Dave Y

iTrader: (52)

i pulled up at work left the car ticking over whilst i fired up the truck.I noticed the fan kicked in but was making a noise like a dry bearing i could smell hot coolant. I switched it off and popped the bonnet i could see coolant over the two fans but on the underside of the bonnet above the air intake pipe was a small spray line 6" left to right of oil.A puddle of coolant was forming underneath 9" circle.Does this sound like head gasket problems.I cant investigate till i get back on friday.

Alan Jeffery

A head gasket problem is where the coolant is forced out under pressure that's leaking into the system via a faulty gasket.
You may have that issue you may not.
Check the coolant level, top it up if you have to, then run the engine until it warms up. check the radiator end caps as they often leak, plus the water pump. The oil spraying on the bonnet may be from the power steering reservoir, another common fault.
Basically, check everything!

Dave Y

iTrader: (52)

the rad was brand new 3 weeks ago.it seems a hell of a coincidence to have two things go wrong at the same time.Before i drove the 36 miles to work checked oil and water both ok.Water temp on the way to work as per normal.

rossyboy

iTrader: (8)

Sounds similar to when my radiator top hose failed - pin hole in it that sprayed coolant everywhere and dropped a puddle on the ground. Not sure about the oil though?

Whats the age of the car?

Dave Y

iTrader: (52)

its an 04 WRX. I will have to get a new fan anyway because of the noise it was making

ukimpreza

iTrader: (9)

id guess at possible top hose leak it could of got pinched from jubilee clip and put pin hole in it.

Dave Y

iTrader: (52)

if it is the headgasket what sort of price am i looking at?is it a major job?

happydude303

iTrader: (1)

about a grand not cheap and if your doing the heads you might as well do the bottom end bearings it want coast you that much more maybe another 400 on top

Dave Y

iTrader: (52)

£1000 to do the headgasket?is that a diy job?What do the specialists charge?

andy-m

iTrader: (1)

engine has to come out for head gaskets, thats why its so much

Dave Y

iTrader: (52)

btt

Dave Y

iTrader: (52)

what else should i be looking to replace whilst engine is out?

andy-m

iTrader: (1)

lightened flywheel & uprated clutch if you are planning to go for more power down the line would be easy to do while the engine was out

Baz82

Its the labour charges as the engine has to come out and there is a lot of stripping involved man.If your anyway mechically minded Id be doing it myself

Dave Y

iTrader: (52)

so if it is the headgasket thats £1000 approx.clutch+flywheel,£600 if i am lucky.Tgv deletes + manifold powder coated.Anything else???

Dave Y

iTrader: (52)

Btt

Dave Y

iTrader: (52)

Panic over,it was a split top hose.I didnt have any spanners till today to take the air intake off.So i was 36 miles from home and needed a top hose.
Scoobyprojects...no joy
Powerstation couldnt get one till saturday
Ian Litchfield came up trumps.
I may not be his biggest paying customer but Ian got me out of the s--t...Thankyou Ian

The Zohan

make sure you bleed it properly with the heater set to hot and check the coolant levels once you have taken it on a 30m run and again a few days later - unless you do long journeys in which case check sooner.

also have a good look at the other hoses while you are at it. if one is on the way out it could be others are ready to let go.

Dave Y

iTrader: (52)

Have to put a new fan in today plus changing coolant will have a good look then.

Dave Y

iTrader: (52)

as far as i could tell everything was fine,feeling a bit paranoid now thinking what else will go wrong.

happydude303

iTrader: (1)

just keep your eye on the water level every day for the next week or so and make sure you bleed it good

Dave Y

iTrader: (52)

it needed a very small drop this morning,temp gauge in usual place.Fingers crossed.

rossyboy

iTrader: (8)

Its not often I'm able to diagnose a technical fault, so I may aswell bask while I can