Flinster Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Hi, I've got a 1997 impreza turbo uk which overheated a few days ago. The water pump and thermostat were changed and I took it out for a drive for about 20mins earlier and all seemed fine but then it overheated again and all the coolant leaked out. I've checked the dip stick and oil filler cap and it's all clear with no residue as I thought it could be the headgasket. Any ideas what could be causing it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stants Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Hole in the radiator, but it Sounds like a Headgasket problem to me, subaru's don't normally get alot of mayo it just over pressurises the system and forces all the coolant out of the expansion tank 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoobyghost Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Get a sniff test carried out by a garage. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flinster Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 1 hour ago, stants said: Hole in the radiator, but it Sounds like a Headgasket problem to me, subaru's don't normally get alot of mayo it just over pressurises the system and forces all the coolant out of the expansion tank Thanks for the replys. It was coming out with some force from the expansion tank and spraying out the bonnet aswell as on the ground. I got told it was probably the headgasket but wanted another opinion who knows about subaru's. Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoobyghost Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 If you opened it when the coolant was hot it will spit at you anyway. A sniff test will check for hydro carbon which is a sign of exhaust gases entering the coolant system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flinster Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 It was spitting out with the bonnet shut, I didn't go near it as I could hear it boiling. Ok il get that checked out first. Thanks for the advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoobyghost Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Ah OK, I read it wrong. Can you trade where it was leaking from? As stants said, radiators seem to be a weak spot on these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flinster Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 3 hours ago, Scoobyghost said: Ah OK, I read it wrong. Can you trade where it was leaking from? As stants said, radiators seem to be a weak spot on these. It seems to be leaking from the front right if your looking at the engine. The coolant bottle lid had popped open so it was spraying out from there. Could the pressure pop the lid off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoobyghost Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 The expansion tank? That should have a little pipe in it so the lid shouldn't need to pop off. If the pressure has got that high to pop the lid then I'd go straight for the sniff test. Does it bubble when running? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flinster Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 4 minutes ago, Scoobyghost said: The expansion tank? That should have a little pipe in it so the lid shouldn't need to pop off. If the pressure has got that high to pop the lid then I'd go straight for the sniff test. Does it bubble when running? It's the one with the yellow cap on the front. Not the silver one near the centre, not sure which one the expansion is. The one on the front has a pipe coming off it, going over the top of the radiator then into the silver one in the centre, or vice versa. I could hear it circulating around this morning after it had been topped up but when it over heated I only heard it bubbling/boiling when I got out the car and saw it running out. Apologies for being so complicated lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoobyghost Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 The yellow capped tank is "overflow/expansion" and the metal lid is your header tank. Once the system is full and you're sure of no air locks, have the car running and watch the overflow. Make sure the header tank is closed. It shouldn't constantly bubble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 get it sniff tested as the next stage i would sugest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flinster Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 21 minutes ago, Scoobyghost said: The yellow capped tank is "overflow/expansion" and the metal lid is your header tank. Once the system is full and you're sure of no air locks, have the car running and watch the overflow. Make sure the header tank is closed. It shouldn't constantly bubble. Ok il check that tomorrow. Do any old garages for sniff tests or do I have to go somewhere specific? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Given he issues your having i would recommend finding a specialist who knows what their doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoobyghost Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Any garage should do a sniff test. It's quite simple but for anything further than that take it to a specialist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flinster Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 5 minutes ago, Tidgy said: Given he issues your having i would recommend finding a specialist who knows what their doing. The worst thing is its up for sale on eBay and I've had to drop the price loads from yesturday due to this issue. Not sure how much more I want to spend on the car as it's for sale All the advice is appreciated from everyone thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aucky Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 when you rev the car if the other flow bottle is filling to the top it is most likely the head gasket,thats what my hatch was doing,exhaust gas going into coolant as you rev it the pressure push's the coolant into the over flow and it erupts like a volcano.is their any sludge in the radiator thats a sign of headgasket gone as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flinster Posted March 11, 2016 Author Share Posted March 11, 2016 47 minutes ago, aucky said: when you rev the car if the other flow bottle is filling to the top it is most likely the head gasket,thats what my hatch was doing,exhaust gas going into coolant as you rev it the pressure push's the coolant into the over flow and it erupts like a volcano.is their any sludge in the radiator thats a sign of headgasket gone as well. I was driving it for about 20mins earlier and all seemed fine, then the temp gauge shot up. I was looking on the interweb and some people mentioned the expansion tank could be the problem. Does this sound likely with the problem I have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aucky Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 When the car is cold open the headertank their will probky be no coolant in it,so fill it back up.thats the tank on top left side engine not your expansion tank on side radiator.start car n let it get to normal tempreture leave the bonnet open and rev car to about 2500 rpm and watch the tank at side radiator see if it over flows.if it does or fills to top its head gasket.exhaust gas is going in coolin system and it push's all coolant out the expansion leavin no coolant or very little to circulate round system so car other heats.harder you rev it more pressue from exhaust goes in n push's coolant out harder.go garage n get it sniff tested to find out for sure. Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flinster Posted March 11, 2016 Author Share Posted March 11, 2016 Just now, aucky said: When the car is cold open the headertank their will probky be no coolant in it,so fill it back up.thats the tank on top left side engine not your expansion tank on side radiator.start car n let it get to normal tempreture leave the bonnet open and rev car to about 2500 rpm and watch the tank at side radiator see if it over flows.if it does or fills to top its head gasket.exhaust gas is going in coolin system and it push's all coolant out the expansion leavin no coolant or very little to circulate round system so car other heats.harder you rev it more pressue from exhaust goes in n push's coolant out harder.go garage n get it sniff tested to find out for sure. Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk OK I will try that tomorrow. Probably a silly question but should I leave the expansion tank cap open or leave it closed and see if it pushes out? Any idea what it could be if it doesn't come out and the sniffer test is ok? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aucky Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Leave yellow cap closed.i would say 99% its headgasket 1% could be blockage or air in system but sound exact same as my hatch which was the head gasket.you will no for sure with a sniff test Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flinster Posted March 11, 2016 Author Share Posted March 11, 2016 Just now, aucky said: Leave yellow cap closed.i would say 99% its headgasket 1% could be blockage or air in system but sound exact same as my hatch which was the head gasket.you will no for sure with a sniff test Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk OK il see if 1 of the guys from the garage can pop up and do a sniff test. Thanks for your help, appreciate it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aucky Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Your welcome and hopefully am wrong then its not bad for yeah. Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flinster Posted March 11, 2016 Author Share Posted March 11, 2016 Just now, aucky said: Your welcome and hopefully am wrong then its not bad for yeah. Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk Might sound weird but I kinda hope it is as I've priced the car as needing a new headgasket and if it's not then someone will get a bargain and il loose loads lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.