slow coolant loss (somewhere ....)
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From: John_H on 20 Feb 2010 19:43 who where wrote: > >John, when purchased the cooling system contents were fluorescein >coulured but looked suitably "aged" i.e. the colour was noticeable but >not "yesterday" after a quick change". But prior history was/is an >unknown. FWIW. Subaru branded coolant is dark green, but not fluorescein. Subaru are adamant theirs is only the one to use but don't provide any specs (in common with most Japanese manufacturers). I'd hazard a guess it's probably silicate (most of the red ones are OAT... organic acid technology). Fluorescein dyed generic coolant could be anything. Mixing silicate and OAT isn't recommended though it probably won't cause any immediate problems if the system is flushed properly before changing over. The manufacturers' preference for which one is used relates to the head gasket material more so than the metal(s) used in the engine's construction... google would probably find the details I've long forgotten. Long and short of it is that the Subaru stuff, while more expensive than the proprietary brands, isn't unaffordable. I happen to own a Subaru and have no intention of using anything but the genuine article... at least until someone is able to confirm Subaru's own specs. Then again, I tend to be somewhat paranoid about cooling systems. :) -- John H
From: Clocky on 20 Feb 2010 20:14 <OzOne(a)Crackerbox-Palace.com> wrote in message news:c4r0o5ppuoktg9eg7nu0m6sb9oq2qbjsjg(a)4ax.com... > On Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:22:59 +0800, who where <noone(a)home.net> wrote: > >>We're having a slowish coolant loss from a 92 Liberty that is used as >>a daily drive - > > It's a Subaru...It's a head gasket. > Very likely indeed.
From: Clocky on 20 Feb 2010 21:24 "who where" <noone(a)home.net> wrote in message news:hks0o51ms33hno6m3gepa2pk4j096n0jlt(a)4ax.com... > On Sun, 21 Feb 2010 08:30:40 +1000, John_H <john4721(a)inbox.com> wrote: > >>who where wrote: >> >>>We're having a slowish coolant loss from a 92 Liberty that is used as >>>a daily drive - well, relative to what it might be. Say 100mls a day >>>reuqired to maintain a constant level in the overflow reservoir. When >>>checked, the radiator level is always at the top unless the overflow >>>res has dropped to below the return pipe. Recently the water pump >>>shat itself, that was replaced and the radiator was cleaned out >>>professionally at the same time. >> >>What's it been running for a coolant (past and present)? >> >>The fact that the radiator needed cleaning suggests that cooling >>system maintenance hasn't always been up to scratch and internal >>corrosion might be an issue. In which case the best solution would be >>ditch it while you still you still can. The only chemical sealant I'd >>ever use is Irontite, but I've never used it in an aluminium engine >>and aren't likely too! >> >>Any of the 50% glycol based coolants (including the Subaru one) >>typically seem to lose around 1 litre p.a. from evaporation. Anything >>more, without any other symptoms, would suggest an external leak. >>Hoses and radiator seams are the common ones, and aren't always >>obvious. >> >>Was it losing coolant before the radiator and water pump were >>serviced? >> >>If not I'd be looking very closely at any joint or connection that >>might've been disturbed (as well as the radiator seams). No doubt >>you've already checked the hose clamps. Small leaks are most likely >>to show up when the engine is hot at the end of a reasonably long run. >> >>Some Subaru engines did, or do, have head gasket issues. IIRC they're >>more recent models than yours but none are immune. Is there any >>chance yours was overheated when he water pump failed? > > Followups to all replies: > > Car was purchased about 8 months ago, and ran like a dream with no > coolant loss until December, when a small loss started. Stuck the W&B > colling system analyser ("pressure tester") on and located it as the > water pump leak hole. The pump isn't a quick'n'easy job, so it was > left to a pro and the replacement was done 6 Jan. Over the new year > break the loss increased to mammoth proportions as the seal collapsed > big time, so the car was actually tilt-trayed to the repairer - but > ther *may* have been an overheat of note when it dumped. It's likely to be a headgasket as the boxer engine is a bit susceptable to doing them even under normal conditions. I would suggest removing the spark plugs and pressurising the cooling system overnight after which, with bits of cardboard placed over the spark plug holes, crank the engine over a few cycles. Look for a any traces of water on the cardboard afterwards. IIRC some models also had a weakness in the area of the inlet manifold leaking into the port.
From: D Walford on 20 Feb 2010 23:19 who where wrote: > We're having a slowish coolant loss from a 92 Liberty that is used as > a daily drive - well, relative to what it might be. Say 100mls a day > reuqired to maintain a constant level in the overflow reservoir. When > checked, the radiator level is always at the top unless the overflow > res has dropped to below the return pipe. Recently the water pump > shat itself, that was replaced and the radiator was cleaned out > professionally at the same time. > > I've always considered that (apart from evaporation) there are only > three types of water leaks - externally, into the combustion chamber, > and into the oil galleries/sump. What about the radiator cap, caps that don't hold pressure are one of the biggest causes of coolant loss. Daryl
From: bugalugs on 21 Feb 2010 04:02
On 21/02/2010 5:19 p.m., D Walford wrote: > who where wrote: >> We're having a slowish coolant loss from a 92 Liberty that is used as >> a daily drive - well, relative to what it might be. Say 100mls a day >> reuqired to maintain a constant level in the overflow reservoir. When >> checked, the radiator level is always at the top unless the overflow >> res has dropped to below the return pipe. Recently the water pump >> shat itself, that was replaced and the radiator was cleaned out >> professionally at the same time. >> >> I've always considered that (apart from evaporation) there are only >> three types of water leaks - externally, into the combustion chamber, >> and into the oil galleries/sump. > > What about the radiator cap, caps that don't hold pressure are one of > the biggest causes of coolant loss. > > > Daryl Have you checked out the small header tank which has the pressure cap. If it's plastic check around the seal where the body of the tank is bonded to the top. A leak there will drop down onto the exhaust and be evaporated. On later models the tank is metal. (don't ask me how I know) |