Coolant/water levels
 

Been keeping an eye on the water level since my last post as previous owner had filled the expansion tank to the very top, so syphoned it out until it was between low and high. I have used it a bit this week and temp gauge reads normal, doesnt change on boost etc, but every now and then it smells a bit 'radiatory' and if I pop the bonnet after a spirited drive there are bubbles in the expansion tank (like its boiling), though the level is still just below full. Does this sound normal?

Wanna check you're header tank as well mate, make sure that is filled pretty much too the top, could just be that the car gives off that smell, obviously all cars are different, might be worth having a pressure test done for peace of mind.

Yeah, header tank level stays fine too. Cheers.

check all around your walter pump they are know to leak around there.

Looks like it has a cheapy fake Sti cap that doesn't look to good so going to replace that with a proper one.

Hate to bring this up but mines doing exactly the same but it looks like mine is the head gaskets!

It's either the rad cap gone and allowing the water to boil as its not under pressure the pressure pushes water out and you have a full overflow tank and a half empty header tank.

Or as it looks in my case, the H/G has gone as the combustion gases are passing it into the coolant over pressuring the system and causing overflow and an almost empty header tank.

Yes mate, going to change the cap and hopefully that'll do the trick. The one in it is a fake Sti one that doesn't seem to seal very well.

Hope you get yours sorted and it turns out to be less serious.

I would put a normal cap on rather than an STI one aswell if your worried about pressure 0.9 vs 1.2 bar

My STi one played up at the ring last year, put the standard one back on and it was fine

Oh thats not good..:cry:

Engine out time I think!

When I cracked my 2.1 it did the same... Hope it's the cheap option Lucky

Think so James. Its behaving itself apart from that. The levels are all fine etc even after a blast and its not loosing any water so will change the cap and empty/refill the system in case there is any air in it and go from there.

Cheers for everyones advice.

Thats a sh*tter Nick :( Hope it doesn't end up too expensive.

Meh :( :sad: