I have a 96 sti waggon and it is loosing water out of the overflow in the wing reservoir. (I think) drive like miss dazy and it's ok. Give it some stick for a few minutes and engine coolant is all dripping from the under side of car. When you stop and look cant see where it is coming from? Any ideas anyone pleeeeease

 

common sign of HG failure - get a sniff test or compression test done to confirm.

 

that might also explain the under dash leak you had as if system was over pressurising it could of been losing coolant at the heater matrix pipes etc

 

Is it wet by the passenger footwell .

 

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

 

Thanks for your replies. I was thinking head gasket but hoping not. I think it is two separate issues only leaking on the drivers side under the dashboard and its more of an oily iiquid.

 

The external coolant leak is my main concern at the moment.

 

Yes but the heater matrix leak has probably starved the engine of coolant, causing it to overheat and blow the head gaskets. Then you find that coolant if being forced out the expansion tank as the combustion chamber pressure is mixing with the coolant.

You can't ignore the heater matrix leak and this must be fixed before changing the head gaskets.

 

That could possibly be brake fluid from the master cylinder.

best bet is to get it up in the air on a ramp with the engine running and see where the leak is that way.

 

i dont think there is a problem with the heater matrix as I believe that is on the passenger side??? And the liquid is more oily than coolant.

 

Take the cap off the expansion tank and run the engine until warm.
If you notice bubbling up (be careful - the coolant could/would shoot out like one of those volcanic mud baths) then it's another sign of hg failure.

 

It was bubbling up the other day probably a week ago after giving it some stick on my way to work. Been taking it fairly easy since and it hasn't lost any water in 7 days.does this still sound like a head gasket to u ??

 

Yes.

I'd say give it a bit of wellie on a run and it will overheat, then after a few miles suddenly drop into normal.

(Note - not suggesting you do anything to make matters worse. If it 'overheats' then you certainly have all the symptoms and in all probability a blown hg.)

This is how my 95 WRX told me it was knackered.

 

Stop wriggling and get a sniff test done!

 

This comment sounds like it should be in the Adult forum.