Helppppp?

 

 

Is it just something with these cars, or what? Below are my two situations:

 

1. 1986 Subaru GL Turbo Wagon. As I'm driving the other night (25 degrees outside), the car overheats. I pull over. Go get some antifreeze + water and put it in. I'm able to make it home. But the next day driving it, I have like literally almost no heat (it worked before). I also come to find out (after taking the oil cap off) that there is water in the oil....I add oil, drive a little more, and take off the cap again....water.

 

 

Blown Headgasket?

 

 

Situation #2.

 

1986 Subaru GL Hatchback. Driving it, and it overheats. GAHH!! So I put antifreeze + water in there! And I drove it again tonight, and it overheated in the McDonald's Drivethru. (About 30 degrees outside).

 

Btw, No water in the oil for this one.

 

 

Can someone help me?

Helppppp?

 

 

Is it just something with these cars, or what? Below are my two situations:

 

1. 1986 Subaru GL Turbo Wagon. As I'm driving the other night (25 degrees outside), the car overheats. I pull over. Go get some antifreeze + water and put it in. I'm able to make it home. But the next day driving it, I have like literally almost no heat (it worked before). I also come to find out (after taking the oil cap off) that there is water in the oil....I add oil, drive a little more, and take off the cap again....water.

 

 

Blown Headgasket?

 

Bingo, water in oil is sure sign(unless possibly a freeze plug under the valve cover popped out)

 

Don't drive it any more at all, water in the oil will Kill the bearings.

Situation #2.

 

1986 Subaru GL Hatchback. Driving it, and it overheats. GAHH!! So I put antifreeze + water in there! And I drove it again tonight, and it overheated in the McDonald's Drivethru. (About 30 degrees outside).

 

Btw, No water in the oil for this one.

 

 

Can someone help me?

 

I'm guessing the fan thermositch? or Thermostat. If both of those check out I'd replace the radiator.

Don't assume water in oil just because there's milky looking stuff on the oil fill cap. That stuff will be there mainly due to no real heat or air circulation in the tube to help any condensation to evaporate. You'll find that stuff on just about any vehicle that has a long oil fill tube.

 

Check the dip-stick or drain the oil pan.

It was for sure water....You could see water drops on the under of the cap.

#1 sounds like a headgasket, you should do some more checking to make sure. compression test, drain the oil and see how much is in there, is the coolant tank bubbling when overheating after you turn the car off...etc. rule out something simple like intake manifold gasket. turbo's are far more prone to headgasket problems and i'm not sure which turbo you have, but some oil/water cooled versions may allow mixture of the oil and coolant as well if they begin to fail. HUGE NOTE on previous comment, continuing to drive it like this will degrade your bearings, do not drive it any more and get that coolant/antifreeze out of there as soon as you can, and fix it as soon as you can if you want to keep the car.

 

#2 need more info. is it loosing coolant for sure? if so, find the leak. if not then check your thermostat, water pump, radiator, etc.

 

you have to remember these cars are over 20 years old. getting one and driving it like you would a newer car is not a good formula for reliability. you have 20 year old parts every where - water pumps, hoses, clamps, heater cores, headgaskets, seals, gaskets, radiators, thermostats....etc. some of those have been replaced, but not all. add in to that the idea that you have no idea how it was treated for 20 years and you really have a good chance that some previous owner drove it hot and compromised the headgaskets or other parts some time during those 20+ years.

It was for sure water....You could see water drops on the under of the cap.

 

Still though, that can just be from condensation... Only way to know for sure if there is water in the oil is to drain it.....

 

IF, you do find water(coolant mixture) in there, you need to flush the oil system out with some Rislone Engine Flush and re-do oil change. Or just do as I do, 1 quart of kerosene with a couple quarts of cheap oil as a flush, then change oil/filter. Anti-freeze itself messes with engine bearings, you need to get that stuff out of there.

Update on Situation #2:

 

 

Car is running fine lately.

 

Only problem is it starts to get a lot warmer when idling (such as fast food drive thru's), etc. Any other suggestions?

is the fan kicking on?

for the hatch (#2) check the thermostat if it isnt opening all the way it wont let the proper amount of water through. same with a cloged rad. eather can cause this slight overheating problem. IMO just remove the thermostat use some good flush then drain put a new thermostat in and fill with antifreez thats what i do and mine works fine.

 

as for the wagon check the oil on the dipstick not the lid my ea82 x cab has little drops almost every time i change the oil.

I put in a new thermostat today for the 1986 GL Hatchback. Also put on a new timing belt. Filled it up with antifreeze and what not. It appears the radiator has a hole in it...

 

 

I'm thinking that's where the problem is...?

Also put on a new timing belt.

 

Wouldn't your hatchback have a pushrod engine in it?

Wouldn't your hatchback have a pushrod engine in it?

 

i was thinking the same thing ?? you must be good if you can change a timing belt on an ea81.

lol my bad. not the timing belt. wtf was i thinking? yeah, its the ea81 ohv. duhhhh!