Well,

 

I'm pretty sure the headgaskets are going. Every couple of weeks the car overheats. I refill it, burp it, it's fine and a couple weeks later it overheats again. Typically after I accelerate very hard. When burping it this time I ran the engine at a higher rpm for a time and I could see some tiny bubbles coming around. They are not in the overflow tank so it's not a big leak, but big enough to cause a problem over a period of time.

 

So the big question is does anyone have a recommended shop for resurfacing the heads in the Chicago area? I doubt that they are warped or damaged as I've shut down the engine shortly after overheating, but I just want to double-check and do this right.

 

Any one want to come over for a head gasket party?

Hi. How often are you checking the coolant level? The coolant level must be checked (engine cold of course) by removing the radiator cap and looking in the radiator. On this setup, if there is a leak anywhere in the cooling system, the system will pull air back in through the leak rather than coolant from the overflow tank. So the overflow tank level might look ok, but the rad level is slowly dropping, eventually resulting in a climbing temp gauge which prompts checking the radiator level which then appears to be low.

I was checking it pretty often after the last one for about a week and didn't notice any change, it appeared stable. I could try running for the next week and see if it shows up again, but seeing the small bubbles has me very worried. I replaced the TB on it and have burped it well, I think... but it keeps coming back. I guess there is a possibility that there is a high pressure leak that only leaks when driving, when it comes to a stop it no longer leaks. I've never noticed any fluid at all on the ground with it though.

 

BTW, I've ordered a new radiator cap from the local dealer, it does have some crud on it.

The 2.2's aren't really known for giving up headgaskets. I think it'd be pretty obvious if it was (oil in the coolant tank, obvious smoke, loss of overall coolant). I think you have some leak that is high pressure like you mentioned.

I jut replaced HG in a 91 legacy with 2.2. It happens.

 

And it's excactly the symtoms he's describing. There was no smoking, no oil in water/no water in oil. Was like that for some time. Every week or so, running low of coolant and then overheating(espescially down hill) It got worse eventually, and started really bubbling into the overflow.

 

Replaced HG and no more problems.

 

jverbarg, does it seem like the upper radiator hose is highly presurized when hot and running?? If it is pumped up to where you almost can't squeeze it, you definately have a blown HG.

The lower hose for the radiator is a bit soft... might be a good idea to replace it too. I still can't get past the fact that I'm seeing small bubbles in the radiator which get worse and worse the faster I rev it.

 

I haven't had a chance to squeeze the upper radiator hose when hot... It was presurized pretty well last night when it overheated, but I was able to remove the cap pretty easily. I drove the other car to work today 'cause I didn't want to be stranded on the side of the road in the storm that moving through right now.

it may be your radiator as well... it could be cloged