Seems like its failing at the seam, found it sorta funny. I wonder is the system was over pressured or it just was old. I guess ill have to get a new one when I get back from pitt in the summer...

 

It almost looks cracked on the front right side. They fail there pretty often otherwise the end tank itself cracks.

 

When my stock rad went it had small cracks around/underneath the filler neck. I guess 11 years of life was enough for it. Now you've got a reason to get a nice all aluminum rad.

 

Mine failed just like that. Plastic became brittle and then it gave way.

 

metal radiators are fairly inexpensive. Good luck finding a classic "coolradiator.com" like I did.

 

Same here, started seeping out the top. I bought a Koyo and didn't regret it.

 

Its very common for radiators to fail like that. I have done warranty work on radiators less than a year old that fail in the same way. All radiators are tested at the production factory but age or defects in material can cause failure later on down the road.

 

My roommate just had his 95 subaru blow a rad like this. It was actually hilarious because we couldn't figure it out for a while. He would drive it and it would randomly just squirt out of his grill. Some days it would be completely fine, others it would fly right out his hood scoop. He continued to drive it that week till he had time to solve the issue. Turns out it just had been chafing on a hose for the last year or 2 that he had his STI swap. He got an OEM replacement and sold the car. (it has been giving him endless issues for the last few months...screw owning a car with a JDM motor you cant get parts for easily).

 

Except JDM Subaru Motors can use USDM parts.



We just replaced two radiators in customer's cars that did that. Mine did that before I replaced it with the Koyo.

 

His is a version 5... the version before wrx or sti came to america, so it has a few odball things... like the maf. He got a USDM one but had to re-scale his whole tune cause it was different.

My roommates are subaru swap Gurus. One of them almost started up a shop last fall.

EDIT:
sorry for the thread jack. back on topic...

 

When I saw the brown cap I wasn't surprised. Miata radiators go brom black to green to brown over the years. When they are brown they can go any time.