Found a crack in my VF43 when it was swapped over to the 20g...

I also had the rubbery/dusty black stuff floating on the coolant. If its the contents of the wax capsule in the thermostat then its loss would stop the capsule from expanding and opening up the spring fully.
Also noticed the thermostat vent hole was mounted at the bottom - this would stop air trapped near the thermostat from being bled easily.

nick

 

Saw you today btw Nick

 

I only ventured out in the gloom today so you must have good eyesight.
Unless it was at a better class of supermarket?

 

Couldn't have been you then .. i don't do supermarkets

 

Hi folks. I bought a new thermostat today, this might be a stupid question but were about does it go? Is it a big job? Thanks

 

When i had this problem was the termostaand they are easy 2 replace Nug it goes, follow the bottem pipe at the rad, that goes into the engine block. The stat is there, two bolts hold it on.

 

Look down into the engine bay and you will see a hose from the bottom of the radiator leading to the engine. This goes into the thermostat housing.

Undo those bolts and remove the old thermostat and replace with new one.

Relatively easy job.

 

I've been thinking about this.
Could the gasket be leaking oil into the coolant under boost. I mean a tiny amount.
Then over time more oils gets into the coolant. You see the engine temp is fine when driving, as cold air is coming through, but tends to go up when moving slowly or stopped.
Could this be the cooling system that can't cool the coolant as it has oil in it making it harder to do so.
What do you think?
Is it just the temp getting to high then dumping oil into the coolant system in one go?
It doesn't seem to make any sense to me.
I thought these cars were reliable. 3x 2006 imprezas going wrong. That's not a coincidence.

 

It's 3 cars from how many Hawkeye's on the road ?? Dont forget that people tend to use forums as a place to go for information so your always likely to find faults on here.

If your local garage has done the relevant tests and found exhaust gasses in the coolant then it's normal the head gasket that's at fault. This is where the situation with yours and mine differs because I've been told by Subaru that they didnt find anything when they did that test.

If your not happy with what your garage are doing your best bet would be to get a second opinion.

Have they come back to you with any further updates on costs involved ??

 

They are reliable.

Thermostats fail.. fact of life. What's the big deal ?

 

I'm just a bit fed up with the situation at the moment. My old 03 WRX ran fine. Maybe this has too much power going through it and I need to take the PPP off?
I know the gasket has gone on mine. Is that the cause or the affect?
No update from the garage. I should know by the end of day.
You should see this Nissan Micra 1.2 courtesy car they have given me. Costs me £5 in petrol to get to work where mine costs £20!
I could get used to this!
Do you have to bed in the engine again after a head gasket change?
I know subaru engines are reliable. It's just my mates with Type R's winding me up saying they are chocolate engines!
We used to have heated arguments and now this is happened i'm getting some right flack!
Don't mean to upset the fanboys. Don't get me wrong I love my car but was not expecting this on a 3 year old car that's all.
If it's like this at 8C what's it going to be like in the summer at 25C?

 

Cheers boys for the advice! I have removed the old thermostat and placed it in a bowl on boiling water about 92c and it only opened about 2-3mm I'm no expert but for a thermostat that's ment to open at 78c this is no where near enough. Anyway with the new one installed there is no more problem. I took the car out some back roads and gave it **** for half an hour and then let it idle for about the same. There is no overheating no oil nothing it doesn't even go above half way on the temp guage. Thanks again dynomat for the advice.

So of you see a black sti in Aberdeen going flat out with a smile on my face give me a wave.

 

dynomat lol

 

Out of TA season padding

 

sorry dynamix. we are a bit slow this side of the boarder lol. Do you know russ from wallice performance?

 

I do indeed

It's the time zone difference I guess

 

yea could be I think it could be the kilts and cold weather numbing my brains if you know what i mean Yeah i met him last week when he remaped my car he was saying hes into the time attack thing. I have a mate that might be starting that with a 4x4 cossy powered 106 with 620bhp. he hasn't got it back from rayland yet but should be scary.

 

Great news fella. Very much hoping I can report the same thing on Monday

 

Great news nug. Think I might give the garage that mines at a ring and ask them about the thermostat tomorrow.
The garage phoned to tell me they have sent the head off for testing. Hopefully it'll come back ok.
If I get a differet airpanel filter will I get waste gate noise? I get a little bit on cold nights as it is but would like it audible all the time.

 

There are two heads on a scooby engine. You mean they haven't checked the thermostat?

Air filter will make almost no difference to wastegate noise.

 

as above thought you had to do both

 

Yeah both heads. I haven't heard anything about the thermostat, even though it'll probably be the cause. They are getting the gasket fixed and heads checked first.
Believe me, I will be mentioning it!
I hope the heads come back ok. Surely there would have been smoke if something major had gone.

 

Right guys I have the anwser to the rush of water behind the dash it is.... ready for it.... Low coolant level!!! acording to one of the guys at my local scooby dealership. Which i think would be worth pointing out is the head mechanic..

I have had a few problems with my 07 hawkeye, that i have owned for 3 weeks, and whilst on a test drive with my guy (as i was trying to demo a problem they couldn't pick up, to cut a long story short) the rush of water happened and he said is that the noise? i which point i said no but what the blo*dy hell is it??? as this has baffeled me for 3 years..

The interesting thing is, topping it up. His advice to me as to the correct way of topping it up is as follows....

1. this is a two man job!!!
2. from cold rev the engine to about 3k and mantain.
3. Fill the thing up until it can't take any more. (as the level drops when engine off)

If you don't do the above the tank will / could pop the top off over flow etc..

 

This might be a stupid question but I take it you mean filling it up at the small expansion bottle to your left when your looking at the engine bay?

 

Not a stupid question at all bud, not quit sure what you mean so... As you open the bonnet, looking into the engine bay, with the intercooler infront and the are air filter to your left, the coolant expansion tank is on your right next to the rad.

This is where you fill it up. Hope that makes sence

 

So you start the car with no coolant in it? I thought it was a pressurised system? What about air going through the water pump? Sounds a bit dangerous to me. Are you sire this is the right way?

 

I think what my guy was getting at was topping up the coolant as aposed to a complete change, i am with you, running it with no coolant does sound like mechaical suicide

Bearing in mind when the rush of water sound happens is normally a good time to act.

 

The garage just phoned. My heads aren't cracked but one needed the valve holes remachineing as they have had heat through them, apparently. They recommend they do both heads for this as well as reskimming. Said I would be losing combustion pressure.
He said that he had looked into uprated gaskets but they change the characteristics of the engine and they aren't required on what power I'm running.
It's £105 per head to do the valve remachineing.
They are changing the cambelt, thermostat etc. I've read some bad things about 06sti engine mounts. Should I change these too?
Christ everything you read says, "Subaru own part ****, buy this better version" etc
where does it end?
Looking forward to getting my car back. What would you do to your car to get to the next step powerwise after the prodrive performance pack?

 

Hmmm

without wanting to appear rude but how the heck Cana diff head gasket change the characteristics of an engine ????

Did you get a second opinion onthe original issue?

 

Engine mounts are fine as are most of the original parts don't be in a hurry to 'upgrade' unless there significant reasons.