<swzhao@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1194389866.070429.261800@v3g2000hsg.googlegro ups.com...
> It seems that the coolant is leaking on my Forester 2001.
> The coolant level is around low. I filled it up to half full, but
> two
> days later it came back to the low line again. The weird thing is
> that it seems to stay at the low line since then and doesn't drop
> off
> anymore. What might be wrong?
>
> I called subaru dealer but they charge $125 simply for a checking.
> Isn't it too high?
>
> I remember people talked about Subaru's head gasket problem and I
> think I did add subaru's coolant conditioner about a year ago. If
> it
> is the cause, is my Forester still under warranty?
>


Call a car shop and ask what they charge to do a pressure test. If
the pressure decreases, there is a leak which removes some of the
fluid and allows the air to expand which reduces its pressure.

By low, were you using the line on the overflow tank? If so, how do
you know the fluid inside the radiator was low or not? Could be the
radiator was low, you added coolant to the overflow tank instead of
the radiator, so the fluid got sucked back into the radiator when it
cooled. When peering down past the opening after removing the
radiator cap, can you see the top of the fins? The cooland should be
higher than that. In fact, when cool, the coolant should be dripping
from the cap when you remove it because the coolant should be that
high inside the radiator (i.e., the radiator should be completely
filled with some overflow in the overflow tank - you really don't want
any air inside the cooling system).

A good pressure testing kit will run $100, or more
(http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.c...972_81435060);
however, the shop should only be charging a slight fraction of that
cost because obviously the tool is resuable over many tests and
customers. Unless you are going to work on several cars, it doesn't
make sense to spend the money to get one unless the cost to have
someone else pretty much pays for the tool and you know how to use it
and do the diagnosis if a leak is detected by the tool. I think you
also need to get a bypass hose for the water pump.

The Subie shop seems to be charging a high price. I think Tires Plus
charged me $20 a couple years ago. Since it is that time of year, you
might just want to check around for the cost of a coolant flush and
make sure they include a pressure test in the quoted price (or using
that as a premise then manage to weasel out of them the price that
they charge for a pressure test).

On Nov 6, 8:16 pm, "VanguardLH" <Vanguar...@mail.invalid> wrote:
> <swz...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:1194389866.070429.261800@v3g2000hsg.googlegro ups.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > It seems that the coolant is leaking on my Forester 2001.
> > The coolant level is around low. I filled it up to half full, but
> > two
> > days later it came back to the low line again. The weird thing is
> > that it seems to stay at the low line since then and doesn't drop
> > off
> > anymore. What might be wrong?
>
> > I called subaru dealer but they charge $125 simply for a checking.
> > Isn't it too high?
>
> > I remember people talked about Subaru's head gasket problem and I
> > think I did add subaru's coolant conditioner about a year ago. If
> > it
> > is the cause, is my Forester still under warranty?
>
> Call a car shop and ask what they charge to do a pressure test. If
> the pressure decreases, there is a leak which removes some of the
> fluid and allows the air to expand which reduces its pressure.
>
> By low, were you using the line on the overflow tank? If so, how do
> you know the fluid inside the radiator was low or not? Could be the
> radiator was low, you added coolant to the overflow tank instead of
> the radiator, so the fluid got sucked back into the radiator when it
> cooled. When peering down past the opening after removing the
> radiator cap, can you see the top of the fins? The cooland should be
> higher than that. In fact, when cool, the coolant should be dripping
> from the cap when you remove it because the coolant should be that
> high inside the radiator (i.e., the radiator should be completely
> filled with some overflow in the overflow tank - you really don't want
> any air inside the cooling system).
>
> A good pressure testing kit will run $100, or more
> (http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.c...99399_1972_814...
> however, the shop should only be charging a slight fraction of that
> cost because obviously the tool is resuable over many tests and
> customers. Unless you are going to work on several cars, it doesn't
> make sense to spend the money to get one unless the cost to have
> someone else pretty much pays for the tool and you know how to use it
> and do the diagnosis if a leak is detected by the tool. I think you
> also need to get a bypass hose for the water pump.
>
> The Subie shop seems to be charging a high price. I think Tires Plus
> charged me $20 a couple years ago. Since it is that time of year, you
> might just want to check around for the cost of a coolant flush and
> make sure they include a pressure test in the quoted price (or using
> that as a premise then manage to weasel out of them the price that
> they charge for a pressure test).- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Many thanks! Very helpful information including some I cannot
understand yet
It doesn't sound so bad. Maybe it's just the winter cold which makes
coolant level down in the overflow tank? Is it normal if it's the
radiator which sucks off coolant?
I'll check the radiator cap tomorrow.

The next time you get the oil changed, see if someone will look under the
car for you. The coolant leak that cincerns the heads useally drips onto the
engine crossmember and could be seen from the bottom. Also check around the
thermostat for leaks and sometimes the upper rad hose at the engine

--
Steve
ASE Master Tech
L1 Diag
Currently residing at a Subaru Shop
4.5 years doing tires and alighnments



<swzhao@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1194415075.539308.28550@t8g2000prg.googlegrou ps.com...
> On Nov 6, 8:16 pm, "VanguardLH" <Vanguar...@mail.invalid> wrote:
>> <swz...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:1194389866.070429.261800@v3g2000hsg.googlegro ups.com...
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > It seems that the coolant is leaking on my Forester 2001.
>> > The coolant level is around low. I filled it up to half full, but
>> > two
>> > days later it came back to the low line again. The weird thing is
>> > that it seems to stay at the low line since then and doesn't drop
>> > off
>> > anymore. What might be wrong?
>>
>> > I called subaru dealer but they charge $125 simply for a checking.
>> > Isn't it too high?
>>
>> > I remember people talked about Subaru's head gasket problem and I
>> > think I did add subaru's coolant conditioner about a year ago. If
>> > it
>> > is the cause, is my Forester still under warranty?
>>
>> Call a car shop and ask what they charge to do a pressure test. If
>> the pressure decreases, there is a leak which removes some of the
>> fluid and allows the air to expand which reduces its pressure.
>>
>> By low, were you using the line on the overflow tank? If so, how do
>> you know the fluid inside the radiator was low or not? Could be the
>> radiator was low, you added coolant to the overflow tank instead of
>> the radiator, so the fluid got sucked back into the radiator when it
>> cooled. When peering down past the opening after removing the
>> radiator cap, can you see the top of the fins? The cooland should be
>> higher than that. In fact, when cool, the coolant should be dripping
>> from the cap when you remove it because the coolant should be that
>> high inside the radiator (i.e., the radiator should be completely
>> filled with some overflow in the overflow tank - you really don't want
>> any air inside the cooling system).
>>
>> A good pressure testing kit will run $100, or more
>> (http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.c...99399_1972_814...
>> however, the shop should only be charging a slight fraction of that
>> cost because obviously the tool is resuable over many tests and
>> customers. Unless you are going to work on several cars, it doesn't
>> make sense to spend the money to get one unless the cost to have
>> someone else pretty much pays for the tool and you know how to use it
>> and do the diagnosis if a leak is detected by the tool. I think you
>> also need to get a bypass hose for the water pump.
>>
>> The Subie shop seems to be charging a high price. I think Tires Plus
>> charged me $20 a couple years ago. Since it is that time of year, you
>> might just want to check around for the cost of a coolant flush and
>> make sure they include a pressure test in the quoted price (or using
>> that as a premise then manage to weasel out of them the price that
>> they charge for a pressure test).- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> Many thanks! Very helpful information including some I cannot
> understand yet
> It doesn't sound so bad. Maybe it's just the winter cold which makes
> coolant level down in the overflow tank? Is it normal if it's the
> radiator which sucks off coolant?
> I'll check the radiator cap tomorrow.
>