30 replies to this topic

[K.Tonic]

Hi friends,

 

 

I hope you are all well today. I am new to the turbocharged boxer world and after a scary incident last night, I have been frantically been searching for answers across the entire web. 

I hope you can share some knowledge on my situation. But first, the story...

 

I had decided to do a massive journey and travel to South Australia to buy a beautiful 2005 subaru impreza wrx sti. This one was in extremely good condition.

Kilometers: 80 000km

Mods: Stock

Log book: all in check. 

 

I planned to drive all the way from Adelaide to Melbourne, stay the night and then drive back to sydney (home) the very next morning. 

Now, the drive from Adelaide to Melbourne was flawless. There was no issues with the car whatsoever for the entire 8 ish hours.

 

That following days drive back from Melbourne to Sydney, it also felt as if it was all going to be dandy. At least for the 7 and abit hours. 

 

However, 1 hour before I reached home, the engine temp guage shot through the roof and we noticed it almost immediately and pulled over to an emergency stop bay along the M31 where the engine automatically shut down. We (me and a mate)  saw abit of steam from the engine. Under the hood, we noticed the coolant bottle lid was popped open and coolant was smeared across part of the engine. The coolant wasnt boiling however, and the 2 radiator fans were working to try and cool it down. 

 

This continued for around 5 minutes before the temp guage started to slowly drop. After around 10 minutes, my mate opened up the radiator cap and noticed that the edging hole around 5cm below where the radiator cap sits, the radiator plastic was flaked off and these bits of plastic was around the seal of the radiator cap (the approx location is given in the photo).

 

The car showed no signs of chocolate milky oil, no oil in the radiator which is common to headgasket failure. But I am very paranoid as to what kind of failure this could mean.

 

We were driving normally as well, no hard pulls whatsoever the entire trip, sitting on 110kms and 6th gear during the final day. 

 

Could this just simply be a radiator issue?

 

It is my very first turbo charged subaru and I am already dreading the ownership of it.

 

Thank you so much for reading and I apologise if this isnt the right location of thread. 

 

 

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[Robert]

Sounds like the radiator has cracked and led it to overheating

Considering the car turned itself off I would be getting it checked out for a blown head gasket now as damage may have occurred

[K.Tonic]

Sounds like the radiator has cracked and led it to overheating

Considering the car turned itself off I would be getting it checked out for a blown head gasket now as damage may have occurred

Thanks mate. I really appreciate your time. 

 

I'm assuming the shutdown was a failsafe for the engine to prevent further damage.

What is the best way to do this apart from physically checking oil in here/ mayo engine cap?

[Robert]

TK (sniff) test is one way of finding out

Didn't think they had a built in failsafe but hopefully I'm wrong

[Morgan]

A blocked thermostat once caused a similar issue for me. Overheated and cracked the radiator.

 

New thermo, new rad, fresh coolant and she's been perfect for years. Considering you saw the temp rise, I'd say you caught it before the head gasket went however it would be wise to get it all checked out regardless. 

[Liberty]

Having experienced a blown head gasket after overheating on the highway on my way back from the Hunter Valley for a trip away with the missus, I would definitely get it checked as soon as possible. Avoid driving it until a proper check has been performed. I can imagine how much of a pain in the ass an engine replacement would be considered you just bought the car days earlier.

 

Whereabouts in Sydney are you located?

[surge]

Did you buy it privately or through a dealer?

Sounds to me like it had a headgasket issue, exhaust gasses entering the coolant over pressurised the cooling system. The weakest point was the plastic end of the rad.

[Dr20t]

Did you buy it privately or through a dealer?

Sounds to me like it had a headgasket issue, exhaust gasses entering the coolant over pressurised the cooling system. The weakest point was the plastic end of the rad.

Bingo

Good luck with it mate but definitely get it checked out

Mick

[K.Tonic]

Thanks so much for your support.

I am located in the outer south west near casula.
I was with a mechanic the entire trip and got the car towed back to his shop.

Yesterday morning he started it and quickly drove it into a hoist.

Also, the timing belt pulley went and the right side belt was a position off. If that means anything. Maybe just coincidence.

One the radiator is replaced, he will be doing leak/comp tests on it.

Any other suggestions you may have to check for damage?
Also, I bought it privately. With quite a picky owner. Maybe the combination of 16 hr driving over two days does Abit on these cars.

[Dr20t]

I'm also in Casula

Sounds like its also skipped a tooth (which is mostly likely unrelated to your hg problem)

Good luck with it and let us know how you go

Mick

[Robert]

Timing belt pulley or accessory belt ?

Cause it will be running like shit if it's skiped a tooth

[K.Tonic]

Yeah, it did skip a tooth. It was quite noisy when my mate moved it into his shop on that Sunday Night. Since then, it has not been started. 

Today, he got most parts to do a full scale service. Feel free to critique:

 

-Koyo radiator + oem hoses 

-dayco full timing belt kit and accessories

-ryco filter 

-fuel filter (brand unknown)

-NGK PFR6B spark plugs (When he pulled them out, it had PFR6G---for WRX) 

 

Reported no weeping under the rocker covers and is quite decent underneath.

Will try to use OEM radiator cap but I was thinking of getting an STI 1.3 BAR radiator cap. Any thoughts? I read that they were nice, but $$$. 

 

So far, it is going ok. But still yet to do comp tests; only after this all is complete will he be confident starting the car...

[K.Tonic]

Update.

Timing belt, water pump, pulleys,oil, thermostat, radiator and coolant have been replaced.

My mechanic then went for a drive and it started to over heat...

Well, safe to say it is a head gasket aye?

[surge]

I'm hoping he doesn't charge you for the labor hours to remove the heads and reassemble as he practically would have been almost there to do the timing belt.
Also better not charge for a new bottle of coolant.

What kind of mechanic does all that work on a car before knowing if the head gaskets are good or bad.

[K.Tonic]

He's my cousin. I hate to admit he did jump the gun and just tried to drive it home just then without comp testing it properly.

It's back at his shop now at this time.

Any recommendations on what my next course of action/direction to shops should I take?

[Robert]

Would be worth double checking that the head has a problem before pulling apart but sounds like it has been.

Best off to pull the motor send the heads off for machining and hardness testing.
New Oem sti headgasket

Will be worth putting in arp 2000 head studs while your at it
Known weekness if you start pushing 20 psi on it.

If you were to get another shop to do it, hands down ichiban would be the place to go.

[K.Tonic]

Thanks Robert. Appreciate it. I just feel gut-wrenchingly sick from it all.

Just a young 20 Year old, worked me entire life to get to here and bit more than I could chew. It really means alot to me, your support. Thanks guys.

About my mechanic. I trust him, but would any general mechanic be able to do this kind of stuff?

Would love any input in what I should do next. ATM it's back at his shop.

[surge]

Unless you're getting a really good deal, I would be sure thaf the mechanic working on it has experience with subarus.

Definitely get the heads to a machine shop when doing a headgasket.

Arp headstuds have specific instructions to install them and again I would want a mechanic who has used them in the past to be putting them in.

[K.Tonic]

Thanks mate. I'll be in contact with the boys tomorrow. Thanks for the recommendation.

I'll see what they have to say. One thing's for sure, is that I need a new mechanic -.-

[LukeFranky]

I'd definitely get the head gasket tested before pulling it apart again. Whilst it sounds like a head gasket you never know, something else might be causing it to overheat, like a blockage or an air lock.