Bloody car!!!!!
As some may have read, twice since September, my beloved Subaru has done a very good impression of steam engine due to coolant leaks.
Imagine my joy (not) when the bloody thing did it again today
I could nt see where the coolant was coming from, and even the RAC man was clueless.
I'll endeavour to try again tomorrow, but am considering the water pump housing. The top hose seems fine, and it's pooling in the shallow underneath the plenum again.......
Its not overheating, not running rough, just steaming and confusing its owner
I am starting to wonder if it's just old thing s need replacing, or time to get another car.

 

Header Tank ? Split, perished cap?

 

Not that common but possible hairline crack in the block expanding under heat.

If that was the case though it would do it more often i feel.

Other possibilities are water pump housing/gasket. Dodgy thermostat intermittently opening or failing headgasket.

 

The cap seems ok. I'll have a look at the header tank more closley, but do wonder about the water pump. Where is this and the housing situated?
If its the block........I'd best get a chemical test done on the coolant, don't fancy the prospect of the head gasket failing much!

 

Chemical test shows either cracked head or blown head gasket....bugger

 

Shame.

 

Sorry to hear Rob.

 

Now weighing up the options and costs with the various scenarios....I'll hear back in the next day or so.
I 've asked for an all in cost for Subaru head gasket set, head bolts, cam belt, drive belts, water pump, thermostat, head skimmed and pressure tested, new clutch............I'll be expecting a large bill. At least it'll be a virtual worst case figure to get the car fixed, and then it'll be a case of do I fix it or take it to the garage.

 

Get a few quotes

 

I am very fortunate that the labour rates will be mates rates, and the parts will be trade. If it comes in too high, myself and a friend will be embarking on some undiscovered ground and doing it ourselves with a repair manual.
We've worked on cars for years, but doing this to a Scoob will be new!
If the whole deal ends up a nightmare, I'll fix it and sell it, but hopefully it won't come to that!

 

Complete engines can be had rather cheap. Altho not always a good one i admit BUT i found a low mileage P1 engine a few years ago.

 

I did consider this, but how do you know what you're getting, and secondly, won't I need either a MY99 UK lump, or I'll have ECU issues???

 

Would also be worth considering what you would get to sell/brake as it is now. The repair list sounds expensive and there might not be much in it to cut your losses ?

 

Plenty of people out there looking for a project car mate, have you tried 'K seal' its listed and a perment repair for head gaskets and small bock farctures, may help you keep the car on the road for a but!

 

I have got some K seal, but not used it as I often have my son and family in the car, a breakdown with them does nt bear thinking about. I'd get grief for ages!

 

fair do's!

 

Well the K seal has stopped the leak and symptoms, done 50 odd miles, I'll continue over the weekend and see how it goes........so far so good, even if it's a temporary fix

 

It is actually list as a permanent fix mate see how it goes

 

So far so good, I'm going to get it looked at a re sniff tested in the near future.
Fingers crossed!

 

It's easy to miss diagnose with a chemical test, have you checked the leakoff hole on the water pump?

 

Unfortunately not.
What/How would I do that?

 

id check the water pump then the head for water.
then call out the RAC out to test the head, or its easy it see for your self
as spoke above..