will_wrx

I have a 1995 Turbo 2000 wagon which I am trying to return to its former glory, but not having much luck so far.

I thought the headgasket may have gone, but I'm actually leaking ALOT of water from the radiator.

There is no other symptoms at all, doesnt get hot etc, doesnt smoke when warmed up, it does when cold if I rev it but soon clears when car warms.

The only little niggle I have..

I dont understand cooling systems at all so I'm not sure if this is normal on an Impreza like this..

But where the radiator cap is on that little metal tank, if i open it when cold from start up and leave the lid off, water sprays from what looks like a tiny hose going to the radiator the more I rev it the harder the water sprays, would this be down to headgasket? or is this normal?

The car can sit forever idling without getting hot, fan eventually kicks in, no smoke no matter how long it idles, but it just leaks alot of water from the bottom of the radiator..

Could I just have a leaky rad or do I have a blown gasket?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thankyou.

fastboyslim

iTrader: (2)

I just got the same on my V2 STi. This tip from Slowboy-racing: You should also be seeing bubbles in the header tank at this point if its head gasket related. A cheap test for you is to run the expansion tank pipe straight from the header tank to the windscreen area by the wiper blade visible from the driver seat.

When the car is up to temp take it for a quick blast, the more load or boost you give the engine the more you should see coolant been blown out of the pipe, this will give you some idea to what degree the gasket is failing.

will_wrx

Ahh right, I dont really get any bubbles, its just spraying in.

Thats cool, I will be trying that test later!

So I take it I'm definitly looking at headgasket if there is water being sprayed into header tank?



Thanks for your reply,

fastboyslim

iTrader: (2)

I am having the same thing and the car is booked in for a head gasket job for the 10th of next month. Am scraping all my cash together so see if i can get a 2.5 conversion done rather. It might be 3 times more expensive but i am sure it will save me in the long run.

will_wrx

How much have they quoted you for the gasket change mate?

fastboyslim

iTrader: (2)

Mine is working out £1200 but there is a gearbox change with that. I believe the going rate at a dealer is 17 hours labour. Not my words so could be wrong. Its a load of work. Engine out, heads off, sent away to be skimmed, gaskets, bolt together, engine back in.....

A new 2.5 conversion is just shy of £4000 so i am still trying to get a hold of the cash so i can rather do the conversion than the head job. I hope i can.

will_wrx

Ah right, going to be breaking the bank for me pretty much then, Lol.

I've just been out and revved the car with header tank lid off, it sprays in slightly harder the more revs I give and it doesnt really bubble, the water spraying in just causes the water to look like fizzy? Like I've just shaken up a bottle of drink and its got little white fizzing in it, but when I stop revving it this clears away.

fastboyslim

iTrader: (2)

Mine only does it on boost so with all the revving in the world i could not see any pressure in the overflow bottle. Thats why you need to do the water pipe to your windscreen test. This is my first turbo'ed car but i think a turbo needs vacuum from the motor that does not happen when been revved so no major leak. I am sure someone will explain that better, sorry.

will_wrx

I had no pressure at all in my overflow bottle, that makes no bubbles nothing?! (if by overflow bottle you mean the little washer bottle type thing next to the battery?

fastboyslim

iTrader: (2)

Thats the little bottle i am speaking about but like i said you can rev til you blue in the face, its only under boost. The bubbles are in the header tank though, mine are really fine ones.

Check my original post and some of the help i got. https://www.scoobynet.com/general-te...k-picture.html

dj219957

flow into the header tank is normal. it shows the water pump is working.
if you can see water leaking at the rad then its time for a new rad (the end tanks split)
I doubt you have a failed gasket.

e6tony

iTrader: (1)

people water has to spray into the header tank as someone has said! it does not mean you have a headgasket problem,sounds like you need to replace your rad and all will be good!

dj219957

bubbles are not always indicative of a gasket failure either!
mine chucks little bubbles into the expansion bottle after a good run. its just localised boiling as it comes out of the header tank (when it leaves the header tank it is no longer under pressure and so it boils).

e6tony

iTrader: (1)

will usualy have more symptoms than just bubbles in the header tank,more like a boiling fountain

will_wrx

Thankyou so much both of you, put a bit of hope in it for me! Lol.

I'll be changing rad this week, hopefully that will sort it, as I dont really get any other symptoms but leaking all over the place.

dj219957

yeh a fountain and overflow of bubbles is head gasket. good luck mate. the rad is an easy job to do. make sure though you fill the rad VERY slowley otherwise you will trap air in there. You need fill it slow enough to hear it burb as you fill it.

will_wrx

I dont have any of that, just leaking from rad.

Awesome, thanks again mate, hopefully the rad cures it!

fastboyslim

iTrader: (2)

That would be sweet if its just a radiator! Where did you say you can see the leak, is it by the battery side?

fastboyslim

iTrader: (2)

Got blown head gasket on drivers side, small bubbles and i mean very small bubbles on idle and and no fountain. Under boost there is the fountain that you speak of oh yes.

will_wrx

I hope so mate!

The leak is on the drivers side at the very bottom of the radiator. But then I have seen it come out of the overflow before, but that was when I filled it right up to the top of the expansion and then it overflowed for a little while. Not seen water come out of that since I overfilled it.

dunx

iTrader: (3)

YET ! swap the rad.

IMHO

dunx

fastboyslim

iTrader: (2)

Should be good. Radiator cant be that expensive!