coolest leak (coolent leak only when driving)

**BrandonPaquette** · 12-25-2009 03:51 PM

hello i need some help with a coolant leak.

One day I was driving and I got a sweet smell in the car, but i thought it was just the old truck ahead of me but when i pulled over to get gas i realized the car had smoke coming from the engine bay. So I opened it up and i found coolant sprayed on the front of the engine block and by the air intake box is (called back to where the car was parked and there was no coolent in the snow). The reservoir was full a couple days before but when i checked it it was at the low line but the radiator was still full. I got home refilled the reservoir, let it run for 30 min at its running temperature, could not find the leak, reved the engine could not find the leak and there was no visible leaking on the snow underneath the car in the driveway during those 30 minutes. Took it for a 15 mintute test drive and coolent was then sprayed again on the front of the engine and where the air box is. The reservoir was at low again but the radiator was full still. From what I saw it seems this is only happening when the coolent is under pressure. Could anyone help me locate where the coolant may be coming from. Thank you in advance.

**mexicanzero** · 12-25-2009 07:15 PM

what car is it?
any chance its coming out the rad cap?
maybe boiling over or worse a tiny head gasket leak that only leaks when under load
hope i'm wrong

-Alex

**BrandonPaquette** · 12-25-2009 07:35 PM

Its a 2002 subaru wrx. no its not the rad cap after the frist ime i cleaned up all the coolant. the second time there was no coolant where the cap is. but if it was the head gasket why is front of the engine bay covered in coolant. i will try and get some pic up tomorrow of the bay with the coolant.

**mexicanzero** · 12-25-2009 07:42 PM

well with h.g. leaks the coolant system gets overpressurized so it could be spewing out the rad cap onto the front of the eng when the pressure gets to be great enough...

but ya pics would help

-Alex

**SD_GR** · 12-25-2009 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by BrandonPaquette

why is front of the engine bay covered in coolant.

A radiator seam or upper hose may be leaking. Pressure test the system and if you cannot find a leak when doing so, try wiggling the top hose and see if that generates a leak. Both are common failures.

**T.J.** · 12-25-2009 09:34 PM

Originally Posted by SD_GR

try wiggling the top hose and see if that generates a leak.

This.

Sounds exactly like when the top tank on my radiator cracked right under the top hose. It was a pain to find at first because it was in a hard place to see and didn't want to leak when the car wasn't moving. Easy fix, just order an aluminum rad online. They can be had on ebay for cheaper than a stock replacement.

You can find a million threads about this. Very common problem and very likely considering it's an '02. This happened to my '02 this year too.

Good luck, T.J.

**BrandonPaquette** · 12-26-2009 11:07 AM

well i found the leak today it was the radiator, cracked right under the top hose. T.J. was right looking at tit the frist time could find it but when i was driving it would spray out but today after the second test drive it must have gotten bigger after the coolant heated up you copuld see it bubbling out of the plastic top of the rap

Thank you guys for all the help

anyone know if there is a good aftermarket rad that is all aluminum no plastic top for the 2002 wrx

**T.J.** · 12-26-2009 11:06 PM

Good to here.

People around here seem to be fond of the Mishimoto brand radiator.

**BrandonPaquette** · 12-27-2009 03:56 PM

replacing my rad i was look to buy one of these and i was hope that you could help me pick one out

Racing Radiators Subaru WRX 2002 Yonaka Racing Radiator with Fan and Shroud - WRX 01-07

or
Racing Radiators Subaru WRX 2002 Mishimoto Racing Radiator - WRX/WRX STI 2001-2007

any help wpuld be great thank you