MTNjohnny Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 I know the answer. But let’s hear the options.... 92 loyale over heated, replaced thermostat, flushed and bled the cooling system, parked it on a steep hill and burped it. Radiator builds and holds pressure (for three days) and coolant reservoir bubbles when running.. what’s the options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el_freddo Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 1) replace head gaskets and have the heads shaved - before you toast that engine good and proper 2) drop an EJ conversion in 3) drive till it pops good a proper. Junk it and buy a newer Subaru. I vote option 2. Cheers Bennie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveT Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 El Freddo covered the options. IF you check the coolant in the radiator and the tank before every drive, and top them off, you might get to drive it [short drives only.. 15-30 minutes.] for another few days to another few months. It will get worse, until it completely blows the head gaskets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTNjohnny Posted January 24, 2020 Author Share Posted January 24, 2020 Thanks. I do have an EJ here.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loyalematt Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 If you are lucky it will just be the head gasket. A family member owned mine before me and I knew it had been overheated before and was why it was parked. When I pulled the original engine out of my 90, and swapped what I needed to over to the donor, I took the time to pull the original apart and see if I could use it as an extra drop in engine or atleast for parts. What I found was that on one of the heads, when it overheated it also successfully put a hairline fracture between two of the valves and was literally pumping compression into the coolant. It did that same bubbling you are talking about. Hopefully it isn't that severe for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveT Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 A small crack between the intake and exhaust valves is normal. Nearly all of them have it. All of mine have it. There was a service bullitin about it years ago. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loyalematt Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 I didn't know that DaveT. Figured a crack in the head between valves, it was as good as ruined. So if that's common, it doesn't cause driveability issues or leaks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carfreak85 Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 4 hours ago, DaveT said: A small crack between the intake and exhaust valves is normal. Nearly all of them have it. All of mine have it. There was a service bullitin about it years ago. I think that was only for the EA81s and EJs. From what I remember cracks between valves on EA82s (especially the turbos) was a death sentence. @GeneralDisorder any thoughts on that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveT Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 The one I read was specifically EA82 non turbo. I don't know if there were any for the others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 It's completely normal. Subaru issued TSB's to ignore the cracks unless they extend into the exhaust port and leak coolant. Back in the day I did head gaskets on dozens of EA82's and I don't remember seeing any that didn't have cracks between the valves to one extent or another. Never caused a problem. GD 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loyalematt Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 I wasn't aware of the service bulletins on this issue, and I sincerely appreciate sharing it. That's very good information to know. I still have the engine, so perhaps its not as fubar as I thought. Lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mack Truck Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 16 hours ago, carfreak85 said: I think that was only for the EA81s and EJs. From what I remember cracks between valves on EA82s (especially the turbos) was a death sentence. @GeneralDisorder any thoughts on that? No, My EA 82 had cracks tween the valves on each cylinder and the heads pressure tested ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveT Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 The cracks are cosmetic. They don't go far enough to intersect a coolant passage. No effect on driving or running. Other cracks that cause leaks and problems can happen with severely overheated heads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 Unbolt and drop the exhaust manifold down and make sure there’s no signs of coolant leaks into the exhaust. This is what happens if the cracks are bad and extend into the exhaust. But this isn’t likely on nonturbo engines which weren’t abused or had ignored overheating. Normally, replace headgaskets and move along. I’ve seen countless dozens of cracks, I’m sure it happens but I’ve never seen a non-turbo EA or ER head crack all the way through. 19 hours ago, carfreak85 said: I think that was only for the EA81s and EJs. From what I remember cracks between valves on EA82s (especially the turbos) was a death sentence. Nah, EA82s and ER27s crack and are benign, not EJs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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