OK, I'm stumped...(97 Legacy Wagon overheating)

Hachiroku · 2008-04-15T03:18:53+00:00

Been overheating. As some of you may have read, I tried the Headgasket in a bottle trick. It seemed to be working but when I took it out for a little cruise tonight it overheated. Here's what happens: The car will go along for a few miles just fine, small rises and dips in temperature, and then after 20 minutes or so the temp will begin to rise. It then goes into full overheating, right to the top of the guage and stays there. Sometimes revving the engine more will get a little cooling, and sometimes coasating will. But not always. Sometimes revving will raise the temp, and sometimes coasting will. OK, sounds like a blown HG, and there was exhaust gas in the radiator back in December. Now, this is the part I don't get: when you open the radiator cap, the radiator looks full. Also, tonight when I refilled the radiator, I filled the opening where the cap is, and filled the other side where the 'bleeder' is. The radiator was full, and the overflow bottle was full of plain water. When I got back from my little excursion, all the coolant on the bleeder side of the radiator was...STEAM, and the filler neck side was full. The overflow bottle had coolant mixed in with the water. I refilled it and ran the engine for a while, and the temp climbed up to about 3/4 on the guage, and then settled right down to normal again. This is the part I don't get! Also the radiator was STONE COLD, even though the temp was elevated. Also, there was no heat; when I refilled the 'bleeder' side of the radiator, it took a while but the heat came back...HOT!!! I mean HOT!!!!!! I'm stuck. It looks like, besides a BHG, I also might have a blocked radiator. This car is worth $500 to me. That's about the most I will put into it. Open to all suggestions...

Apr 15, 2008 24 Replies

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Scott Dorsey 18 years ago

I am surprised that nobody has pointed out that one of the side effects of those nifty sealing powders is the occasional radiator blockage.

--scott

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Tim B 18 years ago

I had the same water pump impeller problem with a 1965 Plymouth. To the original poster: Have you pulled the water pump and checked it?

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Fred Sanford 18 years ago

Right on target there Scott.... "Bar's Stop-leak" is a known radiator destroyer :)

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hachiroku 18 years ago

I didn't use a powder, I used this:

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I called them beofre I even cracked the bottle with the same concern. The woman who asnswered the phone said get ALL the antifreeze out. Flush it, and drain it and flush it again. It has to be absolutely clear water coming out of the cooling system.

I used it with much success on another Subaru, but I guess this one must be too far gone...

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hachiroku 18 years ago

Nah...

On the '89 Suby it's a good old fashioned on-the-fan pump.

I think the '97 is at the timing belt, IIRC...

One thing I think people are missing: There *IS* exhaust gas in the radiator. When I had it inspected the guy stuck the 'sniffer' in the radiator filler neck and when we revved the engine hydrocarbons went way up...

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