Legacy Outback runs a bit warm

[floatindolphin]

Hiya,

I've got a '97 Subaru Legacy Outback. A couple of times recently (well once about 2 months ago and yesterday) the Temp guage has shot right up.

I pulled over yesterday and the expansion tank was full and the water was boiling. I went into Morrisons and got some extra water to refill it if needed. Once it had cooled I poured about 1/2 a litre in.

Oh, the air temp from the fan inside was going from hot to cold when it was set on full hot just before I pulled over.


Anyone know from this vague (bad) description if it could be head gasket or dodgy Thermostat or something else?


There's no white smoke billowing out the back and the oil seems fine too.



Thanks for you help

 

[Zip]

Get the Thermostat replaced (Subarus seem easy enough to replace) and see if it solves the problem

If it doesnt then pray to god that you havnt done the head or head gasket and get it checked by a mechanic

 

[floatindolphin]

if the Thermostat was knackered, would the fan not come on when it gets warm?

I noticed it hadn't come on when I pulled over. I guess it should have?

 

[agw_01]

I'd try a new expansion tank cap as well. If it's not holding pressure correctly, the coolant will boil at a lower temperature.

 

[floatindolphin]

The cap on the expansion tank is just a rubbish push on one. It doesn't seem to have the tightest fit. The other time it overheated the expansion cap had popped off!?!

 

[lambda]

headgasket

 

[floatindolphin]

why d'you think that?

 

[Hawk Tuah]

If hot water isn't getting to your heater matrix, then it sounds like you are low on water.

Ensure the car is full of water and that you've bled air from the bleed points. Then run it up to temperature and look for any leaks.

 

[Liquidfox]

why d'you think that?

Because people seem to think as soon as your temps go up, the HG has just imploded

 

[floatindolphin]

I've been reading that the fact the car sucked the coolant back into the radiator points to not a blown HG. (fingers crossed!)

 

[gt_junkie]

I noticed it hadn't come on when I pulled over. I guess it should have?

If that's the radiator fan then yes it should have come on.

Were you sat in traffic or travelling at speed at the time?

I had a failed rad fan in my fiesta a few months back. In stationary traffic the temp would rise with no reaction from the fan. Checked the fan itself and it had siezed badly. Replaced it with a working unit from the scrappies and it's been A-OK since.

I'd check to see if it's either failed or you have a stone jammed in it.

gt

 

[floatindolphin]

I was going up quite a steep hill slowy behind a lorry then floored it and over took it near the top. Guess the car was working quite hard.

 

[floatindolphin]

guy from the garage reckons an airlock in the cooling system.....

 

[Lum]

Subaru engines are pretty resistant to overheating damage, which is good given that they have two headgaskets and they are in a right awkward place to get at.

Airlock in the coolant is also quite likely. It's very hard to ill up the coolant system properly on a Legacy due to the low down engine and the heater matrix being high up. It's considered fairly normal for there the be sloshing/gurgling sounds from behind the dashboard from time to time as the air makes its way around.

 

[floatindolphin]

yep, it sloshes lots when I start her up in the morning!

 

[floatindolphin]

sorry to bring this thread back from the dead....


I picked my car up last night after cooking the engine last week. It sounded absolutely knackered when I last drove it. But last night it was almost back to normal. It still overheated but we noticed some other things.

Only the top of the radiator was getting hot, the rest was stone cold. Same with the heater pipes. Also the air from the heaters was cold.

Could this be thermostat or water pump?

(Shame if it's an easy fix, I've just bought a 2nd Legacy!?)