greenprodrive

Weird problem.

Driving around, and temp guage behaves normally , i.e. climbs to just below half, and stays there.

However, Water is being lost from the "overflow" pipe, which is fitted to the small plastic filler affair, (with the yellow top) , near the front l.h.s. of the engine. (Left hand side from drivers perspective).

I can tell, because when I stop , water is spurting from this pipe.

It had NEW HEAD gasket, New thermostat, and new radiator 5000 miles ago.

(Incidentally, when I touch the fat rubber radiator pipes (top one on drivers rhs, and bottom one on drivers lhs ), both are very hot.

Also - when the water is spurting out , the electric fan is still off (I presume cos the temp guage is "normal").

I wonder .. could it be water pump ? (I had one of these go on a clio , and it made loads of "broken bits" sounds , however, not hearing any abnormal sounds from the scoob.

Thoughts ?????


Thanks - Mark

Jolly Green Monster

iTrader: (4)

head gaskets I would suspect unfortunatly.. get a pressure test of check for carbon in the coolant test done.

Simon

bruce

iTrader: (5)

I'd take your car to Len at Subaru4You http://www.subaru4you.co.uk, he will be able to do the tests.

greenprodrive

Obviously it's not good if it's gasket, as these were done 5000 miles ago.

How come the temp guage stays "normal" ?

Thanks - Mark

911

It will untill there is no water passing around the sensor which will eventually be the case.
I would follow the advise above.
Graham

ps I've been down the gasket route myself. Why do you say 'gasket' and not 'gaskets'? I hope both were done at the time.
One of mine was bad and the other on its way! (Sti v3 My 97)

greenprodrive

Yes , I mis-typed. The gasketS were done 5000 miles ago.

So .. let me get this straight.

Temp sensor , perfectly normal. So .. why does hot water spurt out of the overflow ?

Thanks - Mark

Andy McCord

You are leaking compressed air from your cylinders into your coolant system, hence the pressure build up in your coolant system, which has to escape somewhere.

Andy

Jolly Green Monster

iTrader: (4)

is water flowing out on idle or just noticing a wet patch after driving it?

they sometimes kick out water to find a level.. but only usually when driving hard, if it is flowing out of idle then you have a head gasket problem.

Moondingo

Ok, I am experiencing the same problem. In unbelievably the same type of car and same colour. tho i am only losing water after really aggressive driving. its fine during idle but after i read this i am starting to get worried.

The water vapour i am getting is coming off my drivers side, from the radiator itself.

i only notriced it last week after i went a bit mental after i broke a fog light cover from making a pidgeon disintergrate. (just to note the pidgeon hit the passenger side not drivers)
I have topped the coolant up and i haven't had anymore leaks until today when i gave her a fast blast down some back roads. is this normal?

And if i have blow a head gasket how much does it usually cost for the repair?

Jolly Green Monster

iTrader: (4)

sounds more like you have a hairline crack in the plastic end tank of the radiator

jaytc2003

iTrader: (1)

second the crack in the rad, specially after giving it a bit, speak from experience

Moondingo

Just had a mate from work take a look. He races supra's and pointed out that there's residue in the coolant filler which looks like radiator sealant. would this cause the ater pressure to increase?

Sti97wagon

I had the same problem, but it was due to over filling.....

Once the water found its level it stopped leaking.

And yes levels are all correct now...

Jolly Green Monster

iTrader: (4)

wouldnt expect it to be flowing out the overflow on idle though? was it?

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Easiest way to check for a head gasket leak is to use a methane meter, if it picks methane up then your head gasket is seriously suspected, otherwise it could be as innocent as an airblock from the original coolant refill after your last head gasket replacement.

Tony

Bob Rawle

The temp indicator reads normal from 68 to 106 degt C so its no guide, merely an indicator.

Head gasket(s) are almost certainly gone, or you have a cracked head.

There is one simpler explaination worth checking and that could just be your header tank pressure cap is faulty so try another before you get "all expensive".

Basics first.

bob

wrxtreme96

just another thought also...
recently had the head gasket fail on the wife's MGF..easy to spot since pull out the engine oil dipstick..it has milky mayonaise residue and a few bubbles on it...
Could the same check be caried out on a subaru...???

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Having a head gasket go doesnt necessarily mean that you will get milky residue in the oil.
Head gasket failure is just that, a failure at any point in the gasket, it could be across 2 internal points or internal to external.
Air is the biggest givaway along with methane if its breached water/oil so doing all the basics first will and can save you some serious cash.

Tony

Sti97wagon

No, it wasn't at idle. only after a run i would notice water for a couple of days

then it would clear

Alan wrx-sti

I had the same sort of problem with my sti v3 about 9 month ago, temp in the car was fine but after a run or any time the car went into boost coolant would be lost out of the expander tank - and turned out head gaskets had gone!!!!

If it is your gaskets be carefull with your heater matrix as that can be the next thing to go if the heads have gone a knock on effect - nines months later my heater matrix has just gone coolant all over the passanger foot well not good.

ADAM (trpe r)

i have the same problem i`ve replaced the header cap with no joy so its got to be air lock water pump or head gasket let me know how you get on
adam

scoobfan

Without a doubt, it's the head gaskets.

Same happened to my wagon, sorry.

Rob

Moondingo

Ok. after reading the thread and seeing the replies i got my Scooby checked.
Found out i had a broken radiator and when the engine was underpressure it was leaking quite a bit.

£310 later i have a nicely fixed scooby (included a service) and shes as fast as ever.

Thanks guys owe you one!