Bigpower

As some may have read, twice since September, my beloved Subaru has done a very good impression of steam engine due to coolant leaks.
Imagine my joy (not) when the bloody thing did it again today :x
I could nt see where the coolant was coming from, and even the RAC man was clueless.
I'll endeavour to try again tomorrow, but am considering the water pump housing. The top hose seems fine, and it's pooling in the shallow underneath the plenum again.......
Its not overheating, not running rough, just steaming and confusing its owner :?
I am starting to wonder if it's just old thing s need replacing, or time to get another car.

Could be something like a hose starting to leak under pressure due to perishing through age.
I have seen this a few times before. As it is steam it is difficult to trace.
Get a set of nice new silicone ones on there if it turns out to be a hose.
Worth changing anyway as an old hose going big time can cause a nasty engine failure of course.
Good luck finding the cause
Eddy

There's a few hoses that could leak in that area. From the top hose, theres a cast alloy pipe that bolts to the top of the engine with an 'o' ring seal.

There's small rubber tubes that heat the throttle body and on early cars, the idle control valve. Heater and turbo hoses are at the back too.

Is the engine losing water and how much?

Gerry, It's losing barely any water at all. I drove it 8 miles back home after discovering the steam, and it still did nt need topping up.
Confused of Epping! There is coolant with anti freeze pooled in the top of the engine casing, visible under the plenum.
I'll be checking the header tank seal too, but I struggle to figure out checking for leaks when it's all in bits.
There's never a dull moment with these cars is there!

A split in the rad can spray around and isn't easy to spot as it opens and closes with pressure.

If you have a friendly garage nearby, it would be worth getting them to do a system pressure test.

The news.................chemical test shows its the head gasket
Guess who's looking for another lump (preferably a reliable one this time)
Gutted of Epping...

What's a chemical test?

Unless it's caused by corrosion, why not just gaskets?

Look on the bright side, if it is u/s it's a good opportunity to go for a 2.5 lump

Yeah surely its just a case of changing the gaskets if they have gone ?

Sounds like the engine itself was running ok ?

It test for the presence of gases subject to combustion within the coolant system, more than that, I can't tell you.
It may well be the gaskets, my next question would be for advice around do I
a: Do the head gaskets, get the heads pressure tested and put it all back together?
b: Get another UK lump (and am I restricted to a UK lump)
c: Do something else worthwhile with my money to resolve it...

I have considered the "silver lining" route, but it's a daily driver and covers 2-300 miles per week, I need reliability over testicle straining power, although a little more would nt go amiss.
Suggestions on a post card to.....

I'd have a chat with one of the Subaru specialists and see what they could offer.
They'll be able to advise what will be best.

I think more power reduces the reliability, stock cars are heavily restricted for that reason in my opinion. With all older cars you can spend money improving one thing but this highlights a weak link somewhere else and you spend the next while fixing all those issues.