nberrong

99obw: I will try your suggestion and report the results, but not until Sunday. I am driving a different car through the holiday weekend. One more question: Any chance the problem could be the water pump? The timing belt was replaced at about 105k, but not the water pump. (I didn't know it should be done and the dealer didn't say anything about the water pump.) N

But, would a bad thermostat and/or radiator cap cause the car to lose coolant? I drove the car a fair amount last night, and this morning the overflow was empty and the level was down in the radiator. But, multiple pressure tests have failed to show any leaks. So the assumption has to be that it is burning up in the exhaust. Can it lose coolant through the exhaust and not be a head gasket? The radiator cap is new, but I don't know if the new cap was tested or not. A bad radiator cap was all that a Subaru tech at a dealer found wrong with the car a week ago, prior to overheating episode #2. Thanks for everyone's help and suggestions! N.

Yes, it is a 2.5. My mechanic, at my request, ran a hydracarbon test, and it came back clear. If that test is clear, does that rule out a head gasket problem? (My local mechanic does not believe it to be a head gasket, but is at a loss as to what it is. The mechanic at a Subaru dealer who looked at it last week believed it to be a bad radiator cap. He also did not think it was a head gasket, and saw the liquids siphoned out of the overflow.) I am at a loss on how to proceed. I have really liked my Forester, and was planning to drive it many miles past its current 132K. However, I travel a lot and need a reliable car - I don't want to worry every time I venture out of town about whether or not I'm going to end up sitting on the side of the road. Fixing the head gaskets is cheaper than a new car, but the last thing I want to do is replace them, only to find out that wasn't the problem. Ugh! N.

Hello: I have a 98 Forester L, manual, with 132K miles that has overheated twice, and no one can figure out what the problem is. I thought I would see if anyone here had any ideas. The first time it overheated, I was travelling on the interstate running about 75. I happened to look down and noticed the temperature gauge moving down. As this gauge has never moved before once the car has reached operating speeds, I kept watching it. It returned to its normal position, but soon thereafter rose quickly up to hot. I immediately pulled over and shut off the car. There was no steam. Once the car had cooled off, coolant was added and the car was fine the rest of the trip (about 20-30 miles). The next morning, it was pressure tested by a general service station, who found no indications of any leaks. That night the car was driven about 40 miles with no problems - the temperature gauge was at normal position the entire trip. The next morning the coolant level was low again in the radiator. Level was okay in the overflow, but there was an oily-type substance in the overflow. So I took it to a nearby Subaru dealer to be checked out. All they found was a bad radiator cap, which was replaced. The mechanic thought that the oily-looking substance was likely old antifreeze. The car was driven by my father during the next five days - he put about 500 miles on it. No overheating problems. On the 100-mile drive to return it to me, it overheated again, going from normal to pegged in only a few seconds. Notable I am sure is that it overheated in much the same location as it did before - on the downside of a high-elevation area. It was towed to my usual mechanic, who has not been able to find anything wrong. I have been suspecting head gasket troubles, but my mechanic tested for exhaust gases yesterday and found none. One other thing I will mention: it overheated on my first drive beyond just to/from work after having a new clutch and rear main seal installed. I don't think it's related, but at this point I don't know what to think. Thanks, N.