So I start up my car '03 WRX this evening to run some errands, when I notice something peculiar--something I've never noticed before: when I rev the engine a bit (bumping the revs up to 2 or 3k (max), I can hear this liquidy/watery sound! (when the car was both cold, and warm).

It sounds like water running, or swishing.... but only when I rev it a bit.

What the heck could this be???

I have 34k on the ticker, and I recently had the 30k service done to spec at LIC Motorsports.

 

vaccuum leak? Or is it a definite liquid/sloshing sound?

 

Sloshing! You nailed it... that's the sound. It sounds like water sloshing around somewhere.

 

Coolant, I bet it's low.

 

So, you can only cause it by revving the engine? And does it fade away after you let off the throttle?

 

Yes, exactly.

At idle, I hear nothing. I rev it, and it makes the sloshing sound. I popped the hood, and had my girlfriend rev it, as I had done, and I couldn't hear it... You can't even hear it in the drivers seat, with the window down. But with the windows up, it's a very distinct sound... something is sloshing.

 

Speed up engine, speed up water pump, speed up sloooshy sound.

 

booyah. I think he's got it, by george!

 

Sounds reasonable to me. Am I just too ignorant to have noticed this before? I mean, that's entirely possible...

...but I'm almost certain I've never heard a sloshing sound when I rev the engine.

 

That's cause if your coolant is at the right level, there is no room for it to slosh around... at least I think....

 

I recently noticed this as well on my 04 wagon. I have just under 31K miles, and I too got my 30K at LIC. ;x
Accept I only heard it at startup a couple times, its not consistant. I will check my coolant level tomorrow, and if I need more I will get some from the dealership since LIC is 1.5 hours from my house.

 

I had it on my WRX and I was just a little low on coolant. Check the lower and upper tank. Cheers.

Rush

 

Thanks for the help scoobsport, mexicanpizza and WRX Rush.

I'll check the coolant levels in the morning and post an update.

 

Remember check it cold, hot = 3rd degree burns that are no bueno. Cheers

Rush

 

maybe it's your belly