Sorry if this is very basic but I'm not too hot on mechanics

While driving home tonight the temp gauge started to go up towards max, and was running hot until I got home (only 1 mile). It cooled down slightly while moving then back up again in traffic.

I've checked the coolant level and its fine, I checked the rad hoses top and bottom and they were both hot. I put the heater on when it was overheating the air was blowing cold even though the dial was on hot!
I did notice a small amount of coolant had dripped onto the ground before I drove the car home.

Can someone more knowledgable than me please let me know what they think the problem is and if its a DIY job to fix?

Cheers
Kev

 

Has the coolent been changed resently?

Pull your dip stick out and have a look at the colour of the oil?

craig

 

Just been back out to the car and there's coolant all over the floor and the header tank empty....even with my limited knowledge I'm going for a leak in the bottom rad hose. Can't feel any water on the hose but its dripping onto the ground about 6 inches back towards the bottom of the engine.

Any other suggestions?

PS. Oil looks fine.

 

Fill the tank back up and start the car. you need to find out where the leak is!

 

Just had engine running and no obvious sign of big leak.

Only a small drip from behind the bottom rad pipe, can't feel any water on it but its dripping from just behind this pipe. Not sure what the technical name for it is but looks like manifold right at bottom????

Please help me?

 

Could it be a burst rad?

 

I'm going to give up and take it to the garage tomorrow!!

Thanks for the help.

Cheers Kev

 

if its a classic on the original rad then check the plastic endtanks, they split and only leak while hot and under pressure. its a common problem. on mine iit was the drivers side endtank split on a casting mark just below the top rad hose.

 

the top rad hose is also a commen one to go on the classic

 

It sounds like a split radiator hose. The reason your car's overheating is there's no water going through the engine. If there no white in the oil then that's not the head gasket or even worse a cracked cylinder liner. Which believe me is bad!

The radiator hose that connects to the engine has probably split where it connects to the engine not the radiator, from what you said. Hoses diteriate after time and this is especially the case after periods of cold weather conditions. Don't worry this sounds like an easy fix.

I'd strongly advise you not to drive the car because you will damage your engine. New radiators and hoses are cheap compared to new engines!

If your not that good with tools then phone a few "recomended" local garages and get them to collect it. Get them to give you an assessment of the work that needs to be done. I'm sure that it is a split hose.

With all engines, people think the most important thing is power, performance. They change there oil every thousand miles etc...Without efficient cooling (not on about the air )your engine can be destroyed within 20 minutes! Everybody should keep an eye on the temp gauge because if that alters either way you have a problem that can't be ignored.

 

just another tip you might or might not already do.But when you get the problem sorted,go to an auto shop and buy a bottle of Radiator conditioner,it helps to keep your rad and water pump in good condition..

 

My radiator end tank was also split, and as said above, it only leaked when hot and under pressure!! New radiator can be got for under £100 anyway so not too bad!!

 

Most anti freeze today last's for upto 60,000 miles between changes. The reason for this is because they have special balance of corosion and freeze inhabitors measured into them. I would not trust puting anything else into the radiator that was not recomended by subaru.

 

well my mate has got a classic with 105'860 miles,still the same radiator and hoses,working perfectly good.he puts this radiator conditioner in every few months aswell as anti freeze..and you can actually feel the difference in the water if you rub it between your finger's,compared to a radiator that hasn't,ive started to use it like a year ago and it is alot better....

 

Would you trust your mate or a billion dollar car company that has 1000's of people working on coolant properties and it's effects on all the components?

 

I would trust what i have had to deal with and have experienced for myself..and guys that i have known who have owned these type of cars for years..and ive had first hand experience looking and seeing for myself..put it this way if you was dropped into some jungle,,and some weapons company said this is the best machine gun to cope with jungle conditions,,would you say well thats ok then,i trust everything you say about this weapon..you as a person need to get confident in and experience it for yourself..and not trust everything you read from some company manual or facts and figures..the only facts i trust,is what ive experienced with personally..

 

I appoligise to you for sounding rude and I'm not doubting your knowledge of scoobies at all, sorry. Let's hope the guy sorts his problem out with the coolant leak.

 

no problem no offence,you was just saying what's on your mind..i don't get upset if someone tells me im wrong,because they believe there right..i only go from personell experience..now lets crack a few beers open and get drunk..**** i got be up for work in 3 hours,im gonna be knackered

 

Thanks for the quick responses and helpful replies, fingers crossed for a cheap fix!

The car is booked in the garage for Monday and I have the pleasure of driving my FTO for the weekend (so not all bad).

Cheers
Kev

 

Sounds like stuck thermostat not allowing water to circulate, water in engine heats up so temp gauage goes up, heater matrix is after stat so remains cold . because it over heated prob split radiator end caps need new stat and rad , this happened on my 93 wrx . i have had two stats stick shut once when i first got the car just blew rad then 6 years later it stuck again this time blew rad , water pump relief valve lifted so new pump ,and head gasket went . Every time i have replaced with new stat .

i would change the stat as they are only cheap and are classed as a replacement part

Mark