Hi. My 97 Outback with 95 EJ22 has been a pleasure to own. Tonight I noticed anti-freeze on the snow at the front of the car. Discovered the small hose was off at the Radiator Cap nipple. Plugged it back on and drove 4 miles to home at -15 deg celsius. The temp gauge went to the high end and I lost heat in the cabin. The engine was fairly hot when I arrived including the upper rad hose (hint to the gurus). Would my disconnected resevoir hose drain my rad or could a bad thermostat cause this? BTW it was -39 deg Celsius for a couple of recent nites....can metal shrink?

 

I went to the 95 2.2 l engine so that I wouldn't have learn how to spell head gasket.....lol....

 

Any help would be appreciated....It may have to use the services of a Sub Dealer..due to time constraints...yikes.

 

Thanks

 

Doogymon

what i could think of is that air got in the system therefore not having heat in the cabin, try to fill up the system to its capacity and see if it works if not check the thermostat

You most likely have air in the system. I'd let it cool, then jack the front as high as possible. Pull the return hose (upper) and slowly fill it with coolant. Put the hose back on and fill the radiator and overflow bottle.

 

Start the engine and squeeze the upper hose to force the air bubbles out of the overflow. Keep doing this until the engine warms up and the thermostat is open. Let it cool and it should suck fluid back into the radiator. Do this a few times and you should get all of the air out.

 

If its still overheating, thermostat would be the next item, make sure you get the air out after the change.

Probably a combination of both. With the hose off you lost antifreeze. Now there is air in the system where coolant used to be. Fill up the system and you should be ok.

 

nipper

Don't forget to open the Air vent hole on the passenger's side of the radiator when you are filling it up. I forgot...caused a lot of problems with Air bubbles.

 

I did it the way he described, by pulling the hose.

Thanks fellas

 

 

I tried to burp the system. Opened the bleeder. The level went down and I poured in the 50/50mix. It appeared that the thermostat opened but i'm not 100%. Steam came out of the bleeder and the top hose got warm. Not sure if coolant was travelling thru.Would coolant leak out of bleeder? Didn't see any. Anyhoo the bad news is that the temp guage went high but not pegged. Still it was at about 90% to the top. There was no heat in the cabin. All fans work. Cannot see any leaks. Tighten all clamps.I guess its the thermostat next eh? And yes I will buy a genuine Subaru.

 

Back to the snowbank.

 

Doogymon

OK top it off again. It should be so full that the when the Tstat opens up the car overflows. AFter that it will settle down, top off again if needed. Look at the fluid, there should be no bubbles (well maybe the odd stray bubble).

Sometimes it takes few shots at it to get the air out. If the car didnt overflow then the tstat didnt open.

 

 

nipper

Good below freezer temp Bat man!!

 

-39 C = -38.6 F

 

-40 C = -40 F

for those who wonder what

temp C = the same temp F

 

I know a lot of things that would shrink at that temp.

 

You talkin' wind chill or like real ambient seen on a

thermometer?

 

Good luck as you need heat.

There is a small hose in the center of the intake that can be used for bleeding if you don't get all the air out.

 

If there is a service garage near by you might want the

rad "sniffed" for hydro carbons.

 

One way to "see" a HG problem.

 

With the question of air in the system

sometimes seeing

bubbles in the overflow isn't a for sure.

Also a thought, get a new radiator cap.

 

nipper

Johnson']Don't forget to open the Air vent hole on the passenger's side of the radiator when you are filling it up. I forgot...caused a lot of problems with Air bubbles.

 

I did it the way he described' date=' by pulling the hose.[/quote']

 

I learned this 3 nights ago. Just when you think the coolant system is full, it might not be.

It baffled me for a bit because I put my engine back in and topped the coolant off (or so I thought). I drove about a mile and the temp was sitting on the 'H'.

 

Then I found the vent plug near the upper radiator hose. Now all is well.

If it makes anyone feel better, it got me once too. I only drove around the block, and saw the temp higher then it should be. Oddly that short drive broke loose the air pocket.

 

nipper

Hi Fellars

 

Thanks for chiming in...Fun do the diagnostics based on ones description of symptoms...When you don't play mechanic 24/7 it takes a bit of thought to get back into the mode. Anyhoo, enough of my babbling. I did as you said Nipper and company...now the temp gauge is normal. However there is zero heat into the cabin so I shall risk all and say "Elementary my Dear Watson..the dadgum T-Stat is stuck open....lol.

 

I will R&R it tomorrow with a genuine Subaru joby.

 

At the risk of sounding even more cornier...you guys are the bestest.

 

Cheers & have a good night or day.

 

Doogymon

You say the temp gauge is normal.

 

In your climate, the only way the

temp gauge will get to normal is if the T-stat

is working.

therefore.

You should have heat.

 

sounds like you might have air trapped in the heater core