Hi guys scratching my head a bit, water flowing out the overflow tank at an alarming rate, heaters are hot, does not overheat until water has depleted enough, fans kick in ok. When car gets up to temperature and watch overflow tank it's bubbling like a goodun like air/water is leaking past rad cap on tickover!
The rad pipes don't seem to be over pressurised ie not rock hard, am thinking/hoping dodgy rad cap , just wondered if there has been other experiences with this,
Cheers in advance

 

93 jdm wrx bye the way

 

Bubbling in the overflow does that mean hg on the way out

 

Trying to think possative lol,

 

Get it sniff tested to be sure.

 

I've heard sniff test doesn't allways show up, is a engine compression test not a better way to find shot hg !?!

 

its the headgasket.....sorry

 

I don't think u can just assume hg, if water is by passing rad cap but rad pipes still feel relatively soft then to me that's say weak spring, why do people allways assume the worst lol

 

at least try a cap first. i have a spare 0.9 bar calsonic cap. want it? free just pay for post and packaging

 

Cheers for offer bud , but I just ordered a 1.3 bar cap, I'll give that a go if not I got a cheap wrx for sale

 

I had the same as you described and did turn out to be head gasket

I took it to my local garage for a sniffer test and they said it come back ok but when stripped down by a specialist the failure was clear to see.

 

Always worth trying a cap first but what you describe is usually HG failure. An expensive job to do properly. Often the sniff test does not work on a Scooby,I wouldn't bother.
Good luck with the cap.

 

How much did it cost you for the whole job?

 

What about compression test would that show hg

 

I got the whole engine rebuilt in the end but was quoted around 1k for just head gasket if i remember rightly as it was a few years ago now.

 

Head gasket should cost around £700. Try the cap first though as the failed head gasket usually causes the pipes to go hard due to the engine gasses pressurising the coolant system. Fingers crossed!!

 

That was the local subaru stealers that quoted me that hence why i went to a scoob specialist.

 

Update, drove 20 miles to work fine popped bonnet , overflow bubblein but also noticed the top of the header tank was wet aspecially in the front two corners and under the metal trim around the tank, if there is a leak there would this be a suspect ?

 

im not sure mate

but if you need a new header tank i got a MY00 Header tank and im in essex worth a try

Pm me if your interested

darcy

 

same symptoms as mine had. did sniff test and instantly showed combustion gasses in with the water. fingers crossed for you tho chap, was a sad day for me when it was confirmed

removing the engine isn't too hard tbh, lifts straight up and out and nothing was too hard to get at or off apart from exhaust nuts and bolts

 

Check one of the pipes on top the header tank hasnt cracked where they join the tank lid. Ive had this happen twice

 

Just an update new cap , thermostat , temp switch ,full coolant flush n everything spot on,should never assume hg all you scaremungerers lol, cheers for advise tho once again you can always rely on scoobynetters