Do all Imprezas steam a bit more than other cars when we are in zero degrees conditions? I noticed mine started steaming through the exhaust more since it has got cold, and noticed the same from a couple on my journeys. Is this normal?

 

yep, normal on a cold day

 

This is good!! I was worried about the head gasket thing, but looked at the oil filler cap, nothing, and had a look at the coolant. It was down to the empty mark, so i topped it up. Went for a drive and the level had risen just above the full, so obviously the coolant system had hidden a bit in the gubbins until I ran it for a bit. Thanks again Tidgy!!

 

if you stop it and start it again you'll find it kicks out shed loads, well mine does anyway, first noticed it at a rr when it was sat warming up for the power run, was ratehr worried till it ran and all was fine.

but having said that they coolant system so shouldn't go anywhere and stay at the same level, so y is it low? keep an eye on it to see if it drops.

if it does then its leaking from somewhere, might be from a pipe, cracked radiator etc etc so doesn't mean it has to be gasket

 

It re appeared when I went for a run so that was a bit strange. Ref the steam, it is minus 2 here so I guess its the hot g
ases condensing in the air then. As I said, it was ok until it got really cold!!

 

the rad leaking when under pressure?

 

I dont think so. I cant think why the coolant would rise back up again, perhaps trapped other side of a thermostat?? If the rad was leaking it would just drop, wouldn't it?

 

maybe as you say an airlock somewhere

 

water when hot expands so will be higher in system than when cold .

 

My 97 classic steams like mad on cold mornings .It drives fine though and uses no oil or water at the moment . I've always thought it might be something to do with having a bigger exhaust on it (A racebox in my case ) but I'm no expert on temperature and physics