GH80

Have a few issues with a 2005 Sti which I have had for all of 4 days

There was a gurgling noise so I run the car without the header tank cap from cold for about 20 minutes. it overflowed very slightly (just a small trickle to start with then nothing) and there was maybe a very small bubble every 20 seconds or so. I gave the bottom rad pipe a few squeezes while running and more coolant came out, along with small foamy bubbles.

However, after this I took the car up the road for a quick run, nothing too severe and had the heaters on hot, no problems at all on or off boost. After waiting at the lights there was some steam from the bonnet and I smelled burning coolant, is this maybe the stuff that leaked during the idling? I hope so, I pulled up immediately and let the car cool. Didn't seem to be coming from any of the bottles but seemed like it was coming from beneath the header tank.

I was able to nurse the car home after about 10 minutes and it didnt seem to have any running issues and the temperature gauge was just above the 1/4 mark. After I got out I popped the bonnet and there was no coolant steam, but the bottom rad pipe was still cold and the top was hot. The temp gauge never got higher than 1/2 way and the engine did not seem to be too hot. No sign of anything coming out or bubbles in the expansion tank either.

The question is - how ****ed is it?! Does it sound like head gasket failure to you? Or have I other problems? I am getting it looked at by a specialist in a weeks time, I will park it up to then. I just need to know what to expect

Fonzey

iTrader: (5)

It's amazing how little coolant can make such a lot of smoke when spilled into your engine bay.

It doesn't sound particularly fatal if the car temperature is behaving.

Are you close to a specialist? Worth having it checked, but certainly wouldn't panic yet. The 2.0 in the 2005 is not particularly prone to HG failure.

scooby.steve555

iTrader: (5)

Sounds like you've got an air lock to me, not easy to bleed.
Do a search on here and it will show you how to bleed it properly

GH80

Yes, there is a specialist about 5 miles away but he can't take it until next Tuesday. I am hoping that a little spilled coolant must have moved when I hit boost, maybe landed on the turbo or exhaust? The steam was noticeable but it wasn't exactly pishing out everywhere! The smell was horrible, all I could think about was cooking engine Temps seem fine, and the rad fans are working (they kicked in after I stopped). Where is the water temp sensor? If there is an air lock, is one part of the engine cooking itself while the rest is cool? That doesn't exactly fill me with confidence!

All the tank caps (header rad and expansion) seemed to be dry. Trying not to worry but you know that's hard to do sometimes!

Steve's Sti

iTrader: (2)

Take off the engine tray underneath as the headers maybe burning the coolant that is stuck there, bleeding is a pain

Steve's Sti

iTrader: (2)

Bleeding i had to fill header tank squeeze top rad hose whilst topping up until it took no more, closed cap, filled up rad and expansion tank ran few seconds, opened and topped up both until they levelled out, ran to op temp, checked again worked for me

GH80

Something isn't right with mine, it doesn't seem to want to take any more coolant in the header tank regardless of which pipe I squeeze. Could be the thermostat? The rad is totally cold, except for the top part. Puzzled, just hoping it isn't head gaskets though!

Arkynsei

Had exactly the same with mine. Was not head gasket (got it sniff checked or w/e they call it!) Except my bubbles weren't foamy. I did the same as you and it did sort it, it may just need more or need refilling. I'm sure yours will be fine mate try not to panic. I was in the same state as you though, so I know it's easier said than done XD.