Hey guys, just picked up my 89' Lego with the EJ22 the other week. I noticed when I bought it that it had a slight radiator leak on the left hand side (that's passenger to you US guys - split side tank I think), but didn't run hot or anything, didn't miss, etc. Just been keeping the fluids up till I get the new radiator this weekend.

 

Anyways, my old man (who's a mechanic) was looking it over and noticed bubbles coming from the radiator - and the waters going somewhere, but doesn't look like its leaking as much as it's losing from the radiator. Now it's running smooth - but looks like steam is coming out of the exhaust, and has a VERY slight (I mean barely noticeable) miss occasionally at idle. Still doesn't run hot in the slightest (around just under the halfway mark on the gauge) etc etc.

 

I was wondering what you Subaru guru's think this might be? I am replacing the radiator this weekend, so that might cure it, but the old man thinks it is head gaskets.

 

Also, do the EJ intake manifolds still have the coolant running through them... or is that just the EA's? Because that would make my life very easy if it were only them.

 

1989 Legacy

EJ22e

236,000km (146,000 miles)

5 speed manual

Edited August 5, 201015 yr by rxleone

Head Gaskets. Is there coolant going into the oil? The coolant might be fouling out the plugs and thats why you have a miss fire now and then.

 

-Tom

If it's MPFI it has a seperate coolant crossover pipe with o-rings. And I would suggest replacing those. Could be where your water is going.

 

If it's carbed, it looks to me from you're pics that the crossover is in the intake.....Either way the O-rings are the same on the block....replace them and check all the radiator and heater and throttle body coolant hoses.

 

Gotta rule that stuff out before assuming headgasekts on a 2.2

Head Gaskets. Is there coolant going into the oil? The coolant might be fouling out the plugs and thats why you have a miss fire now and then.

 

-Tom

 

Nope - Oil is clean as. Not a hint of water at all.

 

If it's MPFI it has a seperate coolant crossover pipe with o-rings. And I would suggest replacing those. Could be where your water is going.

 

If it's carbed, it looks to me from you're pics that the crossover is in the intake.....Either way the O-rings are the same on the block....replace them and check all the radiator and heater and throttle body coolant hoses.

 

Gotta rule that stuff out before assuming headgasekts on a 2.2

 

Not carbed - MPFI. I've heard the EJ22 doesn't blow head gaskets very often - that sound about right? Also, the bubbles are more continuous and steady-flowing, not related to engine RPM. Does that mean anything?

Edited August 5, 201015 yr by rxleone

 

Not carbed - MPFI. I've heard the EJ22 doesn't blow head gaskets very often - that sound about right? Also, the bubbles are more continuous and steady-flowing, not related to engine RPM. Does that mean anything?

 

trapped air

trapped air

 

Could this trapped air be forced in in the past by the split side tank of the radiator? If it's been leaking somethings gotta fill the space right?

 

It does have an awful amount of bubbles. It's almost like foam, and from previous experiences (not with Subaru) a head gasket that bubbles like that would be missing continuously. It's night over here but I'll see if I can get some reasonably decent photo's for you guys.

really you have described a headgasket leak. You can do a compression test or other things to locate which bank and only deal with that one. There are mixtures dropped in engines all the time which temporarily seal but no since it is yours.

really you have described a headgasket leak. You can do a compression test or other things to locate which bank and only deal with that one.

 

Compresion test won't show anything. Subaru HGs leak without fully "blowing out" and losing compression.