jason62

iTrader: (2)

Hi guys,

Need a bit of advice please, I had grey water in my expansion tank before.
Had the system flushed and refilled, but then the rad started leaking ( local mechanic not use to subarus I think )
So changed and refilled it my self at Christmas, all was well till a few days ago.
Noticed black stuff in expansion bottle, but was worse today as fluid reached the black stuff.
So has mixed.
Also noticed black stuff around rad and expansion tank caps, but this is hard. Not oily, and have to scrape it off.
( like its a burn/scorch mark)
Any advice would be much appreciated, before I have to spend £50 fuel on a visit to Fb tuning.



Wasn't this bad yesterday, as it hadn't mixed.










Car is a 56 plate uk Sti spec d, 91 on the clock.
But had the head and cosworth gaskets done around 50k ( I think )
No mayo residue in oil, or dip stick.

Coolant is still is usual pinkish colour, apart from expansion bottle as you can see.
Ain't a clue what it is, and first time I've paid this much attention to something like this to notice black stuff on the caps.

Gambit

iTrader: (6)

Mine was like that also (also a Spec D) and its because of a previous failed headgasket and nobody bothered to clean out the expansion bottle. id say the same with the rad cap.

i tried cleaning it out but still was a mess, then eventually just bought a 2nd hand one that was clean and never had an issue again.

also the level rises & drops in the expansion bottle depending on coolant/engine temp so dont be worried about it being up & down the levels

Norman Dog

iTrader: (1)

Had exactly the same with mine, car had a new HG in 2010 so I'm guessing mine wasn't cleaned out properly either.

Thought the HG was on the way out again but it turned out to be the thermostat and both rubber seals perishing on the header tank / radiator caps. Was relieved to say the least.

jason62

iTrader: (2)

Thanks guys

Even I was worried that the head gasket was on its way out again.
When I got the car, the fella pointed out that the expansion bottle was nice and clean.
Not like some other subarus out there, ( he was a ex subaru main dealer mechanic in Cardiff)
I had to change the rad at Christmas, And I noticed the expansion bottle had grey sludge in there.
Told this was due to hard water, as car had no antifreeze.
So it was cleaned out, but now has this black crap in it.
Was gonna take the stat out and flush it, will still do that and check the cap.
Thanks again

jason62

iTrader: (2)

Thanks guys

Even I was worried that the head gasket was on its way out again.
When I got the car, the fella pointed out that the expansion bottle was nice and clean.
Not like some other subarus out there, ( he was a ex subaru main dealer mechanic in Cardiff)
I had to change the rad at Christmas, And I noticed the expansion bottle had grey sludge in there.
Told this was due to hard water, as car had no antifreeze.
So it was cleaned out, but now has this black crap in it.
Was gonna take the stat out and flush it, will still do that and check the cap.
Thanks again