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Hi all, I have a 2004 OB Limited that is starting to over heat,took it to my repair guy and he said that it might be a cracked cylinder (head gasket done at 138.k by him, car now has 172.k) walking out of the repair shop I was feeling dejected so I decided to get a 2nd opinion and took it to a sub dealer. Besides needing a radiator, cat and brakes the dealer noticed that the Hg where leaking. So with this info I went back to my repair guy and asked him why he thought it was a cracked cylinder and not a HG issue and he begins to give my reasons why it might be otherwise (Which was greek to me) Anyway the work he did on the HG is still under his warranty. So heres my dilemma should I insist that he do HGs? What if it's a cracked cylinder and how common are cracked cylinders? Thanks in advance.

 

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Thanks for the replies guys, the car was bought new and is my second new OB(love these cars). Car has never over heated just the temp rising especially on hills.

It's odd to me that he never mentioned a HG as to a possibility of being an issue.

GG, not sure what kind of HG he used and not sure if he used the coolant conditioner also if you can tell me more about the turbo HG and extra cost if any.

SS, thanks for backing up what GG wrote.

 

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Just to update this thread my mechanic is challenging that it's a HG issue because theres coolant in the exhaust when he did a compression test, funny thing is he never mentioned that it could be the HG causing the car to over heat.So Monday I'm taking the car to him and where going to see if it's an external leak. So when I'm under the car with him what and where do I look for?

 

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Thanks for the replies. Gary I just found the invoice for the HG job that my mechanic did, he did use a Subaru HG. here's a list of what he did.

Subaru head set
Cam seal
Subaru timing belt
Engine crank seal
Water pump new
Timing belt idler
Idler
Tbelt idler...???
Tensioner assembly
Plugs
Pvc valve
Ignition wire set
Thermostat
Thermostat gasket

Also I decided to get the coolant flushed this afternoon at J lube and asked the guy if he can see a leak in the head gaskets and he said that he saw some leakage.

 

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but I wonder if there's more to this statement that might be related to the apparent overheating.

Those are all good questions I don't answers to but, could you expand more on your last sentence.

 

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Let me clarify the car has never over heated in the classic sense. Temp gauge rises after about 20 minutes of driving to about the three quarter mark on the gauge and moves back and forth from somewhat normal back to that mark.

The highest its climbed is to the H mark ( and that was on a hilly drive with a full car) but not in the red and I pulled over and checked to seen if the radiator was hot or the coolant was low. The radiator gave no indication that it was running hot and added about two pints into reservoir. Funny thing when that happened it was on a long decent that turned into a flat stretch.

As to the fans coming on I noticed a few months ago that they where coming on when I started the car and let it idle also when I put it park after a drive.

Thanks for the help.

 

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plain om
Looking back I think the fans where coming on because the ac was on.

leasak
His parts list stated that he used a Subaru HG but listed the thermostat as just that not oem. Should I pull that one and put in an oem or is it too late?

So I took the car to get a 3rd opinion, and the mechanic did a compression test on the cooling system and everything checked out fine but noticed a small leak on the HG.I also had an appointment with the mechanic that did the original HG job and we looked together at the Hg and he saw the small leak and claimed it was from an axle leak that sprayed grease on the HG because he noticed it being greasy and oily...

 

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Just had the after market thermostat changed today with a OEM one, so far so good.

 

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So far so good with the running hot issue the gauge hasn't climbed since being replaced with OEM thermostat. Haven't driven it on the highway or long drives but it looks promising. Going to take the car on 2 and a half hour drive and see what happens.

Cardoc I'm with you on that,believe me the thought has crossed my mind in weather he used what he said he used.

 

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Just came back from a 300 mile trip and the temp gauge held stiff at horizontal the whole time. Since changing to the OEM thermostat the temp needle hasn't budged from where its supposed to be. Just want to say thanks to all who offered advise on this thread.