[mykp]

I have a water leak in my cooling system.

Its loosing about 1/2 the header tank over a 1 week period, even if I dont use the car. I drove it today the first time since tuesday last week and its still lost fluid.

Oil looks alright, no mayo in the oil/oil pipe.

Have checked all the pipes I can see and all around all the pipe ends, even checked the radiator and the pipes from there but I cannot see any fluid leaking from anywhere.

Anyone got any ideas?
Any where I should be checking?
Anyone had something similair?
Is it worth sticking some rad weld in?

Also I keep reading the dreaded "head gasket" what other symptoms are there on a boxer engine. I thought head gasket failure symptoms where mayo/water in the oil and over heating. I drove to Sheffield and back in it a week and a half ago and all was normal.

er, any ideas :shrug:

 

[Ally]

During a service my mechanic found that a water pipe which runs next to the oil filter had been nicked and was leaking, it might be worth checking that.
On another thread there was talk of gas leaking into the cooling system and making the water seem to boil as a possible cause.
Also what about the radiator cap failing and letting coolant out.
Do you have any smell of hot coolant after a run?

 

[Neil8p]

My thermostat housing cracked in the cold spell in January causing a tiny water leak.

 

[neoshi]

Yeah my thermo housing cracked and is doing the same thing. The stock one is plastic. The replacement one is metal. Check where the lower radiator hose is for green lines and splatter. UV light also helps if you have one.

 

[stevem]

header tank if it's not pipework or thermo housing.

 

[funkymonkey1002]

Yeah definitely check the T-stat area. Mine leaks on occasion. Only noticable after its been parked outside in the cold, otherwise theres no residue or anything.

Also check the radiator. Does the STB have the same type as newer models with the plastic end tanks? They'll sometimes split from the core or crack around the hose areas, and its pretty hard to spot until it starts spewing coolant when it gets bad.

 

[mykp]

cheers guys, a few things to check there at weekend. Got some other jobs to do so will be going over everything with a fine tooth comb as well doing some servicing and if its not too cold I might chuck a bucket of soapy water over it.

It might be worth replacing the thermostat housing as a matter of course then.

 

[The Rookie]

If its loosing fluid while going nowhere then it has to be the header tank, a leak from rad etc wouldn't draw back from the header switched off surely?

Simon

 

[Olduser1]

park up after running,
place paper towels under the engine,
inspect & rectify

Check water pump thermo unit as prev suggestions
Do not leave as its all ok

 

[kushbex]

Hi Mike,
Might have a solution to your leak as mine has just developed a leak as well. I always check the water every week - all has been okay - then I drove the car about 3 miles and stopped, all of a sudden I had coolant dripping from the OSF tow hitch area. Openned the bonnet and there was water all over the ABS pump etc. Started the engine again and found no drips etc.

I then revved the engine to see a jet of coolant spraying from the front OS radiator end cap towards the air con condenser.

The jet only appears when the engine is revved to around 3000rpm.

Looks like the plastic radiator end cap on mine is starting to split.

 

[mykp]

Hi Mike,
Might have a solution to your leak as mine has just developed a leak as well. I always check the water every week - all has been okay - then I drove the car about 3 miles and stopped, all of a sudden I had coolant dripping from the OSF tow hitch area. Openned the bonnet and there was water all over the ABS pump etc. Started the engine again and found no drips etc.

I then revved the engine to see a jet of coolant spraying from the front OS radiator end cap towards the air con condenser.

The jet only appears when the engine is revved to around 3000rpm.

Looks like the plastic radiator end cap on mine is starting to split.

Cheers for this mate, the car is off the the specialist tommorow and he's going to pressure test the system, amongst other things!

Thing is I cant see anything under the bonnet is which is wet or leaking, hence why i'm papping my pants that it might be the head gasket. uke:

 

[mykp]

just spoke to my mechanic and theres good news and bad news.

good news is its not the cylinder head, bad news its the radiator. The plastic side part is foobared and the reason there was no sign of water is it only leaks when the water gets circulated.

Hopefully I should get it back tommorow as were waiting on a new rad.

 

[kushbex]

Hi Mike,
That's exactly what has happened to mine.

I have just bodged it at the minute until I can source a radiator.

Been looking at the aluminium race ones just would need to fit an additional transmission cooler.

Just worried about the plastic end caps splitting again.

Can you let me know the best price that you found the right radiator for and if the UK rads are okay for our imports. Think UK ones also have a thicker core so should cool a bit better.

 

[mykp]

will do mate, but wont know until I go pick it up anf that might be Friday!

 

[fpan]

Nice to have found the source of the problem. But what is the lifespan of OE radiators?

 

[funkymonkey1002]

Nice to have found the source of the problem. But what is the lifespan of OE radiators?

The oem subaru ones with the plastic end tanks don't seem to last all that long, especially on the SG. My 04XT blew the end tank at around 120,000 miles and 5 years. If i had more time I would probably have gone with an all aluminum one to avoid the whole plastic issue (trying to replace as much plastic under the hood of my XT as possible, it just doesn't hold up as well as the equivalent metal parts over time).

 

[mykp]

Hi Mike,
That's exactly what has happened to mine.

I have just bodged it at the minute until I can source a radiator.

Been looking at the aluminium race ones just would need to fit an additional transmission cooler.

Just worried about the plastic end caps splitting again.

Can you let me know the best price that you found the right radiator for and if the UK rads are okay for our imports. Think UK ones also have a thicker core so should cool a bit better.

Just had my new rad fitted and its an impretza one, only problem with an pratza one is that the bottom pipe comes out straight, were as on the forester it comes out at a downward angle. so they have added a stainless steel tube to mimic this and it will joint to the standard rubber pipe.

Cost was £145. Cant tell you the price of fitting as he's done a load of other stuff as well at the same time. Gearbox oil, diff oil, rear disks and pads.