Coolant spills out

[beaster]

When I bought Subaru Forester sg5 1 month ago, we noticed some leakage and mechanic decided that it was leakage from AT which was a bit overflown.
But yesterday I noticed the engine temperature rising high. During the driving I saw the coolant temperature indicator was behaving erratically like going to normal and than up to the red again. The engine coolant (red colour liquid) was almost at the top of the of the coolant reservoir and engine bay was sprayed with the red stuff.
This morning when I checked the level of the engine coolant, I didn't see any.
It looks like the coolant reservoir is empty and small mark on the asphalt under the car.
What's going on?

Any suggestions which coolant I have to put in?

Thanks.

[C. J.]

Sounds like head gasket gone

[beaster]

Originally Posted by C. J.

Sounds like head gasket gone

How expensive this is and can I drive the car for 30-40 miles to the garage to fix it?

[SpecB]

Make sure you refill the coolant before going anywhere, if you're lucky it's just exhaust gases getting into the coolant so it's a skim and new gaskets, if any water has got into the oil or the bores it's a much bigger job!

There is a small chance it's just an airlock so draining and refilling coolant may sort it - refill by removing the top radiator hose at the radiator end and slowly filling down the hose, once you can't get any more in the attach then top up through the filler cap - do this with the heater on full hot and you should be airlock free. If this doesn't sort it then it's almost definitely HG.

[beaster]

Can I adress this kind of problem in the local non-subaru garage or I need to go to the nearest Subaru garage 30 miles away? And which coolant I need to put in?

[C. J.]

Originally Posted by beaster

How expensive this is and can I drive the car for 30-40 miles to the garage to fix it?

Depends what you call expensive and who you use .
Easy way to check is fill the header tank up take the tube out the expansion tank and extend so it will squirt up the windscreen. Take up the road with boost , if you need to use your windscreen wipers with out it raining then 100% head gasket
As for driving it who knows! Bit of string really

[SpecB]

Excellent advice as usual from CJ.

If it is HG I'd suggest a Subaru specialist (not main dealer) or at least an engine builder with experience of the Subaru Engines. It's more expensive than a lot of other cars as the engine has to come out as the HGs can't easily be done in situ. Plus you've got two heads as well!

A leak down test if done properly should tell you exactly where the leak is so if it's not affected the oil or bores you may get away with just replacing one side but it's probably a false economy!

[beaster]

Thanks all.
So I fill the coolant reservoir with any coolant I find and give a ring to Surrey Subaru specialist or Slowboy racing as they are local to me.

[SpecB]

I'd just just plain water for now, it's not cold enough to freeze and you're not driving the car far! Removes any risk of a reaction between the two. I always use Distilled water in my coolant to avoid the risk of scale build up but I'm not convinced it actually makes any difference!

Either of those should be good, I don't know much about Slowboy but Surrey Subaru have a very good reputation.

[beaster]

Originally Posted by SpecB

I'd just just plain water for now,

Yes, this makes sense. Will do that. Thanks.

[C. J.]

I'd use http://www.tfsracing.co.uk/ over the two above names but everyone has there opinion and that's mine

[SpecB]

My opinion is only second hand references just to confirm!

[asperformance]

bear in mind it could quite easily be a split radiator / pipe but ultimately may lead to a head issue if not caught or diagnosed correctly

[beaster]

Just came back from work, checked the coolant level directly in the radiator. The level dropped after I started the engine and I had to add 0.5L of water to bring the level back. I saw the coolant bubbling when I was adding the water. Is it normal?
I noticed 2 massive coolers on the radiator are not spinning. Could it be the reason of the overhearing and coolant expansion?

coolant bubbling:

[MIDLIFE]

Might be worth checking your oil on the dipstick, as previously said water might be getting into the Oil/ sump, if it has I would not drive the car as it may cause damage to the engine.

[beaster]

Originally Posted by MIDLIFE

Might be worth checking your oil on the dipstick, as previously said water might be getting into the Oil/ sump, if it has I would not drive the car as it may cause damage to the engine.

Oil looks clean. I run the engine for 10 min. no smoke. I don't like the look of the coolant. it's orange colour, at the same time it's pink on the engine bay when spills.

[asperformance]

even when the head gasket does go its highly unusual for oil & water to mix on a Subaru engine as the oil galleries are at the extreme and only a water jacket around the actual cylinders.......if the oil & water have mixed its toast anyhows most likely

[beaster]

It looks like the oil in the radiator reservoir. Will take the car to slowboy-racing garage.

[beaster]

Quick update on this one.
HG in the end was to blame. Goodmayes motors fixed it. I've done 100miles so far, without overheating. All looks good.