hhhmmmm the plot thickens..............

Just been out to have a look, it's drawing coolant back in as it should be whilst it's cooling down. I did a very un technical test of quickly and firmly squeezing the upper rad hose and I'm fairly sure I can hear something passing the rad cap on the radiator itself, so maybe it's that cap that's gone bad. It's a genuine Subaru one but it's been on there for years. Need the let it draw everything back in and cool off fully before I have a look.

Let it warm up take wee hose off that goes to expansion tank fit big long hose onto header tank route up to p/s wiper shut bonnet and take it for a run on boost. If there's any problems as such it will pish out the hose onto the windscreen.

It's not pushing coolant at all really. I've only got a small expansion tank on as it's got a Front mount on it. It would very quickly overflow out of it.

Your missing the point here completely read it again. Let it warm up (so it has built pressure) then do as above and on boost if any problems it will pish out of wee hose on windscreen.

I've had a head gasket failure before on my 2.1, I know exactly what you're saying and get your point don't worry.

I have a spare plastic header tank form my MY15 STI if you need one. Bought a brand new one for my car and it turned out it wasn't the header tank at fault, so old one is now spare.

Do the pipes connect up in the same location? If so I'd have it.

Not 100% sure, but I can have a look. I believe so yes, on the top they look the same, but I believe the bottom mounting bracket may be in a slightly different location which is why they were a different part number from Newage to MY15 cars. Will try find out.

OK cool, if you just PM me some pics of it I'd be able to figure it out I think. Mine only mounts via the top 2 bolts to the inlet manifold anyway.

I think all the pipes are in the same place and top mounts too.

2002-2007 newage:
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...bee44d2912.jpg

2015-2018 STI:
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...d0b477ae6b.jpg

Bottom pipe not shown is definitely the same as the newage one. I'm almost 100% sure it will fit.

Will take some pics later and PM you mate.

Managed to fix it. It's not the headgasket... Something really simple and stupid, essentially Mishimoto with their quality products striking again. The only thing I kept from their ****ty tank was the cap and it's what has caused the problems!

Basically the tangs that hold the cap down had bent away which meant the cap wasn't being held down with the required force so the spring wasn't preloaded etc hence why the pressure was weak in the system and it was expanding more than it should etc. 5 mins with a hammer to knock the tangs back to where they should be and it's sorted. Taken it out and given it some boost etc and it's back to normal. No bubbles, overflow level is where it should be etc all perfect again. 🤦

That's great news mate. Mishomoto truly make some awful stuff dont they. Get rid of it and get a sti cap on there mate and make sure you tell them aswell.

****ing cowboys..........

This is why I read these threads. All that hassle all because a crap header tank cap.

Possibly.

Still doesn't explain the black flakes/particles in the header tank, which I think are early signs of head gasket unfortunately. Should not be any particles in there if it's a healthy sealed system.

Bubbles are back today... Getting a few fairly large bubbles come through to the overflow just before the fan kicks in. Then fan kicks in and they stop.

Overflow level is normal, it's not raising. I'm getting a pretty good whiff of coolant from around the passenger side front corner down by the lower rad hose, I think I've got a leak somewhere. When I first put the engine in the 2 small hoses that go to the thermostat housing were leaking. Wondering if they're leaking again. Obviously if coolant can get out, air can get in.

I think these may be paint from the header tank.

Found a leak... There's a build up of coolant crystals under the top rad hose where it connects to the coolant crossover pipe by the power steering pump. It's running down the cam covers and onto the exhaust from what I can see. So that would explain the smell and most probably the bubbles. Going to investigate further tomorrow. The coolant level has also dropped ever so slightly in the header tank by a few mm.

Ah phew. Thank god.

Good news that you've found it mate. Fingers crossed.

Sorted the top rad hose, I put the hose on before I dropped the engine in and thought it would be a good idea to face the jubilee clamp towards the power steering punp 🤣.

Was a ball ache to get to but I managed it with many many little turns with a 7mm spanner. Spun the clamp around so I can now get in from the side and tightened it up and no more leak .Running it up to temp in the garage it bubbled a bit at first out of the overflow as the air came out then after a few times of the fans cycling on and off its stopped, revved it up etc and no bubbles. So hopefully it's sorted again 😂 .

Just need to take it for a run and put some boost in to full check.

Good news. :thumb:

Took it for a run and boosted the **** out of it. Had a bit of smoke off the exhaust where I'd spilt coolant sorting the hose out but it's all good. No more bubbles or leaky coolant smell 😀. Cooling system is finally back to normal after chasing **** around!

everybody go about your business! Nothing to see here!

Good news :)

result there buddy, happy for you that its not head-gasket issues

any updates on this scotty?

I've bought a new Daily, Merc W209 CLK55 AMG 🤣. Means my E46 330cd is up for sale. If anyone is looking for a fast reliable daily that's good in fuel they're pretty damn good!

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F 123662659451

What's going on with the wagon mate

OK BMW sold fairly easily 😁. Now that's out of the way time for an update on the Subaru.

​​​​​I hadn't actually used it for about 6 weeks as I've been V8 blasting all over the place in the AMG. Stuck it on charge over Friday and it fired right up good as gold Saturday morning, although the handbrake had stuck on the passenger rear wheel so it dragged its arse out of the garage until it broke free 🤣. . Took it for a run to get it warm and did the oil and oil filter on it. Oil had only done about 1100 miles but it had been in there around 6 months.

Took it out for a proper blast today, you forget the absolute savagery the car can unleash if you've not driven it for a while 🤣🤣. I think I may have a Cv joint starting to go out on the front left as I'm getting a funny rotational noise whilst driving and some light clicking noises which get worse at slow speed with steering lock on. But I need to have a proper look.

So next jobs for the car are investigate that noise, I also want to relocate the battery to the boot and fit a swirl pot / tank in place of the battery as the fuel surge with anything less than half a tank can be pretty bad. I also need to replace the gearbox mount as the gearbox is bouncing up and down a fair amount causing the exhaust to hit and rub on things. I've got a group N mount I've had for ages I just haven't got round to fitting it.

I'm assuming I'll need a map tweak after sorting the Swirl pot out due to the injectors being fed from a different pump also.

Other than that it's all good, think I might start swapping some of the suspension arms etc as they're probably getting a little tired.

good to see you posting again buddy, is everything ok with the engine now?