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06-13-2017, 11:01 PM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 446267
Join Date: May 2016
Chapter/Region:
TXIC
Location: Dallas, TX
Vehicle:2014 WRX Premium Dark Grey Metallic |
Coolant Overflow Mystery! But It's Not The Head Gasket?
Okay so here is the problem:
- When driving hard and under heavy boost such as at autocross or at the track, coolant pushes into the overflow tank to the point where it sprays out of the top and into the engine bay. Here are details about my WRX: - 2014 WRX Premium Sedan - 41k Miles on odometer - 325whp/385wtq on E75 @ 20 PSI - Tuned to above levels since 02/2017 Here are the modifications: - Full Catted TBE - Cobb Intake - Cobb Flex Fuel Kit - Cobb FMIC - 1000cc ID Injectors - AEM 320lph Pump - IAG AOS - Koyo Aluminum Radiator I'll just jump to when the problem first started... I DIY installed the flex fuel, fmic, and pump from the list above and then got tuned shortly after by Calvin of Dotson Tuning on AWDTunings Dyno. The car did really well and put down 325whp no problem. The following weekend, I take my car to autocross and start doing runs. After the first session I popped the hood and noticed coolant in the engine bay that had clearly come from a full to the brim overflow tank that was bubbling. No signs of oil, it just looke like clean coolant with big air bubbles. I dismissed it at the time and ran the rest of the day with no overheating. I even drove back on the highway for an hour. So fast forward a month later with coolant issues but some gaskets in the fuel pump came loose and i had to fix it and get retuned. I got that done and all was well again. A week into my retune I finally push the car hard and the my coolant overflows again. I do some research and start suspecting the head gasket. Fast forward to now. At this point I can recreate the issue by doing a 4-5 consecutive hard pulls. I feel like I have tested everything I can to see if it is indeed the head gasket and all tests are telling me it is not the head gasket... Here is what I have tried to do to fix the problem in order: 1. Burped the system with no spill funnel. I do this many times. 2. I replaced both radiator caps with Radium 1.5 bar caps as suggested by AWDTuning. Problem persisted. 3. Inspected coolant lines by thermostat housing, turbo, and radiator. No leaks. 4. Took off undertray for a few days to see if coolant leaked onto the ground. Nothing. 5. Observed coolant levels for a few days and none was lost. 6. Had radiator pressure tested. No leaks. 7. Replaced stock radiator with aluminum Koyo radiator. Problem persisted 8. Switched back to stock radiator caps. Same issue. 9. Brought it to Growler Motorlabs (formerly Cobb Plano). The techs did a chemical combustion gas test which turned up negative. I brought it back on pump gas only as advised and they tested it again. Tests were negative for HG failure. 10. I spoke with Cobb techs and they say it doesn't seem like a head gasket issue. They seemed to not be able to come to a definite conclusion which surprised me. During this time my coolant temperature never went over 210F! I also never noticed the typical head gasket signs such as milkshake like residue in oil. I am not losing coolant, it just keeps overflowing. I've heard that a crack in the turbo can cause this but am not sure about that. The car runs fine and doesn't overheat. Im stumped therefore I call upon the mighty power of NASIOC to help me decide... Do I need a head gasket job or new turbo? Am I insane? Am I going insane? Help! |
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