Spent today at work in a foul mood and depressing myself in my lunch hour searching various threads on here going back years... my MY99's started losing a little coolant. Not much, just a little - first noticed a week ago when the heater wasn't blowing as hot as it should, and a quick check revealed low coolant levels. On my 62 mile daily commute it's using about half a litre every four days or so. No steam from exhaust, still runs sweet and boosts fine. Just a slight coolant loss. Am taking it to a local garage tomorrow to get them to do a test... think the local MOT garage to me has some sort of gas testing device that will tell you if it's the gasket. The HG would have been changed just over a year ago when the cambelt was done, so it surprises me a bit, but it's got 105k on the clock now - I do 25k a year in it. No emulsion round oil cap, and oil level looks fine, no sign of water. Could it just be a leak, I'm thinking hopefully...although I can't spot one. If it's the HG I'll take it to Len at Subaru4you... couldn't come at a worse time for me financially. Life sucks sometimes!

Am I being pessimistic?.. try and cheer me up, it's been a crap week all round!

 

maybe just a split hose mate.

just had a fully reconed engine fitted in mine 'cos the head gasket went

 

That is my worst nightmare mate.... I have had a few go on me on other cars I have had.....

I know how you feel

 

Yeah there's a test the garage can do by putting a device on the rad' cap which checks to see if any combustion gases (CO I think) are leaking back into the coolant through a tear in the gasket. It's not expensive but is not 100% accurate. Hope it's just a dodgy hose connection though. Good luck. dl

 

Hooray! Just had the CO gas test done at the local garage, system pressurised etc - it's NOT the head gasket, it's a small leak from the 'rad, which I should have suspected first really as it does look a bit old and ropey - almost certainly still the original radiator. Ordered a new one in at £175 plus labour - probably over the odds but I need it done quick as I need the car for work. Very relieved it's not the head gasket.

 

Bit of a relief despite needing a new rad'

Renewing gaskets is expensive in labour terms and head/s might have needed skimming so the dollars add up. I should know - just had it done on a 205 td!!

dl

 

mine was the same,suspected the rad as its a common thing,but couldnt see any leaks,added some radweld and no loss of coolant since...... will get a new one come the next service.