chef_tim Posted June 27, 2005 Share Posted June 27, 2005 I just picked up a 97 OBW EJ2.5 141K on the clock. Looks nice runs good but as soon as it sits at an idle for a couple of minutes the temp goes to the top!!! Funny thing, as soon as I start to go it cools right back down. Can some one tell me what this is??? (please don't say head gasket). Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outback_97 Posted June 27, 2005 Share Posted June 27, 2005 Tim: Are the fans working? Maybe it's only cooling enough when there's air flowing over the radiator, but not while stopped? Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chef_tim Posted June 27, 2005 Author Share Posted June 27, 2005 Thanks Steve. Yep, the fans are going. I did a search and have several options at this piont. Thanks again, Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richierich Posted June 28, 2005 Share Posted June 28, 2005 Overheating because of headgasket failure usually takes a while, before the car can overheat, it has to push the antifreeze out of the engine and into the radiator and then out of the radiator and then into the overflow bottle. So is there antifreeze coming out of the overflow bottle or spewing out of the radiator? Really is sounds like a stuck thermostat or a air bubble in the system. Replace the thermostat, take the upper radiator hose off of the radiator and fill the motor block through the upper radiator hose, after that stick the hose back on and then fill the radiator. You then need to test drive the car around the block and if that is ok, take it for a freeway drive, come back and look for air bubbles in the overflow bottle. Check the fans but they take a while before they will let an engine overheat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomson1355 Posted June 28, 2005 Share Posted June 28, 2005 It doesn't take long to overheat the second time around because the coolant doesn't return to the system. Air heats up quickly. Is your reservoir fuller than it should be? Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chef_tim Posted June 28, 2005 Author Share Posted June 28, 2005 Yep, the over-flow was plumb full. So that sounds like T-stat?? I'll get it replaced first off. Thanks for all the responce. Tim PS here it is......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomson1355 Posted June 28, 2005 Share Posted June 28, 2005 Sorry, Tim, it doesn't sound like a thermostat. It sounds like classic head gaskets. Try sucking some of the overflow out and look at the sides of the reservoir. They'll likely be gunky from escaped combustion gasses. Don't let your mechanic get confused and replace the radiator as happens frequently. Your radiator (and your cap and your thermostat) is probably fine. It's a sharp looking car. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet82 Posted June 28, 2005 Share Posted June 28, 2005 I had a similar experience last week in the Forester. Driving on the freeway...as soon as I get off the car starts to pickup heat. Smells like antifreeze. The overflow tank is full. The gauge is going up and down in the middle to the hot zone. Fans are both going. The problem continues until I get back on the freeway and starts again when I get off the freeway. Usually the gauge just stays on the first mark and doesnt' move... I'm puzzled? Glenn 82 SubaruHummer 01 Forester Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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