About Paul Expertise Almost anything about most European cars BMW, Mercedes ,Audi ,VW and general auto-ectrical questions
Experience I have been a mechanic in the U.K for 15 years on European cars I am ATA qualified (U.K equivalent of ASE). Also home and diy mechanic for family and friends now re-located to the U.S
Question QUESTION: I have a Vauxhal/Opel Omega 2.5 TD, which uses the BMW power plant. On a steep hill yesterday it sounded as if the exhaust manifold gasket blew. How easy/difficult is this to repair?
ANSWER: Hi Richard, you seem relatively certain that it is the gasket, there are two different systems i can think of the most common is a twin pipe three bolt flange which houses a gasket sandwiched between the two flanges up next the engine and it is easier to attempt from underneath the car, be warned some of the bolts WILL SNAP. the second type is a single pipe two bolt joint, which houses a ring type gasket between the two opened out faces of the pipes, these bolts are replaceable and you do not need to worry about snapping them - Let me know what happens - Paul
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hello Paul,
It's the exhaust manifold to the engine top-end removal I wish to deal with. Meanwhile I checked that the outlet is just one pipe, so that's good news.
As for my confidence that this is simply a 'blow job', put that down to 50 years of motoring and earlier DIY maintenance / repairs / rebuilds.
After paying others to deal with my company cars for the next 30 years I am now into my second teenage, but I'm now also wise enough to know what I don't know, hence the questioning.
There is another pipe leading from the manifold, and it is easily moved within its mounting. There is soot around the first inch nearest the junction. My eldest son reckons that it is the pipe to the inter-cooler, and has simply rattled loose. What say you? Makes sense to me (fingers crossed).
Meanwhile many thanks.....
Answer hello again, sorry it took so long, I was looking into it and found surprisingly little, here goes:
First remove the turbo hoses and wastegate vacuum feed, remove the downpipe from the manifold and remove the head attachment bolts (apply a little WD-40 first) and withdraw the manifold from the engine, There shouldn't be an exhaust pipe to the intercooler as this cools the air from the turbo before it is forced into the inlet manifold. the turbo is an exhaust driven high pressure pump for induction air and the Wastegate opens to allow excess exhaust gas out past the blades instead of through them. there should be two large rubber or silicone hoses (one each side of the turbo, one goes to the air filter housing and the other goes to the intercooler)
If you can easily move an exhaust pipe in it's mounting then it is either disconnected (hopefully) or it is snapped (more likely) from my best recollection of the omega there is no connection at the manifold end of the exhaust other that the 3-bolt flange ,which are prone to weld failure- Let me know what happens and good luck- Paul
