whiffy rad
 

Guys

Bit of an antifreeze smell from the engine bay - get close and its most prevelent around the top hose area.

It was recently at scoobyclinic for a clutch kit and i had the guys pressure check the system and also a sniffer test - both fine.

I have no other symptoms, no water loss, no overheating, no nothing - BUT i have this wiff.

My question is such - can the rad (16 years old) or hoses perish and create vapour leaks in the early stages of failure or does the rad go.

Rather than wait for something visible to develop i wouldnt mind sorting it. What would you recommend? has anyone had any similar experiences?

Many thanks

matt

A hairline crack in the plastic end tanks on a classic is quite a common problem.

Is there and visible residue anywhere around the rad? - can you smell it in the car, or just under the bonnet?

For what a rad costs (circa £50 on ebay) i would be replacing it anyway, especially as it's 16 years old.

hi mate

Thanks for the reply.

No visible residue, but at one point i could smell it in the car and found a drip at the top hose - nipped up and nothing since. No staining or anything. I can smell it inside if i have the window open but when shut and heaters on or off then nothing. Its mainly under the bonnet mate.

I was gonna ask about the £50.00 rads on the bay but wonered if it would be false economy - have you or anyone used them?

thanks again

matt

I'm running one - It's been OK on a 570hp car for over 2 years ;)

Hi mate I had the same problem. Just had my cambelt changed and they left one of the small rubber pipes of the radiator pressure cap. On the way home i had a strong smell of hot anti freeze in the car. Didn't find anything till i got home but anti freeze had been sprayed all over the radiator down the near side. Maybe you could check the small rubber pipe for cracking, perishing etc it's the one that just pushes on right next to the cap on top of the fans.

Can't go wrong here:-

SUBARU IMPREZA / LEGACY 2.0 TURBO BRAND NEW RADIATOR on eBay (end time 20-Jan-10 09:59:30 GMT)

£50... next day del... seller 100% FB... 12mth warranty... money-back if not happy with it.

thanks guys

i have checked all pipes etc - including the one jezza mentioned; but will double check for perishing.

sounds llike a new rad and pipes are in order then - thats the one on ebay i saw too so i will probably go for that one.

Does anyone know of a rad replacement procedure and refill or is it best to get scoobyclinic to do it?

Not afraid to have a bash, but when searching one thing came up often and that was the system is a bugger for airlocking

thanks again

Matt

Read posts #23 and #28 of the below thread for reinstating coolant:-

https://www.scoobynet.com/general-te...erheating.html

thanks for that Joz!

What do you think of these - worth a punt?

SILICONE RADIATOR HOSE KIT SUBARU IMPREZA WRX/STI GC8 on eBay (end time 20-Jan-10 18:38:44 GMT)

thanks

Yeah they'll be fine.... I don't think Britain has seen -50deg since the last ice age; plus a healthy coolant system shouldn't ever see temps over 100deg in extremis, either lol

I bought a cheapo (£20!) silicone top and bottom hose set of unknown brand - been on the car for about 1.5-2yrs with no probs so far. :thumb: