Constantly losing water

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mariner
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Constantly losing water

Post by mariner »

Hey guys. So I have a scooby EJ22 with the original expansion tank from the 1.9 that was in there and I am constantly losing water from the expansion tank i.e. a few short runs and it’s right down.

I’ve changed/tightened all the jubilees that I can find, fitted a new tank and changed the sender (it seemed to be leaking out of the seal) but to no avail.

I think there may be an issue with the hose running off the top nozzle of the tank and was hoping someone could tell me whether this has been modified as part of the engine change before I attempt to replace it. Currently there is a short piece of hose with an elbow in that is wider at the expansion tank end. It runs for a few inches and then fastens to a piece of metal tubing with a jubilee. A second pipe then runs off the metal hose and down.

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749E4F23-3B7C-48A7-8FE0-6482C25EBAD2.jpeg (76.65 KiB) Viewed 4104 times

Not a great pic! I’ll try for a better one tomorrow. Weirdly, the connection with the sender also seems to be wet. I can only assume that the hose is not well fitted and it is spitting from there but it seems a strange one.

Thanks for any help/suggestions!
1985 Super Viking with Subaru EJ22 (formerly 1.9 petrol DG)
1981 air-cooled 2.0 high top

RogerT
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Re: Constantly losing water

Post by RogerT »

Water level sender's can leak through the actual component, i.e. up through the prongs to the electrical connection, but that is unlikely to account for all your water loss
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mariner
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Re: Constantly losing water

Post by mariner »

Thanks Roger. This the third sender now and on each one the connector has got wet. Seems unlikely they would all leak unless there is a deeper underlying problem which I’m unaware of. Better pick below of the hose set up. Thinking of replacing the top hose but not sure how an original would fit with what is there now.

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1985 Super Viking with Subaru EJ22 (formerly 1.9 petrol DG)
1981 air-cooled 2.0 high top

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Oldiebut goodie
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Re: Constantly losing water

Post by Oldiebut goodie »

Is it over pressurizing causing the leaks?
The hose to the cap could do with a proper clip on it instead of that oversized jubilee one - used like that they can cause deformity of the hose on the spigot with consequent leaks. ( the band for the screw doesn't form a part of a circle when too big)
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mariner
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Re: Constantly losing water

Post by mariner »

Cheers, that’s good to know. When you say proper clip do you mean a smaller jubilee or a different type of clip altogether? If so, any chance you could point me in the direction of the type you mean?

Also, how would I check if it’s over pressurised? Is this something I can do or is it a garage job? Thanks again.
Last edited by mariner on 15 Apr 2018, 10:51, edited 1 time in total.
1985 Super Viking with Subaru EJ22 (formerly 1.9 petrol DG)
1981 air-cooled 2.0 high top

multisi
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Re: Constantly losing water

Post by multisi »

That expansion tank is the later diesel version, the petrol expansion tank has a smaller outlet , RJES make a hose to fit the tank to the water manifold. If your losing lots of water the area its leaking from would be easy to identify. Make sure the expansion tank cap is the good quality one and the system is bled correctly.
1992 red lle 2.2 subaru 1990 rhd caravelle 2.2 subaru 1986 california import vanagon

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Oldiebut goodie
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Re: Constantly losing water

Post by Oldiebut goodie »

This type: ( although there shouldn't be enough pressure for a leak there as it just runs to the top-up tank which should be at atmospheric pressure ).

Image

I also would have thought that a large water loss would be easily spotted just by running the engine up to temp and having a good look around, poking the hoses with a stick to see if the joints are leaking.
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mariner
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Re: Constantly losing water

Post by mariner »

Thanks guys. I agree it should be easy to spot but trust me it really isn’t! There was some spitting from the top hose after I last ran it, hence looking at changing this.

Re the tank itself, I’m surprised it’s for a diesel. I only replaced it last week and it’s the same as the one that was in there, which I assumed to be the original from the 1.9 petrol engine.

Is there any danger in changing it for the one with the narrower nozzle. Might be worth doing this if RJES have a specific hose they have created for these conversions?
1985 Super Viking with Subaru EJ22 (formerly 1.9 petrol DG)
1981 air-cooled 2.0 high top

multisi
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Re: Constantly losing water

Post by multisi »

If its spitting from that top hose then best to do it properly, get a new petrol spec expansion tank and best quality cap from Brickwerks, don't trust other sellers caps. Then you can get the RJES pipe and once fitted make sure you have bled the system correctly, don't go for long runs until your sure its been bled.
1992 red lle 2.2 subaru 1990 rhd caravelle 2.2 subaru 1986 california import vanagon

mariner
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Re: Constantly losing water

Post by mariner »

Yep, have just contacted RJES about the hose and will look into changing the tank. Cap was from JK but will look into the brickwerks one.

Thanks for the help from all. :ok
1985 Super Viking with Subaru EJ22 (formerly 1.9 petrol DG)
1981 air-cooled 2.0 high top

mariner
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Re: Constantly losing water

Post by mariner »

Having done a quick google, seems the expansion tank with the wider top nozzle is for diesel and 1900 petrol.

Think my EJ22 is 2.2. Is there anyone out there running a similar engine who can tell me which expansion tank they have fitted?
1985 Super Viking with Subaru EJ22 (formerly 1.9 petrol DG)
1981 air-cooled 2.0 high top

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slowcoach
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Re: Constantly losing water

Post by slowcoach »

I'm on an ej20 (which as you guessed is a 2.0 engine!) - pretty certain your conversion , and especially since you came from a dg, should be running a late style petrol header tank.
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mariner
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Re: Constantly losing water

Post by mariner »

Cheers slowcoach. By late style do you mean the model with the narrower nozzle or a different tank altogether from the one I’ve got fitted?

Starting to feel like I don’t have the right tank fitted for the conversion, which might explain the constant running low on water - it was even mentioned by the guy I bought it off who I think was the one to have the conversion done. :?
1985 Super Viking with Subaru EJ22 (formerly 1.9 petrol DG)
1981 air-cooled 2.0 high top

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Re: Constantly losing water

Post by silverbullet »

There is no "correct" tank and having 300cc more displacement makes no difference.
Check for leaks everywhere, front to back.
If the system is water tight then the engine has blown a head gasket and is pumping up the coolant system pressure until it finds the easiest route to vent.
Get a coolant sniff test kit off ebay and check for combustion gases.
EJ engines do require careful plumbing, especially where the heater is concerned, otherwise they can overheat despite normal gauge readings.
Been there, binned the Subaru.

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multisi
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Re: Constantly losing water

Post by multisi »

mariner wrote:Cheers slowcoach. By late style do you mean the model with the narrower nozzle or a different tank altogether from the one I’ve got fitted?

Starting to feel like I don’t have the right tank fitted for the conversion, which might explain the constant running low on water - it was even mentioned by the guy I bought it off who I think was the one to have the conversion done. :?
If your van was made before 1985 the original expansion tank would have the larger upper hose, RJES make the hose to fit the later tank with the smaller hose. If you go on the rjes site and click on coolant plumbing kit, under the photo of the kit is an explanation of the expansion tanks. Get the later tank and decent cap from Brickwerks and also the correct hose from RJES , then fill and bleed the system before suspecting any other problems. Open the heater settings before you fill and bleed the coolant system
1992 red lle 2.2 subaru 1990 rhd caravelle 2.2 subaru 1986 california import vanagon

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