Before I go ahead and plan for an expensive repair not really necessary, I'd thought I'd bend an eye and see if I could get some advice on possible problems/solutions. If repair is needed, I'd also like to see some instructions on how to perform such repair where necessary.

 

Forester - 98.

 

It's an overheating problem which has manifested itself in a few ways. There was a possible small leak in the head gasket, which with some additives actually seems to have been rectified, so it was an apparent small leak.

 

However, the overheating problem continues onwards. Currently, the overheating may or may not occur. Idling within the driveway, it reaches proper running temperature and doesn't venture from that point. When taken out on the road, it may run fine for hours without overheating, where at other times it could begin to overheat five minutes on the roads. Idling at a stoplight the engine temperature will drop a bit from the red zone, or if I put it into neutral and coast, though it rarely goes back down to proper temp in this situation. It has been a while since I've driven it, so I can't rightly remember if the overflow fills or not now but I know it was doing that in the past.

 

If running without the thermostat, the engine temperature barely registers with an outside temperature near freezing, yet testing of the thermostat shows that it opens fully and properly.

 

Could these behaviours point towards a faulty waterpump, or is there another direction in which I should focus my attention?

 

Unfortunately, the local Subaru dealership seems to have caused me more problems then they ever solved, so I'm going this pretty much alone. Fortunately, my father is car knowledgable, so he's helping and I'm quickly learning.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Any more information which I can provide to help me help you I will be happy to try and provide.

Sorry, it sounds exactly like head gaskets.

Head gaskets

Whatever you do, stop letting it overheat! Stop testing it if you know it overheats. You are going to cause a lot of engine damage very quickly. An overheating problem is not something to fool around with.

head gaskets. you didn't say but you obviously have the 2.5 liter motor since they do this. your thread is like many others posted here.

 

it's a big job, if you're not comfortable around timing belts and disassmebling the motor then it's likely not for you. definitely need a garage/heated area to tackle this yourself as it will take awhile. expect the car to be down more than a day.

overheating advice- DONT LET IT OVERHEAT.

simple. you can do far far far more damage by overheating the engine repeatedly then a blown headgasket could ever do. When you get the headgasket done, have an oilchange too. The last connnecting rod bearing on the passenger side of the car REALLY does not like repeated overheating. Better safe then sorry.

 

nipper

Head gaskets. And the additive hasn't done a thing. Sorry.