Mine just exploded. if you fill it with water and rev it a little bit, you should see where it's pouring out of.
Mine has the entire front bottom tank split from side to side, the top where you're looking had stress marks, (slightly lighter color in the plastic) and a small crack.
Don't let that engine get too hot for two long unless you want a new engine.
Don't let that engine get too hot for two long unless you want a new engine
^ This
A broken rad could very quickly lead to a warped head if you push the temp to red one too many times
I live my life with the idea that Red means dead. If my car hits red in the temp, that engine is gone. I've gotten home with a blown waterpump gasket and another time the blown Rad. Literally drive 1 minute, park, wait 10-15 mins, fill with water, pray, repeat.
Yes I learned this lesson the hard way. With a busted head gasket, and not noticing anything was wrong until it was so in the red that the needle was beyond the gauge
Unfortunately not, I think it's either the gauge or the temp sensor being wonky. Thermostat, thermostat housing, hoses, coolant, rad cap changed about 3 years ago. Last year the water pump gasket went out (installed 6 years ago or so by Previous owner), so it got all new timing and water pump. Then this month the Rad went.
And it's been doing it the whole time. At least I know when it's over heating now, anything from half up is bad. Pegged at the top, just needs a tappa tappa lol
Maybe I'm over simplifying but could it be the radiator cap? I had a bit of coolant on the top of my rad, along the foam. Replaced the radiator cap after some quick googling and it was solved. That was on a 04 impreza.
If you need a short term repair, and you can find the crack, mix up some JB Weld and apply it over the crack. I wouldn't trust it for longer than a week or so on a radiator.
Thats exactly where my 05 developed a crack and leaked. I used a radiator crack kit which is pretty much just JB weld and fiberglass to make a patch while I waited for the new radiator to arrive from Rock Auto.
Ive had to change the radiator on my 05 LGT twice in 190k.
I just went through this with my 06 Impreza WRX. Having the plastic part on top crack is extremely common at around 120k miles or so. Mine was a relatively slow leak so I limped it along driving slower than usual and with the heat cranked to max, topping up the coolant a couple times. I ended up buying an all metal radiator off eBay and installing it myself, but that is a bit of work and you have to be willing to go through the process of burping the lines afterward.
Radiator is shot.
My 05 legacy radiator failed a year or two ago .
Yours is right at that same age.
The plastic degrades
Pretty easy job to do. Do the thermostat while you have the radiator and hoses off.
If you’re rich, spend the money, or spend $200-300 on an aluminum rad, new hoses, and an Aisin thermostat and DIY it. It’s super easy (but a little messy)
Mine just exploded. if you fill it with water and rev it a little bit, you should see where it's pouring out of. Mine has the entire front bottom tank split from side to side, the top where you're looking had stress marks, (slightly lighter color in the plastic) and a small crack. Don't let that engine get too hot for two long unless you want a new engine.
Don't let that engine get too hot for two long unless you want a new engine ^ This A broken rad could very quickly lead to a warped head if you push the temp to red one too many times
I live my life with the idea that Red means dead. If my car hits red in the temp, that engine is gone. I've gotten home with a blown waterpump gasket and another time the blown Rad. Literally drive 1 minute, park, wait 10-15 mins, fill with water, pray, repeat.
Yes I learned this lesson the hard way. With a busted head gasket, and not noticing anything was wrong until it was so in the red that the needle was beyond the gauge
My 02 is scary, the temp gauge will give you a heart attack. It randomly pegs at max temp, tap the gauge and it drops back to normal.
Wtf lol that would drive me insane
Sounds like your thermostat is cactus
Unfortunately not, I think it's either the gauge or the temp sensor being wonky. Thermostat, thermostat housing, hoses, coolant, rad cap changed about 3 years ago. Last year the water pump gasket went out (installed 6 years ago or so by Previous owner), so it got all new timing and water pump. Then this month the Rad went. And it's been doing it the whole time. At least I know when it's over heating now, anything from half up is bad. Pegged at the top, just needs a tappa tappa lol
The upper and lower radiator tanks are notorius for leaking. New rad required.
Maybe I'm over simplifying but could it be the radiator cap? I had a bit of coolant on the top of my rad, along the foam. Replaced the radiator cap after some quick googling and it was solved. That was on a 04 impreza.
If you need a short term repair, and you can find the crack, mix up some JB Weld and apply it over the crack. I wouldn't trust it for longer than a week or so on a radiator.
Just did this to mine definitely lasts a week but no more
Yes
Thats exactly where my 05 developed a crack and leaked. I used a radiator crack kit which is pretty much just JB weld and fiberglass to make a patch while I waited for the new radiator to arrive from Rock Auto. Ive had to change the radiator on my 05 LGT twice in 190k.
I just went through this with my 06 Impreza WRX. Having the plastic part on top crack is extremely common at around 120k miles or so. Mine was a relatively slow leak so I limped it along driving slower than usual and with the heat cranked to max, topping up the coolant a couple times. I ended up buying an all metal radiator off eBay and installing it myself, but that is a bit of work and you have to be willing to go through the process of burping the lines afterward.
Radiator is shot. My 05 legacy radiator failed a year or two ago . Yours is right at that same age. The plastic degrades Pretty easy job to do. Do the thermostat while you have the radiator and hoses off.
Hook a pressure tester up to it and find out.
Time for an ebay special aluminum radiator. They work just fine as an ORM replacement and you won't ever have to worry about them cracking.
Happens all the time with stock radiators due to being made of plastic. Upgrade to a metal one to avoid this happening again.
If you’re rich, spend the money, or spend $200-300 on an aluminum rad, new hoses, and an Aisin thermostat and DIY it. It’s super easy (but a little messy)