Overheating issues

Tiny
JXXXP69
  • MEMBER
  • 1993 SUBARU LEGACY
  • 2.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
Car overheated, did a exhaust gas combustion test and it showed to be positive. Pulled engine removed heads had them leak checked surfaced and valves ground. Replaced all needed gaskets and seals, coated head gaskets with copper coat and torqued heads properly. Replaced engine, evacuated the cooling system with a vacuum coolant tool it held 30 inches of vacuum for as long as I wanted to let it, filled the system with the proper mix and it still overheats. New water pump new thermostat new timing set and a new radiator.
Monday, March 11th, 2019 AT 5:14 AM

35 Replies

Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello,

This could be a problem with the serpentine belt tensioner allowing the serpentine belt to slip and not adequitely spin the water pump. Another thing you might consider is making sure that there are no air pockets in the cooling system not allowing the coolant to circulate. The best way to do this is fill the system from the highest point in the system with the radiator cap off. When coolant starts to come out of the radiator cap hole, the system should be full of coolant and air pocket free. You might also consider doing a flush and fill. I know basically your whole cooling system is new, but maybe you have scale and deposits in your block, clogging the water jacket ports. The last thing I can think might be your problem would to be to double check to make sure you have the correct temp thermostat. Let us know what you find out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Monday, March 11th, 2019 AT 7:13 AM
Tiny
JXXXP69
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Water pump is driven by the timing belt, all timing components have been replaced. Correct thermostat temperature is in, this is the second thermostat as a precaution 170 degree. Vacuum filled cooling system to eliminate air pockets. While the heads were off I cleaned all the water cooling jackets with a brush and then chemically flushed the engine after install prior to filling with coolant. All hoses are also new.

Thanks, Jerry
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Tuesday, March 12th, 2019 AT 9:33 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,963 POSTS
Run the same combustion gas test and see if it's still leaking under compression. (A cheat to test this is to put a balloon over the coolant fill, if it inflates really fast you have a leak) Have seen head gaskets leak like a one way valve before on them. Have also seen blocks crack and only leak under pressure.
Whose water pump and gaskets did you use? Some of the aftermarket parts are real junk.
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Tuesday, March 12th, 2019 AT 7:30 PM
Tiny
JIS001
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,408 POSTS
Have you pressure tested the radiator cap? Have seen bad caps cause fluid to over flow and overheat. Also check the coolant temperature sensor. It could be giving a false reading.
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Tuesday, March 12th, 2019 AT 11:23 PM
Tiny
PATENTED_REPAIR_PRO
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,853 POSTS
Does the cooling fan run when the engine warms up?
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Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 AT 7:11 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,883 POSTS
Did you replace the water pump the impeller? It could be degraded not circulating the coolant correctly.
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Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 AT 10:19 AM
Tiny
JXXXP69
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Gates Murray and felpro
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Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 AT 5:50 PM
Tiny
JXXXP69
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I have done all of this
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Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 AT 5:50 PM
Tiny
CBLAND32
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1993 SUBARU LEGACY
Engine Cooling problem
1993 Subaru Legacy 4 cyl All Wheel Drive Automatic

what test can I run to find out y my car overheats
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Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 AT 5:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKE H R
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,094 POSTS
If the temp guage goes up and you do not loose fluid then the first thing I think about is the thermastat. If you are looseing fluid then I would have the system pressure checked. A number of things can make it overheat, . Not enough coolant, 2, clogged system, 3, a bad themstat. With the thermastat is usually the problem that I would change first first
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Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 AT 5:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WCOLLIER89139
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1992 SUBARU LEGACY
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 165,000 MILES
My engine keeps overheating. I have replaced the timming belt the thermostat the waterpump all the hosses and the radiator recently. It worked fine for about 3 weeks and then the temp began t rise as I drive it. When I am stopped at a light t is in the middle. I also noticced that it makes a gugelling noise when I ress on the gass pedal. I looked last night the transmission fluid was low. I want to know what I should do. My friend says there may be an air bubble in the system causing it to make the guggle. I look forward to your help
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Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 AT 5:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
Bleed the system, you may have an air pocket thats not allowing the coolant to go into the heater core, also check your engine coolant temperature sensor
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Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 AT 5:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KRIS4897
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1990 SUBARU LEGACY
  • 213,000 MILES
I have a subaru legacy 1990 overheating, automatic, all wheel drive. I have changed the thermostat 3 times, water pump, timing belt, got timing reset, filled system and bled, blown out the heater core and put in an expensive head gasket sealer all to still overheating after 15 mins of driving. I am at a loss. The bottom radiator hose stays cool, I don't know if that's normal. Please give me an idea as this is my kids car and we need another 6 months out of it if possible. Changed all the above and still overheating I don't know what to do now. The overflow bottle fills up overflows and then sucks back in after it cools down. Also the heat will blow hot and then go cold before it starts to overheat.
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Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 AT 5:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,110 POSTS
Sounds like you need to get the radiator unclogged. Lower hose should warm up with the engine.
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Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 AT 5:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,110 POSTS
It blows cold because there is no coolant in the system to heat the air.
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Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KRIS4897
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Any suggestions on how to do that, it's a newer radiator
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Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KRIS4897
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
There is coolant it has been filled and topped off after each overflow
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Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,110 POSTS
It has to be done at a radiator shop.
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Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DENNSUBARU
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 SUBARU LEGACY
  • 4 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 120,000 MILES
I have replaced the thermostat twice, put in a new water pump, replaced the radiator, replaced the head gaskets twice, and it still overheats. It will over heat and the heater will be putting out cold air, then the heater will come on. The radiator will sometimes overheat and overflow into the overflow bottle, but at the same time one half of the radiator is hot and the other half is cool to the touch.
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Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Hi DennSubaru and TY for the donation

but at the same time one half of the radiator is hot and the other half is cool to the touch. It shouldn't be-should equally be hot across the radiator. That coolant is not circulating. Take the thermostat out and run it if its still doing it make sure the water pump is doing its job if it is-try bleeding it for airlock and report back

Water pump check:

One way to test for a bad water pump is to squeeze the upper radiator hose when the engine is hot and idling. Careful, because the hose will be HOT! If you do not feel much coolant circulating through the hose when you rev the engine, the pump may be bad. The other cause might be a bad thermostat that is not opening properly (remove and inspect the thermostat), or a clogged radiator.
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Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)

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