water problem

[Marcus axtell]

Hi I am New to this site not long Got my second Scooby and it's got this really funny water problem did not no if any one had this happen befor car never runs no more the normal temp which is good normal drive in fine but when I give it a boot full it gets air in it and water comes out the overflow tank the engine is not std full forged metal head gaskets and ihi 22 turbo

[Marcus axtell]

Can any one help

[Scooby Pete]

I'm no expert but I would say you have a leak somewhere in the cooling System, check you rad hoses and the water pipes that feed the turbo.

 

My classic had a similar problem in that ticking over it would be fine but as soon as you drove it, the temp would shoot up and the system would boil over. This was all down to a tiny split in the top hose that would expand under presure and leak.

 

Hopefully some one more techincal may be able to shed some light on it.

[dogma1]

do u hav a split in the rad itself at the plastic area at the side. I had this but leaked from that area not the over flow tank. the split expanded with temp of car. I would say this was a sign of the head gone or air lock but both I would say easy to tell and bet you checked and I am telling you how to suck eggs. but keep us informed as am very interested in what this is. ;)   

[Scooby Pete]

Doh Forgot about the rad, could be a pin hole in the rad.

Not saying Dogma is scaremongering, I heard all the stories of the head gasket going or warped heads, I also spent ages refilling the system trying to cure an airlock, but as I said it was a tiny pinhole leak in the end.

Just get the car up to temp and pressure and spend time looking for leaks. I have a head gasket sniffer test I bought and never used, happy to sell it on to someone who needs it.

[Exup1000]

Yeah mate do what Pete said first.but I've done quite a few head gaskets in my younger days and it sounds like it but we all hope it isn't good luck mate and think about things logically.

Ps) how do check for creamy oil in the head on the flat fours ?

[Scooby Pete]

Check the cam breather pipe?

[Exup1000]

Coarse

[dogma1]

do u hav an alloy header tank or a grey/black polly one. if so it could be the alloy gasket or the black one is very weak on a whole watch taking pipes off that as I snapped two just tightening them. also have you checked the washer on the lid of the header tank could be getting to temp and just blowing water out. 

[Marcus axtell]

Done Most of them things put a new 1.5 bar top on it the car never over heats no problems with normal drive in its just when you really open her up

[Jay762]

as you are generating more heat / pressure when you put your foot down you could be stretching a split hose or expanding metal enough that a hole is created particularly with mating surfaces - if the rad and all the associated plumbing are sound you will need to investigate the head

[dogma1]

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2177491 this could help.

[dogma1]

could be the thermostat and crap in the pipes. 

[Jay762]

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2177491 this could help.

 

just been through this and the additional link referenced in the above thread

 

http://www.iwsti.com/forums/2-5-liter-litre-factory-motor/95480-update-overheating-pushing-coolant-change-head-gaskets.html

 

your symptoms match the guys describing stud stretching under load and subsequent head gasket failure - Of the examples given continued spirited / track driving caused warped and cracked heads.

 

The solution given is to tear down the engine replace the studs with ARP / Cosworth items torque up to the correct amount check the heads for warpage and rebuild with new gaskets

[Jay762]

There are also many references to the standard water pump cavitating at high revs as it is overdriven by the belt, first time I had read that (I knew about the oil pumps)

[dogma1]

yep I saw that but didn't want to say anything now was letting him work through the could be to the OMG nooooooo's.... :( I also think their talking about high end tracked cars which have a newer 2.5 engine. I put it up just for pointers. so start at the pipes and rad then work to the more expensive things.  

[Scooby Pete]

I'd replace ethe thermostat anyway, I had one that looked like it worked ok when testing in the kettle, but wasn't opening fully when in the car. At £30 its one of the cheaper things to eliminate.

[Jay762]

yep I saw that but didn't want to say anything now was letting him work through the could be to the OMG nooooooo's.... :( I also think their talking about high end tracked cars which have a newer 2.5 engine. I put it up just for pointers. so start at the pipes and rad then work to the more expensive things.  

 

Thats true - they seemed for the most part to be 2.5l engines although the tune and work varied from car to car.

 

 

I'd replace ethe thermostat anyway, I had one that looked like it worked ok when testing in the kettle, but wasn't opening fully when in the car. At £30 its one of the cheaper things to eliminate.

 

 

WRT Petes post here, is there a flow around the tubes as if the thermostat is not opening that could cause the water in the rad to boil through heat transfer alone from the engine when you are giving it the berries

[Miggs]

Go for as many of the cheaper bits to replace first, best way to look at it is

If the head gaskets are gone or the heads warped are you going to fix it or sell it, if your willing to do gaskets them go for thermostat, sensors, pipes, caps that kinda thing

If all that's done and still nothing, get a pressure tester that screws into the spark plug holes, if there's a massive deviation between pots then it's a head issue

The heads are know to split round where the plugs go but this will only be visible when removed

A tip for getting an airlock out is cut the bottom of a 2 litre bottle, put insulation tape round the threads where the cap goes and make it a snug fit into the expansion tank, run the engine and fill the bottle, wait till fans have kicked in and give it a couple of minutes after that before you remove the bottle, always keep the bottle topped up, once done that should get shut of the air in the aystem

[Jay762]

WRT the compression or leakdown test suggested, that may not show up an issue if it is head lift as the problem will only manifest itself under the heavy driving loads you described

 

A leakdown is preferential to a compression test as it doesn't rely on cranking the engine from the Battery or position of throttle bodies to get pressure up and consistent readings 

[Miggs]

True I didn't take the load into consideration, too many things to read and consider with not enough sleep lol

[Marcus axtell]

Just like to say thanks for all your help Got to bottom of it and it's one of the head's or head gaskets if any one knowns of best place for some good parts or if any one has some good heads there willing to sell be grate. Thanks

[Scooby Pete]

Damm that's a bugger, shame it wasnt just the thremostat or a leaky hose/Rad :(

 

Pretty sure some one wil come along with a suggestion, Maybe contact a local subaru specalist see if they have any heads.

[dogma1]

i hav heard that a metal gasket is better if you are undertaking this job. i would get job priced as could buy a new car for this job. 

[Gambit]

:( With a classic might be better getting a second hand engine for less money and having it fitted I see there was a guy selling one on here