1997 Legacy 2.5 DOHC 225k. Came to me overheating randomly, could not get it to overheat when I drove it, changed the t-stat, gave it back to the girl. Came back again soon after, overheating again, does it consistently. Diagnosed it as a blown head gasket, installed used engine w/ 175k, was out of good running car, flushed heater core. Started up, overheated first run (shut it off before it got too hot), and no heat in vehicle. Found radiator partially plugged, replaced radiator, tested cooling fans w/ jumpper wires, ok, t-stat not stuck. Is there a place to burp the cooling sys on a '97? could not find one myself. I'm not getting coolant leakage anywhere, and no bubbles in the radiator, which would lead me NOT to believe the head gaskets are gone in the newer engine too. anyone experience this before? any solutions found? if everything is good on the newer engine, what else is there that would make it overheat the same way with both engines? any common problem that would cause cooling fans not to get power to them?

Getting all of the air out helps. There should be a plug on top of the radiator for bleeding. Might help to park the front end uphill when refilling. There are tons of overheating threads here, I'm sure there is a writeup in the USRM about how to bleed the cooling system.

<< 1997 Legacy 2.5 DOHC 225k. Came to me overheating randomly, could not get it to overheat when I drove it, changed the t-stat, gave it back to the girl. >>

 

are you a mechanic or someone just trying to help someone out?

there's air in the system, very common with EJ engines. search for "burping" or "burp" to reveal all sorts of threads on how to do this right.

Are you using an OE thermostat?

Have you replaced the cap (at this age you should).

 

Did you fill the cooling system SLOWLY with the car running?

 

 

nipper