Anyone here had experence with Subaru WRX? (No Ferrari content) | Page 10 | FerrariChat
Buy

Anyone here had experence with Subaru WRX? (No Ferrari content)

Discussion in 'Australia' started by James-NZ, Nov 22, 2009.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Page 10 of 15
  1. James-NZ

    James-NZ F1 Veteran

    Jun 26, 2007
    5,822
    Hamilton, NewZealand
    Full Name:
    James
    #226 James-NZ, Jan 15, 2010
    Man, this car has been rubbish so far!!

    Spoke to a Subaru mechanic friend of mine regarding oil seals, while talking to him about this I brought up a issue I was having at the track, after pounding it for a few hot laps it would blow coolant out, he said this is a common issue and its the head gaskets....

    Good news is the cam seals are easy to replace while the heads are off :rolleyes:

    I will be taking the car out to him next week so he can diagnose it and confirm the head gaskets are at fault....

    Can't be bothered pulling the motor out myself so will get him to do the work for me...
     
  2. Aircon

    Aircon Ten Time F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Jun 23, 2003
    100,524
    Melbourne, Australia
    Full Name:
    Peter
    #227 Aircon, Jan 15, 2010
    did ferrarifister do the PPI?
     
  3. James-NZ

    James-NZ F1 Veteran

    Jun 26, 2007
    5,822
    Hamilton, NewZealand
    Full Name:
    James
    #228 James-NZ, Jan 15, 2010
    No, he wasn't avalable so I had Steviewonder do it for me instead....
     
  4. SPEEDCORE

    SPEEDCORE Four Time F1 World Champ

    Jul 11, 2005
    46,182
    Full Name:
    Toe Knee
    #229 SPEEDCORE, Jan 15, 2010
    You hurt it's feelings what do you expect :p
     
  5. James-NZ

    James-NZ F1 Veteran

    Jun 26, 2007
    5,822
    Hamilton, NewZealand
    Full Name:
    James
    #230 James-NZ, Jan 15, 2010
    LOL!!!


    UGLY bloody thing!!!


    Subaru = Sorta Ugly But All Racecar Underneath....


    :D
     
  6. moretti

    moretti Five Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 1, 2003
    59,757
    Australia
    Full Name:
    John
    #231 moretti, Jan 15, 2010
    they're the same person you dill :p
     
  7. SPEEDCORE

    SPEEDCORE Four Time F1 World Champ

    Jul 11, 2005
    46,182
    Full Name:
    Toe Knee
    #232 SPEEDCORE, Jan 15, 2010
    I warned you :p

    Also it likes to offend other motorists, when they look in the mirror it says UR A BUS :eek:
     
  8. wrxmike

    wrxmike Moderator
    Moderator Owner

    Mar 20, 2004
    7,674
    Full Name:
    Mike
    #233 wrxmike, Jan 15, 2010
    Sorry to hear abouyt the car. Countless WRX's perform reliably every weekend in rallies, track days and motorkhana's and head gaskets are not a common source of failure.


    (Gearboxes, turbo's , driveshafts, clutches and oil starved bottom ends are altogehter another thing entirely though )
     
  9. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    100,220
    Mount Isa, Australia
    Full Name:
    Pap
    #234 PAP 348, Jan 16, 2010
    Sorry to hear James. :(:(
     
  10. James-NZ

    James-NZ F1 Veteran

    Jun 26, 2007
    5,822
    Hamilton, NewZealand
    Full Name:
    James
    #235 James-NZ, Jan 16, 2010
    Thanks mate, I'm not sure if the mechanic was implying it was a common issue with Subaru's or that it is common for a blowen headgasket to present these symptoms at the track. In all honesty I thought it was a non issue as it shows no problems when driven on the street....

    Thanks Pap, but it's no real stress, I'll have it all fixed up like new and be ready to do some more hot laps in a few weeks....
     
  11. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    100,220
    Mount Isa, Australia
    Full Name:
    Pap
    #236 PAP 348, Jan 16, 2010
    Perhaps get a 2nd opinion from another mechanic James? :):)
     
  12. Aircon

    Aircon Ten Time F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Jun 23, 2003
    100,524
    Melbourne, Australia
    Full Name:
    Peter
    #237 Aircon, Jan 16, 2010
    there's not much point. if it's blowing out coolant, then it's stuffed.
     
  13. James-NZ

    James-NZ F1 Veteran

    Jun 26, 2007
    5,822
    Hamilton, NewZealand
    Full Name:
    James
    #238 James-NZ, Jan 17, 2010
    Agreed, might as well throw it in the skip....
     
  14. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    100,220
    Mount Isa, Australia
    Full Name:
    Pap
    #239 PAP 348, Jan 17, 2010
    Now now gents. :):)

    A few years ago my 348 started to "spew" coolant out of the overflow tube/header tank after every drive. I didnt investigate straight away (of course). I would just check the water level every now and then. Car never used to overheat or burn water. Just lost a bit when I used to pull up at home. :):)

    Anywho, I decided to investigate it one day and I found the radiator cap was faulty. The spring must have lost its tension over the years and wasnt sealing as tight as it should have. I pressure checked the cap using a mates pressure tester. ;);)

    I ordered a new cap from Ricambi and its been right ever since. :):)

    So if you car is just loosing coolant out of the overflow, then I would get a 2nd opinion mate. If its actually using water/losing water/overheating then I would lean towards headgaskets. A quick and easy check is the 'sniffer' test. :):)

    Could just be your cap mate, if you're lucky. :D:D
     
  15. Aircon

    Aircon Ten Time F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Jun 23, 2003
    100,524
    Melbourne, Australia
    Full Name:
    Peter
    #240 Aircon, Jan 17, 2010
    ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

    someone's touchy!!

    i didn't mean the car, i meant the head gasket.
     
  16. James-NZ

    James-NZ F1 Veteran

    Jun 26, 2007
    5,822
    Hamilton, NewZealand
    Full Name:
    James
    #241 James-NZ, Jan 17, 2010
    LOL!!! Not touchy at all, I agree, its stuffed.....

    My post was supposed to be humorous.....maybe I should have thrown one of these ...>:D<... on the end....


    :D
     
  17. James-NZ

    James-NZ F1 Veteran

    Jun 26, 2007
    5,822
    Hamilton, NewZealand
    Full Name:
    James
    #242 James-NZ, Jan 17, 2010
    I fitted a new genuine radiator when we did the major service....but I like that your thinking outside the square...

    I will get it diagnosed before it comes apart.....he was telling me about a test called a TK Head check, from what he said it is a solution in a test tube, you add some coolant to it from the car and if it changes color there is cO2 in the coolant, meaning there is a leak from the cylinder into the coolant...
     
  18. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    100,220
    Mount Isa, Australia
    Full Name:
    Pap
    #243 PAP 348, Jan 17, 2010
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2010
    You fitted a new genuine radiator or radiator CAP? :D:D

    Yeah, thats the test I was talking about. :D:D

    We used to use one where you put solution in a tube setup with a vacuum bulb on the end. You filled with solution then place it over the top of the radiator filler neck. You then squeezed a bulb on the end and it was like a vacuum pump, it sucked any gases (if any) into the solution. If the solution changed from blue to green the head gaskets were ****ed. :D:D

    DEFINITELY have that done before it comes apart. It sounds like you are having that test performed. :):)
     
  19. James-NZ

    James-NZ F1 Veteran

    Jun 26, 2007
    5,822
    Hamilton, NewZealand
    Full Name:
    James
    #244 James-NZ, Jan 17, 2010
    Haha, I replaced the radiator cap....Small misprint...:eek:

    Yep, will get that check done to make sure, but I also just phoned up another Subaru specialist, Possum Borne motorsport. Spoke to one of there mechanics and he said most likely head gasket from the symptoms, he said they see it regularly and it is fairly common.

    Good chance to give the engine a tidy up while it's out...:D
     
  20. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    100,220
    Mount Isa, Australia
    Full Name:
    Pap
    #245 PAP 348, Jan 17, 2010
    Lol, ok mate. :):)

    Sorry to hear, but good luck with it. :):)
     
  21. James-NZ

    James-NZ F1 Veteran

    Jun 26, 2007
    5,822
    Hamilton, NewZealand
    Full Name:
    James
    #246 James-NZ, Feb 17, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I picked her up last night. Both head-gaskets were leaking. Passenger side lower cam seal had blown out completely.

    While it was apart I took the opportunity to grab the intake manifold and refinish it. A common cosmetic issue with the STi engine is the red wrinkle finish flakes off the manifold. First up I had to completely strip all the parts, hoses and wiring off. I then removed all the flaky paint, rubbed it all down with wax and grease remover and applied 3 coats of VHT wrinkle finish paint. The red is brighter than the factory red but I think it looks ok. See photo's.

    The heads were machined and valves lapped in. We used genuine gaskets as these are the best avalable according to my mechanic. We had to fit another new cam-belt due to the oil leak wetting the last belt.

    She runs strong, heading away for a long weekend tomorrow, should put around a 1000kms on her and I hope to get a run up a mountain. Should be fun.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  22. Aircon

    Aircon Ten Time F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Jun 23, 2003
    100,524
    Melbourne, Australia
    Full Name:
    Peter
    #247 Aircon, Feb 17, 2010
    interesting
     
  23. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    100,220
    Mount Isa, Australia
    Full Name:
    Pap
    #248 PAP 348, Feb 17, 2010

    Cool pics mate! :):)

    You did an excellent job refinishing it. :D:D

    Cam seal blew out? Interesting. :):)

    I hope you have a nice drive this weekend up the moutain. :D:D
     
  24. alexm

    alexm F1 Veteran

    Sep 6, 2004
    5,223
    Coast up from Sydney
    Full Name:
    Alex
    #249 alexm, Feb 17, 2010
    Red came out well! you must be keen,capable AND have the right gear to go pulling engines out!

    Great job.. I like the WRX's nothing much comes close as DD at sensible price but still drivers car with tons of aftermarket options too.
     
  25. SPEEDCORE

    SPEEDCORE Four Time F1 World Champ

    Jul 11, 2005
    46,182
    Full Name:
    Toe Knee
    #250 SPEEDCORE, Feb 17, 2010
    Good stuff :D
     
Page 10 of 15

Share This Page