coolant boiling over

[japstar]

hi iam new on here and recently bought a 2001 uk wrx,now it was running fine but was,nt sure when it was serviced last and coolant looked low so being in a rush and having no coolant to hand I topped it up with cold water but ever since I did that the coolant keeps boiling over from the exspansion tank cause I noticed what looked like smoke coming out the bonnet scoop and it basically was just the spring loaded exspansion cap releasing coolant and it running onto hot pipework n such.the car doe,s not over heat it sits perfect bang on the middle on the temp gauge but the fumes from the excess coolant being burnt up is traveling into the car and stinks and having kids in the car I need to get this sorted so any help or advice is welcome.  cheers

[scooby gee]

ive got exact same issue dont no what it is but my god does it stink im looking at mines tomorrow been giving sum clues so will keep you up dated on the situation and maybe help you out.

[japstar]

sound m8 cheers iam going to give Scooby clinic a bell 2moz cause they nearest scoob specialist to me so if they shed any light on the prob I,ll inbox you pal let you no what they think.its doing my head in cause it was fine till I put the water in and further diluted the mix so iam hoping a quick flush out and fresh coolant will resolve the issue.

[Jay762]

It could be the thermostat in the coolant loop is defective so the coolant is not flowing around the engine,heat is being transferred through the block to the radiator and the liquid is then boiling forcing the cap to release the pressure. What I would advise is taking it very easy with the car until this is resolved as you could end up damaging the engine

 

This is what one looks like - don't cost a huge amount of money but if they don't work your coolant doesn't flow

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Thermostat-for-Subaru-Impreza-92-11-/380608029856?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Car+Make%3ASubaru|Model%3AImpreza&hash=item589e01a4a0 

[japstar]

ok m8 cheers I,ll take it easy don't wanrt to go blowing my engine up lol.  like I say its not over heating just keep spittin out coolant but I,ll get straight on it 2moz get to the bottom of it but thanks for the advice pal ;)

[Jay762]

keep us posted as it will be useful to know the cause

[japstar]

quick update been garage today and my mechanic agree,s sounds like anew thermostat and flush out is needed so ive booked her in for the work on Wednesday morning so I shall give a further update Wednesday teatime as to weather it resolved the issue. fingerz crossed eh  :)

[Jay762]

Excellent - glad you caught it before something warped

 

Good that your mechanic will be flushing also to ensure no airlocks which can also stop the flow

[japstar]

yeh I asked him to do the job lot best to play it safe and fingerz crossed I,ll pick her 2moz and it,ll be sorted but I,ll do a update when ive test drove her myself just to be sure.thanks for your advice m8 pushed me to get my backside down garage 1st thing not even drove scoob today gunna leave drivin her till after the works done don't wanna break my new toy lol

[Jay762]

Absolutely - we have already had the joy and sorrow of short term subaru ownership on the forum, it was painful for all

[Gambit]

Absolutely - we have already had the joy and sorrow of short term subaru ownership on the forum, it was painful for all

 

Haha

I'm still waiting for him to return with his new one

[japstar]

update.  just got her back from garage had new thermostat been flushed out all new fluids and coolant is still boiling over  :(   but my mechanic could,nt find the bleed valve for the coolant system so bleeded it manually so there are prob strill air locks in there,that would cause excess pressure would,nt it  ??

[Jay762]

Yes an air lock would stop the fluid going around the system which would lead to the coolant in the rad overheating

 

long shot - you said it was over heating but still boiling over, could it a defective rad cap, do you have another one you could try?

[japstar]

no m8 but I bet I could find 1 cause it would make sense as you say its boiling over but the car is not over heating it sits perfect in the middle of the temp gauge so I think best thing to do is find the coolant system bleed valve so it can be bled properly and get anew rad cap then take it from there.cause Scooby gee has had the same problem and his mechanic said new thermostat and flush out but he also had a leaky pipe under the inlet manifold so faling a proper bleed up and new rad cap I,ll have to get the pipework checked out.thanks for the heads up on the rad cap tho jay ;)

[japstar]

right so I went out this morning bought a new rad cap but it was still leaking coolant so thought right must have a split in a pipe so went back to garage and found the real problem at last lol. so basically the little filler neck the rad cap fits to has rusted and split were it meets the exspansion tank so that's were the coolant is leaking from so just ordering anew exspansion tank nah :)

[Jay762]

Glad its sorted! How much is the expansion tank?

[japstar]

brand new there 132 quid makin it about 155 quid with vat brand new cause they can only order them direct from the dealer but iam getting a second hand 1 from breakers yard in notts they quoted me bout 50 quid just be glad when its done nah lol  gunna have a trip down to bulwell 2moz to Scooby breakers n get her back on road :)

[Gambit]

I feel the pain mate I hate it when my joy is off the road :(

But least you managed to find one easy enough. You doing the job yourself then I take it?

[japstar]

no m8 my mechanic has offerd to fit it for me for free cus I paid him for the other work and it did,nt sort the problem good of him really and with what I,ll have spent in the end am grateful :)  but yeh hate it being sat out side nearly tank full of super unleaded to burn off lol  but she will live to see another day and upset my neighbours so its all gravy   ;)

[Gambit]

No that is good of him some would charge you the labor still. And glad to hear it don't like to hear about an injured Scoob :( 

[Jay762]

Thats a result - good to have a mechanic with a bit of integrity like that

[japstar]

well new exspansion tank fitted all bled up and PROBLEM SORTED lol  thanks for all the advice guys ;)

 

 BIG SHOUT OUT TO  (MIDLANDS SUBARU SPARES)  IN BULWELL NOTTINGHAM VERY HELPFUL GUY !!  and did me an exspansion tank for 30 quid

[Gambit]

Nice one mate a Subaru back on the open roads. that means another Angel has earned its wings ;)