Coolant issue - urgent help please
Discussion
Had my engine rebuilt a couple of thousand miles ago (cracked ringland), so now it's forged. An 09 plate Impreza STI. All has been fine since - gently run in for 1000 miles, changed oil etc. Checked oil and coolant weekly - no drop.
Today filled up, on the motorway again and after 1 hard acceleration, in 3rd, backed off and then shortly after noted the temp gauge was much closer the the 'red' area than it should be - normally sits right in the middle of the gauge.
Pulled off and see the coolant top-up lid had popped off and the coolant level in that tank is well above max - almost to the very top of the reservoir. The metal lid on the radiator seems warm but not hot, as does the hose leading into/from this, at the top. After a couple of minutes I open the metal lid - no 'his' of escaping pressure etc and apart from a very small amount of steam, nothing else.
Any ideas please.
Thank you
Today filled up, on the motorway again and after 1 hard acceleration, in 3rd, backed off and then shortly after noted the temp gauge was much closer the the 'red' area than it should be - normally sits right in the middle of the gauge.
Pulled off and see the coolant top-up lid had popped off and the coolant level in that tank is well above max - almost to the very top of the reservoir. The metal lid on the radiator seems warm but not hot, as does the hose leading into/from this, at the top. After a couple of minutes I open the metal lid - no 'his' of escaping pressure etc and apart from a very small amount of steam, nothing else.
Any ideas please.
Thank you
Thanks guys - not sure. It seems better now. Initially the level of coolant in the reservoir wasn't dropping at all, but having left it a few minutes it had dropped to just below min. So I topped it back to max level with water closed up and started her up. Temp was back at normal and held steady.
Will take it easy on the way back and see - fingers crossed it was just he top popping off, although when I was checking levels, it was just looking at the level through the side of the reservoir, not taking the top off.
Fingers crossed - will update shortly
Will take it easy on the way back and see - fingers crossed it was just he top popping off, although when I was checking levels, it was just looking at the level through the side of the reservoir, not taking the top off.
Fingers crossed - will update shortly
Head gasket maybe, but hopefully not, as apparently an uprated one was put in when the engine was rebuilt. ? Broken water pump.
Going to have to get it recovered to a local garage - the fluid in the reservoir remains well above max now, with the car off and both the reservoir and radiator caps open. Engine temp ok after stopping a few minutes, but now increases quite quickly after starting and heads towards red within a few hundred yards.
Going to have to get it recovered to a local garage - the fluid in the reservoir remains well above max now, with the car off and both the reservoir and radiator caps open. Engine temp ok after stopping a few minutes, but now increases quite quickly after starting and heads towards red within a few hundred yards.
i think you guys are right - unfortunately. The coolant that's sprayed inside the engine bay has an oily residue and also the oil level, which was at max when i checked it yesterday, is below minimum now 
it's only 2 months and 2k miles since my rebuild - i've sent the chap a message a few hours ago, but had no reply yet. i get the feeling he's going to be difficult. the original rebuild took 9 months and you've never heard a list of excuses like it - he couldn't get parts, then the car wouldn't fire after he put the engine back in a second time - so time looking into that. other cars come in that were 'urgent', deaths in the family needing weekends to Ireland, annual leave, sickness etc etc. not sure why no-oneelse at the garage could work on my car??
i couldn't push things along at all - it was beyond frustrating. the fact he was 30 miles away and i was going through a divorce didn't help - only the fact he gave me a courtesy car made it slightly bearable. then afterwards he tried to charge me £400 extra for the car (never agreed before) as i'd exceeded the annual mileage of 9k (i did 12k in 9 months) which he apparently didn't know about first.
he was recommended, but has now sold that garage, although i believe is still working. but i'd really rather not take it back to him again.
it's only 2 months and 2k miles since my rebuild - i've sent the chap a message a few hours ago, but had no reply yet. i get the feeling he's going to be difficult. the original rebuild took 9 months and you've never heard a list of excuses like it - he couldn't get parts, then the car wouldn't fire after he put the engine back in a second time - so time looking into that. other cars come in that were 'urgent', deaths in the family needing weekends to Ireland, annual leave, sickness etc etc. not sure why no-oneelse at the garage could work on my car??
i couldn't push things along at all - it was beyond frustrating. the fact he was 30 miles away and i was going through a divorce didn't help - only the fact he gave me a courtesy car made it slightly bearable. then afterwards he tried to charge me £400 extra for the car (never agreed before) as i'd exceeded the annual mileage of 9k (i did 12k in 9 months) which he apparently didn't know about first.
he was recommended, but has now sold that garage, although i believe is still working. but i'd really rather not take it back to him again.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff