# Coolant leak **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [February 13, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-leak/10635 "2008-02-13T23:04:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![batman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@batman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/batman)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-leak/10635/1 "2008-02-13T23:04:58Z")
I have a 2005 subaru impreza RS with 99000km. the coolant in the overflow tank is turning into a shaving cream like substance, and it foams up and leaks on the ground. I took the car to the dealer and they say they have never seen this before. please help! ---
**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 2:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-leak/10635/2 "2008-02-14T02:15:33Z")
My bet is a blown head gasket. ---
**Author:** ![pj1071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@pj1071](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pj1071)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 3:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-leak/10635/3 "2008-02-14T03:24:12Z")
I second that motion. Do we have a third? Make it so! They should be able to tell that pretty easily. There are numerous ways to test for gasket failure. ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 2:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-leak/10635/4 "2008-02-14T14:44:20Z")
Is it possible that someone mistakenly put windshield washer fluid or some other sudsy fluid into the radiator or overflow reservoir? ---
**Author:** ![batman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@batman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/batman)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 6:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-leak/10635/5 "2008-02-14T18:33:02Z")
The dealer suggested that could be the problem but that is highly unlikley. I am the only person that touches my car and I would not do that. I also only take the car to the dealer for service and a doubt they would do that either. ---
**Author:** ![profhandy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b5ac83/32.png) [@profhandy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/profhandy)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-leak/10635/6 "2008-02-14T18:42:01Z")
Have someone, or you, check the engine thermostat for an intermittent sticking situation. Also check the radiator hoses for a collapsing situation. Check the water pump for proper operation. While engine is cold, carefully open the radiator cap. Start engine. Rev up a little. See if coolant mixture is circulating. Before you start the engine, use a coolant test “baster”-type checker to determine if your anti-freeze/coolant mixture is still good. If one or more thing shows up as defective or marginal, replacing any one or all of these is much more cost-effective and less time consuming than changing a head gasket. A pressure check of your cooling system might be the first thing that I’d do. ---
**Author:** ![batman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@batman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/batman)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-leak/10635/7 "2008-02-14T19:14:11Z")
Thanks alot for everyones help. My car is still at the dealer so I can’t check it. I took it to them because my overflow was empty, they did a pressure test, said nothing was wrong and sent me home. The next day I found coolant on my garage floor so I took the car back. This was two days ago and they still don’t know what it is and I’m car-less. Maybe because I’m 500km shy of the 100000km warrenty they don’t to fix it. ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-leak/10635/8 "2008-02-14T19:20:55Z")
When a warranty item is presented to the dealer BEFORE the warranty expiration, and it’s unresolved AFTER the warranty period, it’s STILL covered by that warranty. They may have done a cooling system pressure test; but, probably, didn’t pressure test the radiator cap. The simplest "test"of the radiator cap is to just change it. ---
**Author:** ![batman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@batman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/batman)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 11:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-leak/10635/9 "2008-02-14T23:29:49Z")
Now they are telling me that the heads are warped and that the engine must have over-heated. I am the only per who has ever driven my car and I know it has never ever run hot. I do my own oil changes but I do not keep the reciepts. Will they still honor the warranty? I don’t think an oil problem could even cause this type of damage. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 11:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-leak/10635/10 "2008-02-14T23:33:44Z")
Third. With emphasis. ---
**Author:** ![winarth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@winarth](https://community.cartalk.com/u/winarth)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 4:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/coolant-leak/10635/11 "2008-02-15T04:48:27Z")
I have seen this before. Blown head gasket.