Aaaargh! I've just experienced TWO high pressure coolant leaks in as many weeks! The first was last Wednesday 21st (top hose split - fair enough, it's 14.5yrs old). The second was last night (30th) and this time it's the driver's side black plastic end piece on the side of the rad! There's a tiny pin-hole near the top which pees coolant out under pressure.

Obviously I need a new rad, but don't much fancy spending loads on one. There are a couple on eBay - one is silver alloy with OEM-spec plastic end pieces for £67 delivered... SUBARU CAR RADIATORS TO FIT IMPREZA & LEGACY on eBay, also, Subaru, Car Parts, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 31-May-08 09:47:08 BST)...

The other is all-alloy inc. the end pieces!, is £160 del. from China and claims to run 30% cooler than OEM... alloy aluminum radiator Subaru WRX STI GC8 on eBay, also Engine Tuning Parts, Performance Tuning Parts, Car Tuning Styling, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 01-Jun-08 04:52:03 BST).

Are these eBay specials worth it, or are they cheaply made and crap?

The interesting thing is, these coolant system failures have DEFINITELY coincided after fitting an uprated 1.3bar STi rad cap (OEM is 0.9bar)! This raises the pressure and, therefore, the temperature of the coolant, to aid with cooling before the cap opens. Do you reckon that this extra pressure in the system is causing the failures? It seems far too coincidental to me... especially bearing in mind that, prior to the STi cap being fitted, the system had been fine for some 19 months!

Bottom line, can anybody recommend a particular non-expensive rad for a 1993MY WRX ???

Cheers, John.

P.S. The black plastic header tank has recently been replaced too (another well-known weak point on the 92-96 cars)... Which was nice. (I'll seize upon the opportunity to get the bottom hose replaced too )

 

no exactly how you feel i fitted the cap then the top hose pin holed, then a crack appear whilst in traffic about 3-4inches down the passenger side of the rad, now the O ring on the passenger side of the coolant cross over weaps until the thermostat opens, which mean inlet manifold off to get to it. my top hose cost 20 rad cost 90 (standard aftermarket one)

 

Some things are best just left alone, the OE rad is fine. You wont see temp drops of 30% by switching to the above rad.

 

Yeah, I normally follow that mantra implicitly! Damn! Damn! why did I fit that STi cap - everything was fine before!

As mentioned, had to replace top hose at £37 at RCM... And RCM have quoted c.£250 all in for OEM rad, bottom hose, plus fitting.

That bloody STi cap will have cost me nearly £300 in coolant system repairs! Aaargh!... That sucker will be resold back on eBay within a thrice!...