So here's the deal. I own a 95 Subaru legacy outback. At first the A/C and heater wouldn't work, so i replaced the thermostat. The next time I drove it the car overheated quickly and coolant leaked. It had been leaking through the radiator cap (which I later replaced) and also through the overflow. I was thinking water pump but now I'm wondering if my radiator is shot. We found oil in the hose connecting the water pump to the rest of the system. Maybe a cracked head? I've driven it probably too much a couple of times while it was overheating. Never more than 5 minutes though. Did i kill my car?

from my experience most subaru headgaskets leak externally....so if you can i would get the car on a lift and take a peek around...if you cant do that take a look at the back of the heads were they attach to the block moreso at the corners....see any oil or coolant? i am assuming you did a complete coolant flush when you replaced the thermostat? air in the system? there is tons of info on here....do a search and you are bound to find something that is helpful......oh! and welcome to the board...

from my experience most subaru headgaskets leak externally....so if you can i would get the car on a lift and take a peek around...if you cant do that take a look at the back of the heads were they attach to the block moreso at the corners....see any oil or coolant? i am assuming you did a complete coolant flush when you replaced the thermostat? air in the system? there is tons of info on here....do a search and you are bound to find something that is helpful......oh! and welcome to the board...

 

Phase 1 leak internally, phase 2 externally, this is a phase 1 if its a 2.5.

 

lets start from scratch.

 

Did you install a subaru Thermostat?

Did you slowly (and i mean slowly) refill the cooling system while the car was running, then topped it odd after the T-stat (Surge out the rad cap neck) opened?

 

DO you see bubbles in the coolant with the cap off and the car warmed up and running?

 

nipper

note: since this is a 95 outback, it's a 2.2L engine.

 

how many miles, any other symptoms, what is the service history of the car, ever put stop leak in the radiator????

 

 

did you ever get the heat & AC to work?

 

do the radiator coling fans come on?

I did install the Subaru thermostat and it fit nicely. I did not have the Subaru running when i filled it back up though. No bubbles.

 

It is a 2.2 engine and is fairly new, not enough miles to worry about. We're in the middle of putting in a new water pump so the car is currently out of service.

 

Any idea on how to remove the left camshaft pulley? the nut is huge. The directions say to remove the left camshaft pulley, is that the pulley left of the first one on the right? Any way to stop the pulley from turning so i can loosen it?

prob. not the best thing to do...but i just rammed a monster pry bar in one of the notches in the center of the pulley and muscled the bolt out.....i had success using a strap wrench holding the crank pulley to break that bolt loose.....i believe the left side of the engine is usually the drivers side (obviously depends on how you look at it though)....

<<I've driven it probably too much a couple of times while it was overheating. Never more than 5 minutes though. Did i kill my car?>>

 

sounds like you overheated the engine and blew a headgasket.

 

 

<<I did not have the Subaru running when i filled it back up though.>>

 

being that you didn't correctly bleed all of the air out of the coolant system, my bet is still blown headgasket.

 

 

<<Any idea on how to remove the left camshaft pulley? the nut is huge. The directions say to remove the left camshaft pulley, is that the pulley left of the first one on the right? Any way to stop the pulley from turning so i can loosen it?>>

 

before anyone tries to work/repair a vehicle they should get the proper tools and manuals for the job. since its a 2.2 engine, you should be able to find one easily in your area. then you can just swap it in your car.

<<I've driven it probably too much a couple of times while it was overheating. Never more than 5 minutes though. Did i kill my car?>>

 

sounds like you overheated the engine and blew a headgasket.

 

 

<<I did not have the Subaru running when i filled it back up though.>>

 

being that you didn't correctly bleed all of the air out of the coolant system, my bet is still blown headgasket.

 

 

<<Any idea on how to remove the left camshaft pulley? the nut is huge. The directions say to remove the left camshaft pulley, is that the pulley left of the first one on the right? Any way to stop the pulley from turning so i can loosen it?>>

 

before anyone tries to work/repair a vehicle they should get the proper tools and manuals for the job. since its a 2.2 engine, you should be able to find one easily in your area. then you can just swap it in your car.

 

What he said.

 

nipper

Thanks alot guys for the help. I'm going to put the new water pump in and completely fill the car with fluid while it's running. The previous owner took it to the shop and had been told there was simply not enough water in the system. So I'll make sure the car is running when i fill it. I'll write again if nothing works.

 

Thanks again!