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Seeking Possible source of coolant leak??

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On my 86 turbo, the passenger side shows drops of coolant hanging from the motor mount...I have exchanged and re-checked the coolant pipe under the turbo and it is dry and clean, also any pipes and rubber hoses on top of the manifold appear to be dry... IS IT possible that the coolant could be leaking from the corner of the head just above the passenger motor mount..I can not see up in there because of the motor mount and cross member being in the way..topping up the coolant is about 1 cup every 120 miles..just maybe the subaru blue bottle stop leak could work here

it is a possibility that its an external water leak from the headgasket. Have you checked to see where the coolant line under the turbo goes into the bottom of the head? I have seen one that leaked from there due to a bad copper crush washer.

  • Author

I will look more closely at that pipe going into the head..if there are no leaks coming from the pipe, then I can only assume the leak is coming from the corner of the head...

it is a possibility that its an external water leak from the headgasket. Have you checked to see where the coolant line under the turbo goes into the bottom of the head? I have seen one that leaked from there due to a bad copper crush washer.
  • Author

what do you think..if I tightened ever so slightly the head bolt closet to the possible leak..would it make the situation possibly worse ??

it is a possibility that its an external water leak from the headgasket. Have you checked to see where the coolant line under the turbo goes into the bottom of the head? I have seen one that leaked from there due to a bad copper crush washer.

Usually, once the gasket is bad enough to start leaking, tightening the bolts won't do any good. And for the amount of work needed to get at the bolts, you may as well just put in a new HG.

 

I have never seen an EA82 head gasket leak externally. Not saying it's impossible, but all the ones I've seen were internal leaks. Looking at the oreintation of the cylinders and the water jacket passages..... doesn't look very likely unless the gasket was improperly installed.

 

GD

  • Author

I just remembered maybe 10 yrs ago, the service manager saying the same thing "external leaking gasket"..but they did show the water dripping from the corner..easier to see on a N/A

GD

I have never seen an EA82 head gasket leak externally.

Have you cleaned up the engine to be able to get a better look at it? It could also be the intake manifold gasket leaking, and running down. Look for a white chaulky trail from the coolant evaporating on the hot engine. It will leave stains on the aluminum.The GL-10 I had did that. You could see the stain around the plug hole.

  • Author

A good point..that never occurred to me since the manifold gaskets were changed by the previous owner about 4 yrs ago..this would be the right length of time to leak if the cheaper quality gaskets were used..

Have you cleaned up the engine to be able to get a better look at it? It could also be the intake manifold gasket leaking, and running down. Look for a white chaulky trail from the coolant evaporating on the hot engine. It will leave stains on the aluminum.The GL-10 I had did that. You could see the stain around the plug hole.
  • 3 weeks later...
  • Author

Just an update here..it has been almost 3 wks since adding the "subaru coolant conditioner" ...I have been driving the car for about 600miles and have not noticed any discernable leak any where nor have I had to add any coolant...hopefully it will be a good stop gap until spring time

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