I'm having what I think is a peculiar cooling system issue, and thought I would run it by folks here first before I take my car in.
Two weekends ago, two hour drive up to the mountains from Denver. I slow only twice after getting on interstate, once to get something to drink (place closed, so never turn off car) and then when I arrive. Both times engine temp climbs to near 3/4. Fans are both running, so I think maybe its the thermostat. Since I don't know the thermostat's history, I change it.
This past weekend, make the same drive. Same thing happens. I get to the mountains and slow through town, temp rises. I let the car sit overnight. Next morning I look under the hood and see that the reservoir tank is full (not at the full mark, but FULL to the brim). I check the fill tank, and it looks empty. I thought maybe I hadn't quite got all the air out, so used a turkey baster to transfer coolant to the fill tank. When it was full the reservoir tank was about 1/2" below the full mark.
Drove home. No problems on the drive, so I let the car idle a bit when I arrive. Temp starts to rise.
Radiator, hoses, and water pump replaced within the last few years. Thermostat replaced week. Fans both run. Both radiator caps are new. Temps seem normal just running around town.
Anyone have any ideas what my problem might be? Why would coolant expand to the reservoir, but not return when cool? Did I do something really stupid somewhere here? Thanks!
Did you get the thermostat from the dealer? There are many aftermarket thermostats that fit this car, but none work as well as the real thing from Subaru.
Check the hose that goes from the radiator neck into the reservoir. Sometimes during cool-down, that hose will suction itself to the bottom of the reservoir instead of transferring coolant back into the system. You can eliminate this by slicing the end of that hose at a 45° angle with a razor.
Head gaskets almost never fail in turbocharged Outbacks, even though it is quite common in the non-turbo models.
Did you get the thermostat from the dealer? There are many aftermarket thermostats that fit this car, but none work as well as the real thing from Subaru.
Check the hose that goes from the radiator neck into the reservoir. Sometimes during cool-down, that hose will suction itself to the bottom of the reservoir instead of transferring coolant back into the system. You can eliminate this by slicing the end of that hose at a 45° angle with a razor.
05 radator, with lots of buggy spring front range trips? Radator may simply just be packed full of bug carcases and road grime. That would be high on my suspect list.
Yeah if nothing else gets it I'd suggest a new rad too. I had to do mine 2 years ago. I found a decent aftermarket one for under $100 and installed it myself.
I also hate to say it, but it sounds like a small head gasket leak. My wife's 04 was constantly running low on water, but drove fine. Only ever started overheating once the water got low enough. Well after 9 months of that I finally put head gaskets in it. And it's fixed. I tried, thermostats, radiator, hoses, clamps, etc. I did a block test with the color changing liquid. I also did overnight cooling system pressure tests and those did show that I did indeed have a leak. But I'd only drop 2-3 psi overnight. Now it did get slightly better after using some Subaru coolant conditioner. When I was still investigating. I wonder if left in long enough the leak was small enough it might have been fine for long time. For the first 6 months or so I added coolant every 2 weeks. But towards the end it was more frequently and any longer 1hr plus trips caused issues.
Looks like HG for me! Yay! Any recommendations for a good shop in the Denver Area (since there are enough of us on here)? Not something I think I can do myself.
Yeah...I can't give the handshake warranty on a head gasket...But RetroRoo is back up and running...They are now near me in Thornton.
CCR is working out of AspenPark Auto I do believe. Conifer / Aspen Park Area, that's a little closer...by the crow files...I think. Maybe not in the winter.
Thanks for the recs. I'm in Denver for a few weeks, then out of town for a few more, so I'll give RetroRoo a call. Any other options for another quote?
RR is going to be your best value. there are a few others...but I have received some troubling information when I have seen estimates...I can't recomment.
If you are not as $ conscious, SuperRupair and FlatIrons Tuning as top notch, and higher dollar.
D*mn...I really should open a proper shop...
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