22 replies to this topic

[theDirtyRue]

So now the 86 GL is my daily driver...and its still over heating.

I replaced the thermostat, nothing.

I replaced the water pump, a little better but still way hot.

I replaced the radiator with one from the junkyard, and i thought it fixed the problem, but then the hotter weather rolled around and it started to get hot on the highway.

So, b/c I had to head to idaho for a week, I went ahead and bought a brand new radiator. I installed it AND another new thermostat and then it started to get hot just sitting and driving around town. So , b/c I had to go to Idaho, I just took out the thermostat and went on. So now I am thermostat-less and it still gets hot when it sits for long periods of time.

The only other things that I can assume are the cause of my problem would be a blown head gasket or cracked head.

So, is there anything else that could be causing this? If not, how much should I expect to pay/put aside time wise to do this myself? How much would it cost to have fixed (I don't know if I have the time to do it myself)?

thanks,

[MorganM]

Curiouser and curiouser... :-\

Are you loosing any coolant?

Have all coolant hoses been replaced? (read: not just upper and lower radiator hoses)

Are your clamps TIGHT?

New radiator cap?

I'm eluding to two things here. One being exhuast port coolant leak and its heating up yoru coolant there. Two being Subaru isnt holding proper pressure in the coolant system and its boiling over too soon.

[Skip]

have you given any thought to

insalling an aftermarket gauge?

[Skip]

have you given any thought to

installing an aftermarket temp gauge?

I will assume the fan is coming on at about

half scale.

[Cougar]

I would have a block check done to see if exhaust gases are getting into the coolant.

[heep70]

Taking the thermostat out will not help you run any cooler infact it only makes matters worse. Unless the thermostat is stuck shut. Take it to a rad shop and have them shot it with a heat gun to see if it is actually getting hot.


How old are the hoses (rad hoses and heater hoses)? Hose(s) could be collapsing on the inside.

Timing set correctly?

Thermostat installed right side up?

Fan coming on?

Compression check and block test should be done.

[theDirtyRue]

Curiouser and curiouser... :-\

Are you loosing any coolant?

Have all coolant hoses been replaced? (read: not just upper and lower radiator hoses)

Are your clamps TIGHT?

New radiator cap?

I'm eluding to two things here. One being exhuast port coolant leak and its heating up yoru coolant there. Two being Subaru isnt holding proper pressure in the coolant system and its boiling over too soon.

Yes, I have been losing coolant.

As far as I know, the only hoses to be replaced on it are the upper and lower.

The clamps are very tight...

And its a new-er radiator cap.


Skip, I have thought about installing an after-market gauge, but I don't believe that mine is wrong. It Fluctuates with the weather and when its says its hot, it is... I don't think this is my problem, but I will probably add one once I get everything working well.

The electric fan is hardwired on right now. It's always on.


Heep70,

I've been told that taking the thermostat out will only hurt it more, but if its in, it gets WAY too hot way too fast. Should I leave it in anyway? (This is my only car right now and if it goes out, I kinda get boned big time)

Like I said above, I'm not too sure as to how old the hoses are. I know the upper and lower are fairly new, but I haven't replaced the others, and can only assume they are original...(sadly)

As for my timing, I re-set it about four months ago, and I'm pretty dang sure its off again. My idle is very rough and low in RPMs.

Yes, the thermostat was installed right side up (before I took it out)

And yes, the fan is hardwired, so its on.



It looks like I need to do a compression check and maybe a block check... any shop can do the block check for me right?
_______________________________________________________________


That said, There are two new developments that make me further believe its a HG... Occasionally when I start the car a cloud of white smoke comes out the exhaust. I think this is condensation in the cylinders thats burning off?

The other thing that I found is the stuff on my oil cap. It's got the milky brown look goin on, which makes me believe that water is getting into my oil which would be HG right?


Sorry for taking so long to get back to the thread, and thanks for the help...

[MorganM]

Most concerning thing thus far is
A) It over heats really fast
You are loosing coolant.... where? :-\
C) QUIT OVER HEATING IT!

[TurboSPFI]

I have the same problem right now...

T-stat
water pump
CSF turbo radiator

Turns out to be a head gasket, its not blown to where it wont run, actually runs great lol, but it leaks out the back and i lose coolant pretty quickly.

Another thing you can check out is a leaking intake manifold gasket, I have one of these too that I beleive to be a culprit..

[theDirtyRue]

actually it doesn't overheat fast or hardly at all right now, but thats b/c there is no t-stat in it. It only overheats (and it does so gradually) if I'm sitting still. so if I leave it running wile I run inside for 10 minutes when I get back it'll be 3/4 or more.


the only place I can think that I'm losing coolant is the large clouds of smoke. I'm thinking thats my coolant going bye-bye... I haven't noticed puddles anywhere.

[TurboSPFI]

sounds like a HG problem, or your fan isnt turning on..


If its your fan, make sure your radiator is grounded! That temp switch will trip, but will have no ground to goto if its not grounded.

Could check the temp switch too.

[MorganM]

or your fan isnt turning on..

Read his posts....

[critical_max]

Large clouds of smoke sound bad. I drove a car in this condition or near (sweet smelling exhaust is a big clue) and had to get a new core installed eventually.

I would highly recommend a simple compression check to see how much pressure each cylinder is holding. The testing gauge is $15-30 at reputable stores. The Chiltons/Haynes style manuals explain the procedure. A cracked head or blown head gasket would become obvious.

And don't drive it if you can help it!

[theDirtyRue]

Alright, well it looks like I'm heading to Napa or something for a compression gauge tomorrow. Hopefully it will at least confirm something...



thanks,

[kingbobdole]

hey...
If you have access to a junk yard and have a crank driven fan... do yourself a favor and get a new fan clutch. My Rx-7 had a similar issue... overheated when sitting, was fine moving..... fan clutch was bad... fan spun, sounded like a garbage truck... didnt cool at all.....

[theDirtyRue]

Alright. My buddy and I have a Junkyard trip planned so I'll add it to the list to try and find.

[theDirtyRue]

Alright so I picked up a compression tester the other day, and tried it out my friends car (his was fine).


But, here's the sucky part, when I went to remove the spark plugs on my car, the two on the drivers side would NOT come out! I was able to break them loose, but then as I'm unscrewing it, it would get tighter?

I gave up before I snapped one off while it was still threaded... It felt like I was just about to.


Any ideas on how to get those two out? The passenger side came out no problem...

[TurboSPFI]

I was able to break them loose, but then as I'm unscrewing it, it would get tighter?

am i the only one that stared at that sentence for about 2 minutes before going, "thats not good!"

[theDirtyRue]

am i the only one that stared at that sentence for about 2 minutes before going, "thats not good!"

Try being the one actually staring at the car for 20 minutes and then just asking, "What next?"

[MorganM]

Most likely a previouse owner screwed up and cross threaded them in. How people do this I will never understand. It has happend quite a few times however as I've seen plenty of threads about it.

Keep the threads lubed up and work the lube in. Get it loose a little, spray some lube down by the seat, then screw it back in gently. Screw it out a little than back in and try to work some lube into the threads. Then back the plugs out and hope for the best. They are going to have to come out at some point; spark plugs don't last forever!

[85Sub4WD]

eek - I had a shop do that, try to cover it up with a knock-off helicoil - wasn't pretty - worst case scenario is to helicoil all four cylinders - and that is not the end of the world - I agree with fan clutch possibility - if you have A/C - the electric fan is NOT enough to cool your engine if it is over 90 degrees F outside, my fan clutch IS bad (next JY trip!!), and my temp gague acts the same way as yours (I don't let it get higher than 3/4) if the temp is at/over 90 and I am running A/C, acts normal w/ no A/C

double check - 185 T-stat right??

anyway, the HG IS a possibility if you are making a lot of smoke - best wishes & good luck

[MilesFox]

try block sealer

[john in KY]

But, here's the sucky part, when I went to remove the spark plugs on my car, the two on the drivers side would NOT come out! I was able to break them loose, but then as I'm unscrewing it, it would get tighter?


Same thing happened to me once. Plugs were in the engine for about an year. One did exactly what your 2 are doing. Finally got it out by using a 3' cheater bar and lots of Power Blaster. The only explanation I could come up with was a carbon build up on the threads. Since that experience I no longer use Autolite plugs and always use antiseize on the threads.