2000, with ~225k miles, last week temp spiked & coolant was way low. I refilled, and every driving day since I have to add about 1 qt+. My commute round trip is ~50 miles. I can't see anything obvious. No dripping below the car, no spraying coolant from hoses, radiator seems fine, nothing. The only thing maybe is I might smell something from the interior heater (upstate NY, very cold out) occasionally, but it's almost like I'm dreaming that I'm smelling something as it's so faint and rare. Any ideas why I'm losing around a quart of coolant over a mere 50 miles, with no discernible leaks or system breaches? Thanks
losing coolant & I don't know why
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head gaskets
Most likely.
Third that... Sorry man.
I am mechanically adept, are there any tools other than basic wrenches/sockets etc (I have ase & metric) required for this (i.e. specialty/subaru only) & if so anything that might be borrowed/rented from auto zone etc? Also- service manual suggestions- haynes or chilton (or other?) which is best? Cheers
good ideas I'll check dipstick today, & under mats thanks
There are numerous threads here dealing with HG repair.
thanks, is the KB section within the forums, or elsewhere in the site? I did check the dipstick this morning, no "mayonnaise" but definitely more than just oil in the pan; also have had comments amazed that there was no smoke coming out the exhaust. So off to finding out what I gotta do to replace the head gaskets. Is there any chance there could be an internal leak somewhere else?
Right below the general section on the forum index page.
http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f57/
Look around the headgasket area on both sides of the engine. The 99+ sohc engine generally showed headgasket issues externally rather than the internal coolant jacket-combustion chamber leak of the 98.
it may be much simpler...
fingers crossed- I had it jacked up this afternoon and drained the oil then went to detach the lower radiator hose, and found that the original hose clamps were very corroded and the one into the engine was partially broken, and a big drip of coolant was on the fitting on the engine AND some coolant was on the splash guard on that side... I replaced all 4 clamps (would have replaced the hoses too but Auto Zone would have had to order them and they are in pretty good shape for now)... so we'll see over the next few days. Hopefully I can forestall the head gaskets for a few months until warmer weather and more stable finances let me do those and a few other things. Thanks to all who weighed in as I now have reviewed a terrific bunch of online resources on here and on ScoobyMods for when I do tear into things, to clarify the Haynes manual.
fingers crossed- I had it jacked up this afternoon and drained the oil then went to detach the lower radiator hose, and found that the original hose clamps were very corroded and the one into the engine was partially broken, and a big drip of coolant was on the fitting on the engine AND some coolant was on the splash guard on that side... I replaced all 4 clamps (would have replaced the hoses too but Auto Zone would have had to order them and they are in pretty good shape for now)... so we'll see over the next few days. Hopefully I can forestall the head gaskets for a few months until warmer weather and more stable finances let me do those and a few other things. Thanks to all who weighed in as I now have reviewed a terrific bunch of online resources on here and on ScoobyMods for when I do tear into things, to clarify the Haynes manual.
the thermostat gasket can also leak when it gets old, also leading to drips around the lower radiator hose where it connects to thermostat housing.
the worst hose connection on all the foresters i have had is the top radiator hose where it connects to the aluminum casting on the motor side. it can leak more than you think before it is visually noticeable.
the worst hose connection on all the foresters i have had is the top radiator hose where it connects to the aluminum casting on the motor side. it can leak more than you think before it is visually noticeable.
the thermostat gasket can also leak when it gets old, also leading to drips around the lower radiator hose where it connects to thermostat housing.
the worst hose connection on all the foresters i have had is the top radiator hose where it connects to the aluminum casting on the motor side. it can leak more than you think before it is visually noticeable.
thanks for the tip I'll keep an eye on that too
the worst hose connection on all the foresters i have had is the top radiator hose where it connects to the aluminum casting on the motor side. it can leak more than you think before it is visually noticeable.
thanks for the tip I'll keep an eye on that too
Just passed by this thread today. Is this it? http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f66/how-replace-ej25-head-gaskets-without-removing-engine-57335/
Is it possible that old upper and lower coolant hoses can leak a bit of coolant only if it's hot and not show any traces of leak? Mines 4 years old and havent been replaced. I have already replaced radiator and water pump in the past 8 months as those leaked already. The loss stop but a month ago started again. It was after upgrading my turbo, loosing a bit of coolant as per the reservoir level mark. It happens over a period of 1 week and I use the car everyday.
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