JoeB

Just had a quick check of the engine bay and noticed my header tank is leaking !
Coolant level is fine, and rubber hoses seem to be OK as well. I am finding it hard to locate where the leak is coming from, the cap or one of the bolts ? Is it worth trying to find the leak and repair it with solder/sealant or just buy another 2nd hand one.

piehole1983

iTrader: (7)

Looks like it's the cap mate, or the joint just below it! Is the rubber seal ok?

sprigeteer

iTrader: (9)

Mine went a year or so ago. I bought a second hand one. Mine developed a micro fissure around the neck which was only apparent when hot - it was a tiny spray. Could have had it brazed, but chose to go second hand - plenty out there.

johned

Mine had gone around the inside of the top on the neck joint which you can see if you unbolt the top and i have seen a few more the same.

b3nmw

Mine went earlier in year. Got a plastic newage replacement

mickywrx

iTrader: (29)

Or if you actually look at the picture, it's because the pipe badly highlighted isn't actually sealed........

Tidgy

someones on the ball today

Paben

iTrader: (5)

It still looks like the neck's come away from the main body. Mine went there, replacement cost £35 from Matt at MB Developments in the breakers section.

JoeB

Thanks for the comments chaps. @mickywrx thanks for pointing that out, i went out last night and made sure the hose was pushed up further and sealed properly, and cleaned the tank up. Unfortunately after driving to work this morning i checked it and a very small amount has leaked out again, it appears to come from where the neck meets the body. Looks like a replacement is in order. Do you have to drain the whole coolant system when changing the header tank ?

ZANY

Hi bud you might as well put fresh antifreeze in being winters and make sure you take airlock out of the system properly if doing it yourself or you'll be sorry if unsure just get someone competent enough to do the job rather than frying your engine over a couple of quid and for piece of minds aswell, they do leak from the neck I've seen them rotting away totally as well before good luck mate

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

If you do this, PLEASE search for posts in my name about how to refill without airlocking, since you cannot bleed it once it is.

Or your next posts could be about headgaskets.......

JoeB

@alcazar had a look at the post you mention mate, looks like the job itself isn't to hard, just need to be careful and patient. To be safe i may just let my local Subaru specialist do it as they are not too far away. To get me by, am i alright to top up the header tank with a small amount of distilled water? i don't want to risk putting a different type of coolant in. And would i be wasting my time putting high temp metal sealant around the neck to prevent it from getting worse whilst i source a replacement ?

ZANY

No need to mess about ringing mate get in touch with mattyb and he'll send you one by tomorrow if not day after and he's bang on with his prices helpful chap and if you do attempt to fix be careful of any ****e going in the system , you can use normal tap water to top up but if I was you fill the plastic overflow up that's located on the rad that way less chance of an airlock when taking header tank cap off

Paben

iTrader: (5)

If it's only the neck that's gone I wouldn't bother removing the whole tank. Just take off the three top hoses and swap the top sections, leaving the original tank in place. No worries about airlocks, just don't attempt it when the engine's still hot.

JoeB

It didn't even cross my mind that this could be possible ! if its as easy as it sounds it would defo be the most hassle free way of solving the problem.

JoeB

found this slightly amusing after reading so many posts on how careful you need to be.


oh how they make it seem so straightforward He doesnt even let it burp after filling it up !!