Just bought the missus 1997 v6 vectra cdx, drove it 180 miles with no probs, run like a dream, had a look over it today and found that their is an oily liquid in the water, are these prone to head gasket failure, could it be something else?

Headexchanger failure generally. There's an oil cooler that sits between the heads. When they go, they leak straight into the coolant. That's your most probably cause. Remove it and either fit a new one or fit an external one (making sure of course that you plate the area where the old one was.)

Thanks for that mate, not as bad as i thought then. (hopefully)

Headgaskets aren't too bad to do on those. You still have to remove all the intake, plenum, and other bits to get to the heat exchanger.

I used to have a v6 sri, '97. I'm sorry to say it was the

worst car i've ever had, and i've owned some real sheds!

When it ran, it was lovely, but you just couldn't trust it to

get you anywhere, it just went from one breakdown to the next.

Hope you have better luck with yours than i did!

might just sell it on, bought it for the missus as her rover is playing up loosing water, the car drove 170 miles without a hitch

I've got a Vec GSi v6 and I have to say it's been the most reliable car i've ever had.

Get the problem looked at mate as the v6's can go on for ever.

Get the cambelt done as they have a habit of seizing idlers and shredding the belt off.

are you sure its not just a coolant additive ??? as some can seem oily ???

i believe only post 2000 vectras were any good

I used to have a 98 sri 2.0 and she never missed a beat. Every thing worked and she had 150000 miles. Back end let go a few times without warning though.

i believe only post 2000 vectras were any good

 

No mate, not true. it was the vec A that was sh1te. Mines a '98 and the only differences between that and a facelift was a few cosmetic changes. The 2.5v6 engine is the same.

I will take it to a mechanic after xmas, on the 170 mile trip back the temp gauge went to the quater and it drove lovely, I do hope its something minor, the missus aint had much luck with cars, funny enough though every jap car shes had has been extremely reliable.

I've got a Vec GSi v6 and I have to say it's been the most reliable car i've ever had.

Get the problem looked at mate as the v6's can go on for ever.

 

 

Can concur with that sentiment, have owned a black Vectra GSi v6 Estate for nearly 6 years now and with the exception of tyres an exhaust and normal service it is a brilliant car, never understood why Jeremy Clarkson hated them so much?

 

Amost 200bhp with Recaro seats lowered and stiffened suspenion 17" wheels deep front bumper spoiler rear window spoiler, fuel computor, elec windows, c.locking etc, etc all as standard! paid £5k for it 6 years ago with 97k miles on the clock, now it has 160k miles and despite thinking about selling many times I just love it, powerful, reliable, and 28- 32 miles per gallon oh and that V6 sound...love it and so do my dogs who travel in with me to work everyday.

 

 

 

Jeff TT

Can concur with that sentiment, have owned a black Vectra GSi v6 Estate for nearly 6 years now and with the exception of tyres an exhaust and normal service it is a brilliant car, never understood why Jeremy Clarkson hated them so much?

 

Amost 200bhp with Recaro seats lowered and stiffened suspenion 17" wheels deep front bumper spoiler rear window spoiler, fuel computor, elec windows, c.locking etc, etc all as standard! paid £5k for it 6 years ago with 97k miles on the clock, now it has 160k miles and despite thinking about selling many times I just love it, powerful, reliable, and 28- 32 miles per gallon oh and that V6 sound...love it and so do my dogs who travel in with me to work everyday.

 

 

 

Jeff TT

 

Hi jeff, r u the owner of Zed world?

^yep