slow be Posted December 25, 2011 Share Posted December 25, 2011 82 GL. I flushed my coolant this fall trying to get the heat working for winter and found the replacement antifreeze was cloudy and oily. Leaky head gasket, right? I put on my big-boy pants and was ramping up to do the deed and was really surprised when I opened the radiator cap. No more cloudy, oily antifreeze! I've got my fingers crossed that the subie fairies brought an early present, but am weary to get too excited. Any thoughts? Also, I still want to backflush the heater core to get that sweet heat that started this whole process. I think I can flush it in the dash with a garden hose/hose clamp rig. Anybody know what I'm talking about or tried this? Merry Christmas!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomRhere Posted December 25, 2011 Share Posted December 25, 2011 Garden hose works good for flushing the heater core. But I wouldn't clamp it. Pull both hoses off at the engine side and hold the garden hose to each one by hand only. Switch between each hose after a minute or two. Your house water pressure is way above what the system is designed for, you could cause damage if you clamp it to a hose and there is major blockage/resistance to flow thru the core. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slow be Posted December 26, 2011 Author Share Posted December 26, 2011 good thought, tomrhere. i never considered over pressuring the system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomRhere Posted December 26, 2011 Share Posted December 26, 2011 Yeah, why cause an issue if you can avoid it. If it truly is clogged, you're not going to do much in improving flow really. But,,, there is that chance that you could do so. That's why one should swap the "feed hose" between both lines multiple times. You "just may" clear the blockage.. Then again,,, if you put 35 plus PSI against a system that's blocked and only "rated" for 13-18 PSI in hopes of clearing it out, and you actually split a seam, what did you gain? NADTA!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slow be Posted December 27, 2011 Author Share Posted December 27, 2011 i'm going to try the lazy, smart (maybe?) way first and hope to get lucky. if that doesn't work it looks like i'll get to explore a new area of my subie and do it the right way. any thought on why the antifreeze is no longer milky? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zukiru Posted December 27, 2011 Share Posted December 27, 2011 I can't think of a reason it would be milky before and not later. I used a small air compressor and blew my core out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slow be Posted January 4, 2012 Author Share Posted January 4, 2012 The heater core hose flush helped, and some really funky stuff came out, but the heat's still not hot. My wife's looking for something a little closer to I think the flush would work for a little clog, but a new core might be the way to go for 30 years of service. Thanks for all the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bheinen74 Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Not sure they make a new core for the older Subaru's. Remember reading many many posts on this, it is hard to even get the heater valve. Do you have a OEM from Subaru dealer thermostat? That is the biggest mistake not going OEM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slow be Posted January 4, 2012 Author Share Posted January 4, 2012 both of the heater hoses are hot and the upper and lower rad hoses are hot, so i think the thermostat is working. Like the replacement heater core, I think it's oem spec, but not an original subie part. if they're next to impossible to get, i'll have to make due with what i can get. i spent a little time searching "heater core" on the board, but didn't find anything very interesting. can you add some links to the threads that raise your concern. either way, i'll be extra careful no to damage the original when i'm taking it out. there's a shop down the street that still fixes radiator. maybe they can get the original core back in service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 The heater core hose flush helped, and some really funky stuff came out, but the heat's still not hot. My wife's looking for something a little closer to I think the flush would work for a little clog, but a new core might be the way to go for 30 years of service. Thanks for all the advice. \ \ can you get a vacuum crevice tool or brush on it? Could be really blocked with debris reducing airflow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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