 at 10:08 Thanks for the feedback. The radiator fan is working I have checked but the water pump has never been changed so I will have a look at that. Thanks again. ps What is HG?.
Back to top	IP Logged

TheBoy Administrator Offline TBE has an MOT! Posts: 64817 Brackley, Northants Gender: Drives: 98 MV6, 03 Elite, 00 25, 89 ZX10	Re: Engine overheating Reply #5 - 18. Mar 2011 at 10:22 HG=Head Gasket
Back to top	If you are going to kick a car, remember to wear appropriate footwear Any posts are the result of my own views as a member of OOF, which may or may not be the same as my views as part of the Admin Team. IP Logged

Sparks

Newbie

Offline

Posts: 8
Leeds, W.Yorks.
Gender: male

Drives: Omega 2.2 Automatic Saloon

Re: Engine overheating
Reply #6 - 03. Apr 2011 at 15:25

Hi to all. This is an update on my posting of the 17th regarding my 2.2, 51 plate omega saloon overheating. Regarding the possibility of it being the water pump I have checked the hoses and they all appear to be hot which I assume means water is being pumped around the system.
The Vauxhall trained mechanic who used to service my car before I fell on hard times came back off holiday and he had a quick look at it and noticed that the radiator was Hot at the top but cold at the bottom so he advised me to flush the water system but also said that the car would show other symtons if it was the HG. I have flushed the radiator and cooling system but the water was pretty clear and the problem still persists. When driving along and the temperature gets to normal 1 of 2 things happens. The temperature either rises to the red mark within about 10 seconds or goes down to cold again within about 10 seconds so the temperature change is very rapid. When it goes cold I have checked the radiator and the bottom two thirds is cold and the top third is luke warm and can be touched by hand with out being burnt. I am thinking of changing the radiator fan temperature switch as a last desperate measure and if that doesn't work then it will be down to my mechanics with it which I know will cost me money I can't afford. The car has only done 84,000 miles and the head gasket was changed about 25,000 miles or 5 years ago. Any advise on curing this problem would be greatly appreciated. Regards, Keith.

Back to top

IP Logged

tunnie Over Active Poster Offline Posts: 22520 London, W3 Gender: Drives: 2.2 CD (LPG'd) & BMW R1200 GS	Re: Engine overheating Reply #7 - 03. Apr 2011 at 15:28 whats the coolant tank like, clean? Wondering if it has had HG failure in the past, some clown has used K-Seal in it? Its used as a bodge to attempt to seal a HG, but its nasty stuff and easily blocks up radiators
Back to top	Do you break V6's as often as TheBoy? Then you need tunnie's towing services, recovery costs are just the humiliation of being towed by 2/3's of an engine IP Logged

Sparks Newbie Offline Posts: 8 Leeds, W.Yorks. Gender: Drives: Omega 2.2 Automatic Saloon	Re: Engine overheating Reply #8 - 03. Apr 2011 at 17:23 Hi. I had a problem about 5 years ago when My mechanic had to change the head gasket but I know he will have done the job right I have used him for about 10 Years.
Back to top	IP Logged

Sparks Newbie Offline Posts: 8 Leeds, W.Yorks. Gender: Drives: Omega 2.2 Automatic Saloon	Re: Engine overheating Reply #9 - 03. Apr 2011 at 17:25 Yes. The coolant tank was very clean And when I flushed the Radiator with a good make of flush the water was near perfect.
Back to top	IP Logged

tunnie Over Active Poster Offline Posts: 22520 London, W3 Gender: Drives: 2.2 CD (LPG'd) & BMW R1200 GS	Re: Engine overheating Reply #10 - 03. Apr 2011 at 17:27 Sparks wrote on 03. Apr 2011 at 17:23: Hi. I had a problem about 5 years ago when My mechanic had to change the head gasket but I know he will have done the job right I have used him for about 10 Years. But has it had K-Seal used?
Back to top	Do you break V6's as often as TheBoy? Then you need tunnie's towing services, recovery costs are just the humiliation of being towed by 2/3's of an engine IP Logged

tunnie Over Active Poster Offline Posts: 22520 London, W3 Gender: Drives: 2.2 CD (LPG'd) & BMW R1200 GS	Re: Engine overheating Reply #11 - 03. Apr 2011 at 17:28 other cause of cool spots on rad could be airlocks, worth running engine running with coolant cap off, see if it bubbles
Back to top	Do you break V6's as often as TheBoy? Then you need tunnie's towing services, recovery costs are just the humiliation of being towed by 2/3's of an engine IP Logged

Sparks Newbie Offline Posts: 8 Leeds, W.Yorks. Gender: Drives: Omega 2.2 Automatic Saloon	Re: Engine overheating Reply #12 - 03. Apr 2011 at 20:01 I will try running engine with cap off. The guy who does my repairs wouldnt cut corners by using Kseal but I will check with him. I will let you know. Thanks
Back to top	IP Logged

Sparks

Newbie

Offline

Posts: 8
Leeds, W.Yorks.
Gender: male

Drives: Omega 2.2 Automatic Saloon

Re: Engine overheating
Reply #13 - 06. Apr 2011 at 11:08

Hi. Just an update on my overheating problem. Had a mechanic take the water pump out as a last resort and confirmed the advise I was given on this site it was totally nackered. It is obvious that it was never changed when the timing belt was done which has knocked my confidence in the vauxhall trained mechanic I always use. I am just keeping my fingers crossed that the HG or Head is not damaged becuse the gauge went into the red on at least 6 occasions before I could pull in. Again thanks for all the help. Keith.

Back to top

IP Logged

PhilRich Omega Lord Offline Proud to be English, with no apologies to ANYONE! Posts: 6825 NorthEast Coast Gender: Drives: 2002 2.2CDX 4dr Auto. LPG Converted.	Re: Engine overheating Reply #14 - 06. Apr 2011 at 11:21 Well done for posting the outcome, & good to see you've got a fix for the problem Keith. I hope you've got away with it re the overheating
Back to top	Apparently the Skipper said "Hard a Port!" but I went to Starboard, 'cos i'm Hard a Hearin'! IP Logged

This is the old site. Please use the new site.

This is the old site. Please use the new site.

www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php.

This is the old site. Please use the new site.

	Welcome, Guest. Please Login