Help with burnt coolent smell and oil light.

SUBYS R US · 01-02-2012, 03:40 PM

I posted this in the 2.0 section. I just want to get the locals oppinion.

So here's the deal, I have a 03 WRX with 100K+ miles on the stock motor. The pas couple of months I have been smelling burnt coolent and having to refill the coolent about twice a month and that was the end of that.

Today my temp peaked to the top of the gauge on the dash and the oil light is going on and off. The coolent gauge will peak for the most part when idling and for the most part will go down when driving at a normal speed but there are the times that it will peak when driving 30-40MPH. There is still the smell of coolent.

The other problem is when starting the car up after being static for 12-14hrs it will blow a puff of whiteish smoke from the exhaust.

What could the problem be? Is the motor going, bad compression, something is going on.

Thanks,
Mike

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Momosaurus WRX · 01-02-2012, 04:20 PM

wait, you are driving when your water temp gauge is peaking?!

If the oil light is going on/off, check your upper radiator hose. Sometimes on bugeyes the upper hose swells, hits the alternator pulley/belt, and gets pinhole in it, sprays coolant on teh engine and on one of the oil sensors (i dunno what it's called off the top of my head...) on top of the block causing the oil light to turn on and off.

SUBYS R US · 01-02-2012, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Momosaurus WRX

wait, you are driving when your water temp gauge is peaking?!

If the oil light is going on/off, check your upper radiator hose. Sometimes on bugeyes the upper hose swells, hits the alternator pulley/belt, and gets pinhole in it, sprays coolant on teh engine and on one of the oil sensors (i dunno what it's called off the top of my head...) on top of the block causing the oil light to turn on and off.

I saw that is was peaked .5 miles from my house, so it wasnt a long drive but I did notice it was going up and down but not from the peak of the gauge.

There is alot of coolent in the splash tray on the bottom area were the rad is. I did not see any crack or coolent on the top of the rad.

scoobydorift · 01-02-2012, 04:39 PM

Sounds like a bad head gasket to me, basically pushing oil and pressure into the coolant, and also burning oil and coolant in the process. The oil gauge coming on is what scares me, that means that your oil pressure is way too low, like dangerously low.

1. Check oil level immediately.
2. once car is cool, open the upper radiator cap and overflow bottle, look for oil blobs or oil in the coolant.
3. if you discover oil in the coolant, it is most likely a head gasket, so you will want to run a compression test to make sure.

Let us know what you find out, and good luck

Rick

godfather2112 · 01-02-2012, 05:40 PM

Im going with head gasket as well. Compression test that bad boy.

Psychoreo · 01-02-2012, 05:41 PM

Cracked radiator.

SUBYS R US · 01-02-2012, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scoobydorift

Sounds like a bad head gasket to me, basically pushing oil and pressure into the coolant, and also burning oil and coolant in the process. The oil gauge coming on is what scares me, that means that your oil pressure is way too low, like dangerously low.

1. Check oil level immediately.
2. once car is cool, open the upper radiator cap and overflow bottle, look for oil blobs or oil in the coolant.
3. if you discover oil in the coolant, it is most likely a head gasket, so you will want to run a compression test to make sure.

Let us know what you find out, and good luck

Rick

oil level is good,There is absolutly no oil in the coolent that I saw or in the res. I filled it with some coolent and ran it for 30 mins and took a drive around the block. There is steam coming from the return line and fluid build up in that area. I dont see any fluid or residual fluid on top just on the bottom.

bhhamblin · 01-02-2012, 05:54 PM

Return line from the turbo? Or lower coolant radiator hose?

SUBYS R US · 01-02-2012, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhhamblin

Return line from the turbo? Or lower coolant radiator hose?

OHH... Lower rad hose. That's where you can see the steam burn off from when the car is turned off.

Eww Evo · 01-02-2012, 06:45 PM

Bottom hose not ripped?

SUBYS R US · 01-02-2012, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eww Evo

Bottom hose not ripped?

no, not that i can see. I will be taking it to the base hobby shop tomorrow and see whats going on

CprWrx · 01-03-2012, 10:34 AM

check your oil is there water in it?

Derk Deez · 01-03-2012, 09:27 PM

If white smoke is coming out the back, you have to be burning either coolant or oil. Smell the exhaust when its coming out, both have a distinct smell. Sounds like you have a leak somewhere if there's coolant in the undertray. Follow your hoses and look for one with a white-ish green hint. More than likely with overheating and smoke, head gasket...

01-02-2012, 03:40 PM	#1
SUBYS R US Scooby Specialist Member#: 99591 Join Date: Oct 2005 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Layton,UT Vehicle: 2003 18g w/38EWG PSM(siver)	Help with burnt coolent smell and oil light. I posted this in the 2.0 section. I just want to get the locals oppinion. So here's the deal, I have a 03 WRX with 100K+ miles on the stock motor. The pas couple of months I have been smelling burnt coolent and having to refill the coolent about twice a month and that was the end of that. Today my temp peaked to the top of the gauge on the dash and the oil light is going on and off. The coolent gauge will peak for the most part when idling and for the most part will go down when driving at a normal speed but there are the times that it will peak when driving 30-40MPH. There is still the smell of coolent. The other problem is when starting the car up after being static for 12-14hrs it will blow a puff of whiteish smoke from the exhaust. What could the problem be? Is the motor going, bad compression, something is going on. Thanks, Mike * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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01-02-2012, 04:20 PM	#2
Momosaurus WRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 214737 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: South Ogden	wait, you are driving when your water temp gauge is peaking?! If the oil light is going on/off, check your upper radiator hose. Sometimes on bugeyes the upper hose swells, hits the alternator pulley/belt, and gets pinhole in it, sprays coolant on teh engine and on one of the oil sensors (i dunno what it's called off the top of my head...) on top of the block causing the oil light to turn on and off.

01-02-2012, 04:39 PM	#4
scoobydorift Scooby Specialist Member#: 43128 Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: SLC Vehicle: 92 RWD, 96 FWD 05 AWD	Sounds like a bad head gasket to me, basically pushing oil and pressure into the coolant, and also burning oil and coolant in the process. The oil gauge coming on is what scares me, that means that your oil pressure is way too low, like dangerously low. 1. Check oil level immediately. 2. once car is cool, open the upper radiator cap and overflow bottle, look for oil blobs or oil in the coolant. 3. if you discover oil in the coolant, it is most likely a head gasket, so you will want to run a compression test to make sure. Let us know what you find out, and good luck Rick

01-02-2012, 05:40 PM	#5
godfather2112 doesn't like pears Moderator Member#: 53794 Join Date: Jan 2004 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: utah Vehicle: .... Just call me Papi Chulo	Im going with head gasket as well. Compression test that bad boy.

01-02-2012, 05:41 PM	#6
Psychoreo Scooby Specialist Member#: 79643 Join Date: Jan 2005 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Torrington, CT Vehicle: 04 EJ207 Swapped Mikey tuned 271whp/287wtq	Cracked radiator.

01-02-2012, 05:54 PM	#8
bhhamblin n00b Moderator Moderator Member#: 99397 Join Date: Oct 2005 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Clinton, UT Vehicle: '13 BRZ, '13 STi SRs13 '83 Skyline '93 GTR	Return line from the turbo? Or lower coolant radiator hose?

01-02-2012, 06:45 PM	#10
Eww Evo Scooby Specialist Member#: 299687 Join Date: Nov 2011 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: WVC, Utah Vehicle: 06 Impreza Wrx Track car in the making.	Bottom hose not ripped?

01-03-2012, 10:34 AM	#12
CprWrx Scooby Newbie Member#: 264748 Join Date: Nov 2010 Chapter/Region: RMIC Vehicle: 2006 wrx silver	check your oil is there water in it?

01-03-2012, 09:27 PM	#13
Derk Deez Scooby Newbie Member#: 265246 Join Date: Nov 2010 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: SLUT Vehicle: 2006 STi Make ya say giggggittyyy	If white smoke is coming out the back, you have to be burning either coolant or oil. Smell the exhaust when its coming out, both have a distinct smell. Sounds like you have a leak somewhere if there's coolant in the undertray. Follow your hoses and look for one with a white-ish green hint. More than likely with overheating and smoke, head gasket...