Omega Owners Forum - coolant leak

stevenwoody

Newbie

Offline

Posts: 15
tunbridge wells, kent

Drives: 3.0 V6 Elite

coolant leak
12. May 2011 at 12:57

Hi all

just got myself a 3.0 elite, manual and it has develoed a massive coolant leak, when the car is cold it doesn't leak at all but when the thermostat opens it happily dumps around a litre or so of coolant from the n/s/r of the engine i have removed the scuttle trim but can't find the source of the leak mainly due to lack of vision, so before stripping it to bits has anyone had this before??? oh yeah and to make it a mission its going to cornwall on the 21st Thumbs Up!

Back to top

IP Logged

Jimbob Global Moderator Admin Team Offline Third nipple removal completed succesfuly Posts: 20462 Chester / Flintshire Gender: Drives: 52 3.2 MV6 Estate & 98 3.0 MV6 Manual Estate	Re: coolant leak Reply #1 - 12. May 2011 at 13:01 sounds like the heater bypass valve, awkward, but not hard to replace. looks like a small black starship enterprise. recommend genuine, pattern often leak. taking the plenum or scuttle off improves access a little. check around that its not just a hose burst etc.
Back to top	Maintenance Guides & Code Reading FAQ & Common Questions IP Logged

stevenwoody

Newbie

Offline

Posts: 15
tunbridge wells, kent

Drives: 3.0 V6 Elite

Re: coolant leak
Reply #2 - 12. May 2011 at 13:11

Jimbob wrote on 12. May 2011 at 13:01:

sounds like the heater bypass valve, awkward, but not hard to replace.
looks like a small black starship enterprise.

recommend genuine, pattern often leak.

taking the plenum or scuttle off improves access a little.

check around that its not just a hose burst etc.

i have checked the bypass valve and that seems fine, im hoping it is a hose but access is rather poo

Back to top

IP Logged

Mike Collins Senior Member Offline Posts: 532 North of Bristol Gender: Drives: 2003 2.6 CDX, 1998 2.5 Elite, now BER at 262,000 miles	Re: coolant leak Reply #3 - 12. May 2011 at 13:31 Have a look at my recent post on nearside rear leak, the head is close to coming off now! Mike.
Back to top	IP Logged

stevenwoody

Newbie

Offline

Posts: 15
tunbridge wells, kent

Drives: 3.0 V6 Elite

Re: coolant leak
Reply #4 - 12. May 2011 at 13:41

Mike Collins wrote on 12. May 2011 at 13:31:

Have a look at my recent post on nearside rear leak, the head is close to coming off now!

Mike.

was it head gasket or core plug?? the trivial thing is its higher than the head gasket and on further inspection its a lil more central and from a hose out of the back of the inlet manifold. has anyone got pics of the hose setup in this area??

Back to top

IP Logged

Mike Collins Senior Member Offline Posts: 532 North of Bristol Gender: Drives: 2003 2.6 CDX, 1998 2.5 Elite, now BER at 262,000 miles	Re: coolant leak Reply #5 - 12. May 2011 at 21:52 Mine is definately head gasket, yours sounds like somewhere in the coolant bridge area, if so, much less work and expense. Mike.
Back to top	IP Logged

stevenwoody

Newbie

Offline

Posts: 15
tunbridge wells, kent

Drives: 3.0 V6 Elite

Re: coolant leak
Reply #6 - 14. May 2011 at 08:56

FOUND THE PROBLEM

[size=11]

after stripping off the plenum me and my dad spotted a large wet patch around the thermostat housing and a trail of where the coolant and run to the back of the engine, upon stripping further we found that the seal on the thermostat had split and therefore under pressure it was spraying coolant down the valley, im guessing the thermostat had stuck shut for this kinda pressure to have built up. However i do have a couple more questions Wink

1. whats the implications of running a different spec thermostat for example a cooler running one??

2. silly question but do all o-rings and gaskets for inlet etc need replacing as they are rubber and with some you can re-use???

3. does anyone know of a product that will clean the cooling system and dissolve crap etc without flushing a million times??? /size]

all help muchly appreciated Thumbs Up!

Back to top

IP Logged

VX1

Omega Baron

Offline

Posts: 2235
Reading, Berkshire
Gender: male

Drives: Black 3.0ltr Elite saloon 1998

Re: coolant leak
Reply #7 - 14. May 2011 at 09:07

1. whats the implications of running a different spec thermostat for example a cooler running one??

This will enable your thermostat to open earlier and keep the engine running cooler.

2. silly question but do all o-rings and gaskets for inlet etc need replacing as they are rubber and with some you can re-use???

No. they only need replacing if they are damaged.

3. does anyone know of a product that will clean the cooling system and dissolve crap etc without flushing a million times???

Washing detergent non bio can do a good job, engine degreaser is another one, just remember that if you do use any of these then you must flush the cooling system out completely so you have no residue left, then refill with coolant.

Back to top

« Last Edit: 14. May 2011 at 09:12 by VX1 »

Vx Trade club card holder
Halfords trade card holder

IP Logged

stevenwoody

Newbie

Offline

Posts: 15
tunbridge wells, kent

Drives: 3.0 V6 Elite

Re: coolant leak
Reply #8 - 14. May 2011 at 09:18

VX1 wrote on 14. May 2011 at 09:07:

1. whats the implications of running a different spec thermostat for example a cooler running one??

This will enable your thermostat to open earlier and keep the engine running cooler.

2. silly question but do all o-rings and gaskets for inlet etc need replacing as they are rubber and with some you can re-use???

No. they only need replacing if they are damaged.

3. does anyone know of a product that will clean the cooling system and dissolve crap etc without flushing a million times???

Washing detergent non bio can do a good job, engine degreaser is another one, just remember that if you do use any of these then you must flush the cooling system out completely so you have no residue left, then refill with coolant.

excellent thanks for the help i used to run a cool running thermostat on my C20XE astra but because of the emissions on the omega didn't think it could be done, gaskets are in good condition just need cleaning RESULT

Back to top

IP Logged

Andy H

Omega Knight

Offline

Posts: 1833
Cornwall
Gender: male

Drives: 03 2.6 Elite Auto

Re: coolant leak
Reply #9 - 14. May 2011 at 10:59

stevenwoody wrote on 14. May 2011 at 09:18:

excellent thanks for the help i used to run a cool running thermostat on my C20XE astra but because of the emissions on the omega didn't think it could be done, gaskets are in good condition just need cleaning RESULT

I wouldn't advise fitting a cool running thermostat. When I got my 2.6 the thermostat was opening too early and the fuel consumption was dreadful. I fitted a new stat and that fixed it.

You are right in assuming that the car would fail the emissions test without the standard thermostat.

Back to top

Previous vehicles: Viva, Chevette, Astra mk2, Carlton mk1, Astra mk2, Land Rover SerIII, Carlton Mk2, Range Rover, Omega 2.5 V6
"Deja Moo - The feeling that you've heard this bull somewhere before."

IP Logged

Albs Omega King Offline The upgrades are ongoing. Posts: 15083 North Essex Gender: Drives: 2000 2.5CD with LPG/Honda cbr600 FX	Re: coolant leak Reply #10 - 14. May 2011 at 11:16 Agreed. The standard thermostat (in good working condition) keeps the engine running at just the right temperature. Afaik, Omegas are quite senstive to this. Economy and performance can easily be adversely affected if its running outside the normal range.
Back to top	Breaking - facelift 2.5 Elite.in Z20H Blue. PM your parts requirements. 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