akc Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Ok it is me again. I replaced the radiator, oil pump fuel pump, timing belts and a few other things I am still having occasional higher temps> they are irrational sometimes it gets too hot sometimes I can spend all day in the car, and it is just fine. Both times it can be the same type of driving. The other day it sqealed 2 times like some belt??? any Idea what that might have been? I have not replaced the water pump and I am replacing the theromostat to a subaru one instead of the napa cheap one. Compression is fine I seem to be losing a little water (not even overflow in a 30 minute drive is low)but in a couple of days it does go down a little. and when it overheats it definatly goes down. No bubbles coming up the radiator or overflow and no oil and water seems to be mixing. If I turn on the AC sometimes it causes it to get up there temp wise. I am also having trouble with the idle too, sometimes it is fine and sometimes it is either too low or it races. This does seem to go along with the overheating and it seems to "FIX" itself sometimes when I drive it. Then it will be fine for a drive or two and then all of a sudden it will either idle too low or two high. ( I almost think that is a sending unit problem?? any ideas on that one??(I have 2 hoses that I am planning to replace as they are very worn but do not appear to be leaking (one was the other day but I shortend it till it did not leak anymore) Do you think it is head and if so which one would you replace? both?? how could you tell where the cuprit is?? we have tested compression and the spark plugs all seem just fine. Grr we have almost replaced the whole cooling system and they all seem to fix it for a while. You can see when the thermostat clicks on and watch the temp drop a little. (very slowly) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 When it heats up is the fan(s) coming on? Radiator cap(s) ever been replaced? Intake manifold gasket leaks are common and not too bad to replace, much simpler than head gaskets. Bad radiator? Water pump could be the culprit, though the leaking should show somewhere up front under the pump. If it's head gaskets it's very rare to just replace one, it's best to replace them in sets. These engines do not typically blow head gaskets, something caused it. Whatever caused it on one, stressed the other. Replace both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akc Posted September 21, 2009 Author Share Posted September 21, 2009 replaced radiator and cap, replaced the gasket under the carb the one that goes in the manifold.(is that the intake manifold gasket?) Will check for leaking under water pump. I do still need to install a subaru thermo. but we are planning on taking it out and running without one to check if that could do it. I thought you changed both but.... was not sure the heads were redone before we got the car but it does not look like they did a standard job.... there is red gluish stuff all around both head gaskets like they sealed it with a high temp calking or something. I do not think it is normal. (we have had the car since Feb. and I think I know why they got rid of it.) Yes the fan is coming on however I have only one little fan should I have a bigger one too? My nephew with this year has two on his?) Maybe with the AC my car cannot handle the added strain someone mentioned on the board (another post)about a AC fan where would this be located? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 there is red gluish stuff all around both head gaskets like they sealed it with a high temp calking or something. I do not think it is normal.are you sure that's on the heads or could it possibly be on the cam carriers? the cam carriers can get a red anaerobic sealant, so you might be seeing those. sounds like it was worked on before. if that's the case, it has the chance that the job wasn't done right. replace both head gaskets. *** Use Fel Pro Permatorque (PT in the part number) head gaskets only and add 5-10 pounds to the final torque value. That's what all of us do and it's the best way for this motor. Subaru headgaskets never get anything put on them, they are always installed dry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akc Posted September 22, 2009 Author Share Posted September 22, 2009 I know they are supposed to be installed dry but it seems the person who did it decided they wanted to insure there method. (I am not saying it is right) there is a big red patch of silicon/ plastic/ calking type material that is apparently heat resistant that is around both heads the right head is a little better but the left one they really had fun with the substance before it hardened. IT is oozing (but dry) out of where the gasket should be. I am not even sure they put a gasket under it. Hubby thinks there is though. I am possitive it is the heads I am not mechanically inclined but several who I know do know something about cars. they assured me it was the heads. The same person who "fixed" this installed the weber carb and did not take care of the water opening under it they had it rigged so that the water went down the manifold? with the gas. It was the guy we bought the car from . I do not think he knew what he was doing. But hey since we fixed that I get 3-5 mpg better gas milage. He "fixed alot of stuff on the car alot of it appears he did a great job but..... The timing was off when we bought it enough that it ran decent sounding but so that it messed everything up and eventually broke the timing belts. (we got 2 mpg more when we fixed that) along with LOTS better power. However I did the test for carbon dioxide? is it dioxide or monixide) none in the water and we tested the water pump with the pipe method and it sounds good so ........I think I will first take out the themostat and see if that makes any differnce. It did not overheat of even get hot today but I did not do any stop and go traffic it also had no water loss today.. I did however drive it a hour one way with no problems. We probably will change the head gaskets just so we can figure out what the guy did to it.weather he put a gasket in or just sealent. Hey the good news I think I will be dangerous when I can get this car running I will know just enough to get me in trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Are you sure you are looking at the head gakset and not the cam tower? Those are sealed with RTV and it would be normal to see it there. The cam tower is the last 3" or so on TOP of the head and the valve cover attaches to the cam tower. The block itself is rather small and the head gasket are 6"+ from the valve covers. GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 yeah, i'm with GD that sounds really bizarre - can you post a photo? unless someone is very familiar with the older Subaru's they might not really be able to tell the difference between cam carrier/head. no other vehicle is really set up like Subaru's horizontally opposed stuff. most vehicles have one head, Subarus have two. Most have one timing belt/chain - this has two....etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akc Posted September 22, 2009 Author Share Posted September 22, 2009 I could be wrong it is not the first time. I don't know much about cars. But everyone that has looked at it thinks it is the heads BUT they are also used the chevys and such. One is a great diseal mechanic. BUT they have not dealt much with this engine> I will try to get you some pictures tommorrow and maybe you can clear this up. It does look like maybe the valve covers at the ends?? so maybe it is the cam tower? So If I see it it is the cam towers and the heads are UNDER that??? Sorry for my ingnorance.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 So If I see it it is the cam towers and the heads are UNDER that??? Sorry for my ingnorance.... This is how it's laid out: Valve cover / Cam Carrier / Head / Block / Head / Cam Carrier / Valve cover The head gaskets are between the Block and Head sections only. That clear it up for you? GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Looking from the top the intake manifold bolts to the heads, that's the sort of obvious thing to look for to determine the heads. I'm betting they're all seeing the cam carrier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akc Posted September 22, 2009 Author Share Posted September 22, 2009 Ok so it looks like where the head attaches to the cam towers. (red goo) like you said. then the next segament is the valve covers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 That sounds more like what you should be seeing. The stock "goo" isn't red so they have definitely been off at some point - probably safe to bet the head gaskets were replaced. I would make absolutely sure you don't have air bubbles in the cooling system - this is an easy and common mistake with the EA82's and results in overheating. Also replace the thermostat with an OEM one and make sure the connections to the fan and fan thermoswitch are clean and working properly. More than one intermittent overheating problem has been due to fans working intermittently. GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akc Posted September 22, 2009 Author Share Posted September 22, 2009 I cannot believe I messed that one up. OK will do as you say I used a test kit to test for the carbon and it was by someone who knew what they were doing (my dad he is a chemist and has done it often. I am a little concerned though as it has boiled over twice and that cannot be good. SO I am watching it very faithfully. I am planning on trading the themostat out tonight for a OEM one. I think that is the main problem right now as it takes so long for it to cool once the therostat has registered. Fan wise all I have is a little one on the radiator is that normal??? It seems to come on at the right times though but not totally sure (it is one thisng I have not replaced. or fixed in the cooling system Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Is the single fan driven off the water pump or is it electric? Non-AC vehicles typically have only the electric fan on the passenger side. AC equipped cars added a water pump driven fan as well to assist in pulling air through the evap. core. Generally if the cooling system is working well, the water pump fan isn't needed unless the temp gets very high and you aren't moving much (traffic). GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akc Posted September 22, 2009 Author Share Posted September 22, 2009 It only has the one on the passenger side I am assuming it is electric. AC came with the car and you can see the bolt holes where it might of been at one time but no fan. The Ac works pretty well but I can never use it. I have been running it all summer with the heat on or at least on low If I leave it on low the temp stays low but If I put it on cold even when it is on low with AC off it heats up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 You can install the water pump fan - it just bolts on top of the water pump pulley. It would probably help but your overheating is obviously due to something more than just that. I've run plenty of EA82's without the water pump fan and not had an issue. Have you cleaned out the fins on the evap core? It could probably use a good pressure wash - if the evap core isn't flowing air through to the radiator then you would likely overheat easily. It is in front and takes the brunt of the road debris, bugs, pine needles, etc. GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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