How common is it for 02+ headgaskets to fail? I seem to be losing coolant and I can't quite figure out where it is coming from. I have put dye in and I think that as a result of when and how it leaks that it is hard to see the where it is leaking from. Since I installed my Samco radiator hoses I have been able to smell coolant, I have checked all clamps but I can't find any clamps that are not tight. Any Ideas? frogy
it is definatly not a heater core and definatly not leaking into the engine, seems like an external leak to me, it loses about 1/2" fromthe resivour in 2 weeks of driving (720 miles).
Are you seeing it leak? I bet you are losing it from a leaking radiator core, or a seeping water pump. Check the underside of your car for a white crusty trail, or fresh coolant.
that's sort of the problem, even though I have the leak detection dye in I can't seem to find a leak, it's kinda pissing me off!
You should have some sort of leak trail if your losing it that fast. Otherwise your car would be overheating from blown head gaskets.
Bring back up this topic from the dead, but a little different. While installing HID's last night I finally found the source of my 3 coolant drops that I've seen under my car. The top of the dang radiator. My car is a '05 wrx wag. I'm just a shy over my 36k warrantee. I'm guessing I’m up poop creek on getting the dealership to repair/replace that one for free? I'm going to cali this week on business, so if I can get it replaced for free, now would be the perfect time.
my car needed a radiator right when I bought it...they said that it is common for the WRX's to seep from the top of the radiator a bit. I lost coolant because of that. I was also told the 2.0 L and 2.5L turbo motors rarely have headgasket failure. That was more of a thing with the non turbo 2.5 engines of the earlier years in the 2.5RS & 2.5GT etc. I don't know as much as most of these guys on there, but I would check that out.
yes, and they share the same radiator (of the same years) there are more things that are the same as a wrx then things that aren't
I was just typing more story and then read your post after. I bought my 05 STi about a month ago and it had the month long luther warranty that covers everything. The day I bought it, I was smelling coolant, and I didn't notice it so much during the test drive. My sales guy told me the next day that he smelled coolant why I was test driving it...and I am still not sure why he didn't bother bringing that up. We pulled it into the tech bay and the mechanic guy immediately said "radiator---these things seep out of the top all of the time because of this plastic"---and he said, make and appointment, get it in. SO...I did just that, and when I finally take it in, they say that it was simply a loose hose and the pressure was fine etc. I continue to smell coolant after that, and I take it in again, not sure if it is just coolant spray from the leaky hose leftover that is burning off. They then determine again that it is actually the radiator. I am still not sure why they didn't just change it. The mechanic said he actually had the radiator on hand from when he ordered it for me the first time. I have a new radiator now and have not noticed any issue. Also, I took it in for clunking struts, they tried to tell me it was my aftermarket exhaust clunking on the bottom of the vehicle, when in fact it is an SPT exhaust installed by subaru. They tightened that down, took it for a second spin, then realized it was the struts--after almost sending me home and leaving me out of warranty. All nice guys over at Subaru, I just can't stress it enough that they make sure they really look into it, because I had a fairly good idea that both of those things needed replacement. If you have an 05' wagon, you might have the same radiator as me. Sorry for the novel, just wanted to point out what I was dealing with.
All WRX/STi radiators are the same. All of them. At least to my knowledge. The coolant smell you have Bobo probaly will never go away. My engine still smells of coolant to this day, and yet I never have a low coolant level. I blew my radiator the first winter I was here since I was still running California mix (75 water, 25 coolant). It burst when the temp hit -22 that year. I replaced the radiator with one from an 04 STi and the leak was gone, but I still get that burning coolant smell no matter what. And that has been the case through 3 engines. Even with the new motor, which was installed clean, and the entire engine bay gutted, and even another new radiator later, it still smells of coolant. I don't know why, but I've learned to just ignore it.
mine is a lot better since they changed the radiator, but there might be some leftover spillage. must just be the nature of subes...kinda like an RX-8 naturally burns oil a bit.
02-03 wrx radiators were different, but Subaru no longer makes them, being there is a updated part for them. This being said, now all wrx/sti radiators are the same.
So I was a bit wrong on my mileage. I have 38,8xx miles. I'm guessing there's no way i'd get a free replacement out of the dealership huh?
You can call and ask, but if you haven't had alot of the services done at a dealership, they may not go the extra mile to warranty it...or in your case, Goodwill it.
Yeah, and knowing i didn't even buy the car from the subaru dealership, i think I have a snowball's chance in hell getting it done. I guess i'll have to get a koyo :hsugh:
