Coolant leak

4WRXter

4WRXter

Skier!
I know an internet diagnosis is difficult, but maybe I can get pointed in a direction to start.

I drove to town and back (6 miles round trip). When I got home, and got out of the car, there was steam coming out of the grille. I opened the hood and there was coolant on the front of the engine and radiator. Re-started the car and let it idle to see if I could find where the fluid was coming from. I couldn't see anything. Temp gauge was just above the first mark up. Plenty of hot air coming out of the heater. I revved the engine to around 2000-2500 RPM for a few minutes. Temp gauge stayed "low". Still couldn't see where coolant was coming from. Figured it was a "fluke". Went back to town for something, same results.

Questions, comments, or suggestions, please??????

 
mine is doing the same thing. I think it is overflowing out of the bottle. I'm still not sure why.

 
Also, did not notice the fans coming on while driving. They did not come on while idling in the driveway. Coolant up to full mark in the overflow tank. Coolant full in the fill tank by the turbo.

 
test fan function by switching on AC while idling, this should automatically start fans runnin

did you recently top off coolant?

no diagnosis yet, inquiring minds want more gory details....any signs of H/G issues, coolant levels going down, or orverheating?

edit: here's a link to nabisco thread sussing out similar issues

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2177491

WARNING: thread contains graphic references to Very Expensive Plobrems (but some low tech solutions to check for, too)

 
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I had not touched the coolant until this issue. Car sat for about 3 months this winter. I have been driving it since with no problems.

I found some threads on NASIOC about only using Subaru coolant and some additive.

This morning I went out, started car, idled at about 2000 RPM until the fans did come on (about 5 minutes). Right about then there was quite a lot of "smoke". Jumped out to see, but still could not see fluid leaking a lot, or spraying from anywhere. Idled her up again for about 5 minutes and the temp gauge started to climb. Shut it off, let fans run, topped off coolant with generic stuff that I had around. I'll probably drain and change once I figure this out.

Looking from above the engine, there was some fluid dripping from the top of the radiator. I'm starting to think it's the radiator. I have not put it up on ramps to crawl under. Flat tire this morning from getting a screw in my tire sometime, somewhere yesterday. I am assuming if it is a headgasket there might be fluid, possibly on the bottom of the head where the gasket is.?.?.? What else can I do to confirm or deny a HG issue?

I pulled the dipstick to see if there might be water/coolant on that. It looked OK. I know that is not a good judge, but thought it was worth checking.

Obviously I don't want to throw money at a new radiator only to replace it and have the same problem. One of the local garages let me borrow a radiator pressure pump he has, but it won't fit my small cap. I'm going to check another place to see if they might have one.

Sorry this is so long. Trying to put out all the info of what I have done so far.

 
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You know Nigel, I have had very expensive PROBLEMS in the past, but never Plobrems. LMAO, sorry, just had to point it out becuase you have obviously edited once already and missed it.

 
Bwah ha ha ha, that's a good one too, I didn't even notice it. At least its not as bad as when we get a big construction project sign here at work and instead of saying "CONSTRUCTION" it says "CONSTUCTION".

On the Coolant thing, you don't think it could be over-pressurizing due to a stuck thermostat do you?

 
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Iboc_C64 said:
Bwah ha ha ha, that's a good one too, I didn't even notice it. At least its not as bad as when we get a big construction project sign here at work and instead of saying "CONSTRUCTION" it says "CONSTUCTION".

On the Coolant thing, you don't think it could be over-pressurizing due to a stuck thermostat do you?
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stuck t-stat is one of the things on the "check this out" list.

I'd start by checking hose clamps, look for cracks/weeping in the rad core and end tanks. press test def called for here.

if all that checks out OK, it's on to next round of diagnosis

 
How about checking the radiator cap? Make sure that is tight and that the Gasket on the cap is not cracked. If it is replace it. Also when the engine is cold, the coolant should be at the cold level in the overflow tank, and at the filler neck where on the radiator.

Also another thing. There may he a pocket of air in your coolant system. With the engine cold, start the car without the radiator cap on and run it for about a minute, so any excess air in the system will bubble out.

 
I guess my next course of action is......get tire plugged-get a thermostat gasket-roll up on ramps-take out t/stat- boil it to see if it opens-look around head for leak.

Now in theory.....if it overheats/overpressurizes, shouldn't the coolant just go into the reservoir tank?

Right now it is balancing on a floor jack and jackstand with the rear wheel off. I'll wait until I can reinstall that before sitting in it and starting it.

DAMN, I was hoping to take it to the meet on WED to show off my half-a$$ attempt at headliner upholstery. Of course I suspect AirX car will be getting all the attention.
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Screw it for today. Ice is out. I'm goin' fishin'!!!!!!!!

 
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4WRXter said:
I guess my next course of action is......get tire plugged-get a thermostat gasket-roll up on ramps-take out t/stat- boil it to see if it opens-look around head for leak.

Now in theory.....if it overheats/overpressurizes, shouldn't the coolant just go into the reservoir tank?

Right now it is balancing on a floor jack and jackstand with the rear wheel off. I'll wait until I can reinstall that before sitting in it and starting it.

DAMN, I was hoping to take it to the meet on WED to show off my half-a$$ attempt at headliner upholstery. Of course I suspect AirX car will be getting all the attention.
default_rolleyes.gif
default_wink.png


Screw it for today. Ice is out. I'm goin' fishin'!!!!!!!!
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you said that it was leaking from top of radiator, no? check the radiator cap first!! if the gasket on that is cracked, get a new one and that may solve your problem. Cheapest solution too.

I see this all too often with the big 60k and 100k generators I work on. trying to save you time and money by suggesting you to do this first.

 
Thanks Justin. Cap looks fine. The cap for this car is actually on a tank back by the turbo, not on the radiator.

Update for today....

I got the thermostat out and dropped it in some boiling water. It opened right up. I crawled around underneath, and checked on top as best I could, to see if there were leaks at the headgaskets. As much as I could see, DRY!!! I started it up, warmed it up, and best I could tell, got all air out of system. Got the system pressurized, and lo&behold some coolant was weeping along the top of the radiator. I wipe it up with paper towels and it immediately re-appears. There is no spraying out of the radiator, but I am 75% sure it is the radiator. I'm going to try and find somewhere nearby that I can get it pressure tested (if possible) to confirm, before I order a new one. I am upbeat that it looks like a radiator, not head gasket.

 
I have heard and seen that the factory radiators are prone to leaking on the early WRX's. People usually upgrade them, but aftermarket ones are pretty expensive!!

 
@2.5 Dan - FUR SHORE!!!!!

Bratman - I'm going with "who knows what-generic aftermarket" from Motor Supply. $162 plus tax. If it lasts 2-3 yrs, I got my $$ worth. Got a tip from a friend.

rangeleyrally - THANK YOU!! This one should be pretty easy. The bad thing is I had it half way disassembled the other day to check my thermostat. I put it all back together to pressurize and heat it up to see if there were any leaks I could find around the heads.

 
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New radiator from Motor Supply installed. $142 + change, tax and shipping included. They got me the one for an automatic trans. I just put some hose between the two trans cooler nipples.

Before reconnecting the upper radiator hose, I filled the engine block through that. Then connected the upper hose, and slowly filled through the tank by the turbo. Squeezing the upper hose a lot to burp the system. When the air bubbles stopped, I started the car, turned on the heat, and let it come up to temp. Topped off the tank, squeezed the hose some, installed the cap and let it run some more.

Checked the coolant level, felt confident it was OK. I went for a 16 mile ride. Temp gauge stayed just above the first mark. I will check the fluid level in the morning again.

It looks like it is OK now.

 
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