Soup Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 My 2000 OBW is causing me grief! I am getting a coolant odor intermittently, usually on cold days (-25 to -40c). I have pulled the lower engine cover off twice to look for the leak, thinking it was an external head gasket leak, However today I located it. It seems to be coming from the bottom of the Rad, where the lower tank mounts to the rad, It's leaking in two spots - where the rad sits on the body of the car, at this location the bent tabs that secure the lower tank to the rad do not bend over the tank. I also found brown goo in the rad overflow tank (oil residue I think). Any suggestions.. Is this a blown head gasket, overpressurizing the coolant system?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intrigueing Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 You get any overheating symptoms? The brown goo would have me scared........Crosses fingers........ Good Luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soup Posted January 14, 2004 Author Share Posted January 14, 2004 No Overheating as yet.... My Dealer seems to think that the left head gasket is blown (apparently it's always the left). I have a appointment for next tues at the dealer. It's under warranty, which is the good news. If it is a head gasket, should I hang on to the car?? Is it likely to re-offend? My Dealer says it will probably go again in 60k??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoobySchmitty Posted January 15, 2004 Share Posted January 15, 2004 I thought the gasket problem was fixed in 99??? Weird. Maybe you should prod them about a replacement motor, only make sure it's the more reliable 2.5 SOHC, not the DOHC. (Unless, you DO have the SOHC and the gasket's leaking...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soup Posted January 15, 2004 Author Share Posted January 15, 2004 This is the SOHC 2.5 Phase 2 engine. I think they don't like the extreme cold (-25 to -40c) The dealer said they already had 4 head gasket replacements in this week! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avk Posted January 15, 2004 Share Posted January 15, 2004 It might be simply a common type of radiator failure, although it usually happens with older cars. The seal in the crimp joint leaks upon start-up, when the thermostat is closed so the rad is still cold but pressure is already building up. When the rad. warms up, the seal expands and closes the leak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joybell Posted January 15, 2004 Share Posted January 15, 2004 I have a 2003 2.5x Forester. Yesterday it was extremely cold. I started my Forester and then went back to the house while it warmed up. When I came back out 3-5 minutes later, there was a coolant smell and the temperature gauge was up past the halfway point. I drove it anyway, and the gauge dropped back down to normal again. Today it is even colder and I don't dare even start it. THIS IS A 2003!!! I don't think there is such a thing as a reliable 2.5L engine. The good ones are the 2.0L and the 2.2L, and of course the old 1.8L. I would rather have them put a 2.2L engine in my Forester, if it is possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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