right i changed the coolant hose on the bottom of the header tank yesterday on my 02wrx as i noticed a sligt leak , like a idiot i spilt th colan oer the engine whist fitting the pie back on . well all the coolant in the header tank. thecar drives all ok but im still getting the smell of anti freeze and some smke . it is getting better tho . would this be due to the coolant that spilt over the engine , if so how long ill it lat as it is a bit worrying to be honest
thanks kev

 

Hopefully it is just what you've spilt, have you checked your coolant levels after driving to see if you may have a leak from elsewhere which may be dripping causing the subsequent steam and smell.

On my old uk2000 wagon the seal went on the header tank and it was coming out the back out of sight and causing steam plooming out of the bonnet at junctions.

 

Are you still losing coolant? If not then you know it's the remnants of what was spilt.

 

It will do it for a while, especially if it gets into a few nooks and crannies.
as above, check levels daily.

A VERY small amount of water produces a HUGE amount of steam. When my top-hose pinholed it looked like the car was on fire:eek;
Yet so little water escaped that the coolant level looked OK.

 

i checked the coolant dinertime for the first time since i did the header pipe and it only needed a very small amuont to top it up just drop really . i will check the level again . i hd a lok when i got hme from work and coulnt see any more leaks from it . i even moved the header to look round that

 

the pipe on the header tank was my own fault as i had to take it off when i did the fuel pipes under the inlet manifold

 

It happens. I replaced my rad, top hose LOOKED ok, but manipulating it split is badly inside and it pinholed.

Lucky escape really. It was so split inside it would have gone soon, maybe catastrophically.

 

lol kev you clumsy lol i dont think you have anything to worry about.

 

i hope not **** its the last thing i need at the moment . i got one of my customers bringing me a coolant presure tester tomorrow hopfully . so i can check it out properly .

 

i spent yrs working in a garage and fix family and freinds cars with out a problem but the my scoob constantly has me worried about things lol. i think its that paronoid scooby owner thing we all have

 

yep i know what ya mean mate, im always thinking whens it gonna pop or listening to rattles etc