Hey, my car has been fully built and mapped for a month now and I am getting steam from the bonnet after giving it some beans, it only happens when it's seen boost and it's okay under normal driving conditions. I'm pretty sure it's coolant as it has that sweet burnt smell and looks like it's coming from the underside of the turbo.
Car is a 2003 wrx with a
td05 20g
headers and up pipe then from the turbo back exhaust
sti pink injectors
Exedypink box anand act billet flywheel
EWalbro pump
Sytec fuel pressure regulator

Other than the excessive steam when it's had boost and I have come to a junction the car drives fine with no loss of coolant or abnormal water/oil/readings or levels.
NMy initial thoughts are a split water return hose from the turbo?

Any advice?

 

Yeah the water hose from the turbo to the header tank (i.e. the return hose) is the usual culprit.

 

Is the exhaust wrapped? Is it using coolant?

 

Check the banjo's on the turbo and also the big pipe that joins the header tank to the turbo water feed.

If i squeezed the hose on mine at the header end it would weep. Pulled the hose off and the black paint had all bubbled up casing a poor seal. Rubbed it down with emery tape and its fine now.

 

Okay I will check the banjos tomorrow that seems like the obvious. Maybe even a split pipe that looks OK but has enough room to spray a little coolant causing the steam?

 

whip off the under panel and clean it as ive had it before when i used to run plastic guard, got exhaust up to temp and it would burn the soaked cover

 

The exhaust is wrapped but I have already gone through the bedding in phase.
It's not going through any coolant, that's why I think it may be a split pipe that is spraying a small amount when expanding then resealing when it cools!?

 

Check the ones off the header first when hot. Give them a squeeze where they clamp on. Thats where mine was dribbling a small ammount. Engine cold it was mpossible to see. I only found out what it was by chance. I didnt have steam tho, just a very slight smell with the blowers on sometimes.

 

Ok but the headers/exhaust do get wet. I. Always get steam from mine after a heavy down pour of rain

 

Turns out that it is the water return pipe, it's split just before the tubby and only squirts when moved by hand so I moved the clip down a bit to cover the hole until I get the new one fitted on Tuesday.
Happy days :-D