potter2010 Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Typing this on a iPod so excuse my typing. Went away for the weekend, seven hour drive, on the way temperature gauge would rise from usual safe spot to red over 10 to 20 seconds, hold for a few seconds, maybe up to 10 seconds then fall to normal over about 5 seconds or so. Seemed to be no rhyme or reason as to why or when. As we went along the reading were peaking higher but always going back down and near the end of the drive would hold for a few seconds, max 5 or 10 seconds. We were turning the heat up and down but didn't think of that to after. The end of the drive was city driving and it seemed to happen more during that time. Coolant tank is full, maybe a little above the full line. There is some coolant repair stuff in the overflow tank. Coolant was last replaced about two years ago. All the driving in the past few months has been less than 15 minutes at a time, just around town. There has been a hot smell, little sour smell on occasion but with no other issues I chalked it up to a small oil leak that I've been tracking down. Not even enough loss to need to top up between oil changes (twice a year). I did replace the spark plug tube seals and the grommets and gasket on the plates there in May this year. I went under the steering wheel and connected the two green plugs to make sure the fans were working on the rad and cycled with no issue. Oil level was fine, half way between low and full. Oil and filter was replaced a few weeks ago. I've tried searing this forum and the wider Internet on this thing but it's difficult to say the least and lots of conflicting information, everything from just a sensor to air in the system to a belt or a head gasket. Since I'm not at home and have a long drive I'd really like some input if it is safe to drive home! Thank you in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartless Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 knowing what year and engine would help a great deal, but your description of the temp going up and down kind of points to air in the cooling system - the big question is how is it getting there? head gasket issues commonly cause air bubbles in the overflow bottle at idle from exhaust gasses being forced into the cooling system - perhaps check for that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TKFlight Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 There has been a hot smell, little sour smell on occasion If its in the cabin then the culprit is probably the heater core There is some coolant repair stuff in the overflow tank. Usually those products don't recommend being dumped into the overflow, you really go out on a limb with that stuff. I can't say anything because I've used Bars Liquid Aluminum(looks like aluminum flakes in the rad), to stop the crossover pipe o-rings from leaking. In the market for a job and can't be ripping the intake manifold off, I took the chance. If I get burned down the road I get burned, coolant is just green with little aluminum flakes. Glad its not a bunch of gunk, but that's beside the point. like said above sounds like air in the system, but how is it getting there? Would a faulty thermostat cause wacky readings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartless Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 an after market faulty thermostat could cause strange readings, but an OEM T-stat has a bypass, and probably wouldnt be the culprit stuff like barrs leak is seriously NOT recommended for these cars - too many small passages that can potentially be plugged up by the stuff. there is a Subaru specific coolant conditioner meant to help with the headgasket issues, but even that isnt a permanent fix if there are problems. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potter2010 Posted November 10, 2014 Author Share Posted November 10, 2014 Oh, my apologies. I must have accidentally deleted my initial secong sentence. It is a 2001 Subaru Legacy L with 226,000km on it. Little keyboard, not little fingers. I will check for bubbles in the overflow tomorrow morning. I had put some of the repair stuff in because of the smell. Couldn't see anything wrong when the occasional smell came up, thought there may be a small leak that I couldn't see. Won't do that again to be safe. I'm hoping that it isn't a head gasket issue since I'm a long way from home! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TKFlight Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 stuff like barrs leak is seriously NOT recommended for these cars - too many small passages that can potentially be plugged up by the stuff. Like I said I understood that going in, when I land another job I'll definitely be ripping off the intake manifold and replacing the o-rings for the crossover pipe. The stuff I used isn't even gunky, coolant is green as can but I understand where you are coming from due to the small passages in these motors. I know someone who also has a 2.5 and they dumped in another Bars Leak product and when I took off their radiator cap I almost fainted. It was definitely the pellet stuff. I had put some of the repair stuff in because of the smell. Subaru Coolant Conditioner or something else? But yes check for bubbles in the over flow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potter2010 Posted November 10, 2014 Author Share Posted November 10, 2014 I used the Bar Cooling System Two Part Stuff. The smell I was describing was outside the car, don't think I ever smelled it inside the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1997reduxe Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 you didnt seem to menion the level in the radiator. i'd check that if you havent but im sure you have. in my experience you can have a leak (225k is pretty high) in the coolant system and it leaks out of the radiator and is very low even though you have some in the bottle. just becasue you fill via bottle doesnt mean it gets into the engine and they do have to be burped etc once they are of enough lowness of level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 the other smell, if not sweet-ish/toasted marshmallows , could be grease from a torn inner cv joint on the exhaust. also, I think your car could have a cabin filter, if they get wet with condensation they can stink. Washer fluid can also stink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potter2010 Posted November 11, 2014 Author Share Posted November 11, 2014 No bubbles in the overflow tank, didn't check the actual rad while the wife revved the engine as I didn't want to introduce possibly more air. Maybe it is not an issue, but I didn't want to chance it. Tried it cold and warm, both with the heat running and off and with the a/c on and off. I think we might try driving home tomorrow. Might be a bad idea but neither of us can afford to miss much work. Hopefully it isn't a head gasket and lasts the whole way home where I can start messing around with it it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartless Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 BEFORE you start the car to head home - open the radiator cap - with engine stone cold - and verify that it is full. coolant should be all the way up into the filler neck - if it is not, you need to add some until it is, probably wont take much, but make sure it is full. you dont have to worry about "adding" air by opening the cap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potter2010 Posted November 11, 2014 Author Share Posted November 11, 2014 I will double check it tomorrow. Thank you all, I'll let you know if we make it home! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potter2010 Posted November 13, 2014 Author Share Posted November 13, 2014 (edited) I had checked the rad after we got to our destination initially and it appeared full. The engine would have been a little warm, cooled down enough to open it safely but I guess warm enough that the air hadn't worked it's way back up because it looked full. I checked it Tuesday morning and was able to add some more coolant into it. We didn't have a problem on the way home, either it just needed topping up (most likely) or some intermittant problem that is dormant at the moment. Feel a bit silly if it only needed coolant but hopefully this thread will help someone else in the future! Thanks all for your help and advice. Edited November 13, 2014 by potter2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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