Radiator questions 2003 L.L. Bean

[Lverano]

Riding strong with 197,000 miles, but today I pushed the Subaru extra hard trying to get to work on time. I didn't get an overheat, but the coolant was steaming and the overflow reservoir overspilled a little when I parked her in the lot. The coolant was not boiling and I didn't overheat. Some time ago when I changed the thermostat I completely fill the rad, and then added a little to the reservoir, maybe I had too much in there?

 

It's probably the original radiator in there. I have a new one from Subaru that's been hanging around my garage, but I've bumped into it a million times and a lot of the radiator fins are bent up on the outside of the rad. So my question is, are those fins being bent here and there just superficial, or do they play an integral role? I remember when I bought the rad new from Subaru they were bent here and there just a little boogered up ya know.

 

What do ya all think? And by the way, hello again, I've been gone for a while. :-)

Edited August 6, 2017 by Lverano

[Subaru Scott]

Your "steaming" issue could be half a dozen different things. Best just keep a close eye on things if it's not running hot. Make sure to check your oil frequently, that it's not getting milky, and for oily residue in the overflow tank. 

 

You can buy little radiator fin "combs" at auto parts stores that will make that radiator good as new with a little patience. 

[Lverano]

Thank you subaru Scott. That's a nice reply. I'll look for the combs!

[Fairtax4me]

Sounds like a bad head gasket pushing coolant out of the system.

 

To answer the question about the radiator fins, yes bent fins will block airflow through the radiator and can be a big problem. A small spot or two is usually fine but too many bent fins can drastically reduce the cooling capacity of the radiator.

 

A radiator fin comb is the best tool to straighten bent fins. https://m.advanceautoparts.com/p/autocraft-6-in-1-radiator-ac-condensor-fin-comb-straightener-ac3420/10449275-p?c3ch=PLA&c3nid=10449275-P&c3apidt=23383982685&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-LmL-bvD1QIVCIlpCh0GtA5BEAQYASABEgJgRPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Lverano]

UPDATE: car is overheating, it is the head gasket without a doubt. New subaru thermostat is in there and radiator fins look good. It's gonna be a long night... I knew it would come sooner or later.

Edited August 6, 2017 by Lverano

[CNY_Dave]

That pushes-coolant-out-after-a-hard-drive was my first sign of an internal head gasket problem.

You can drive on it for a long time that way, only real reason I stopped driving mine was that it needed a fair bit of work to pass inspection, and I wasn't willing to do all that work on a car with a bad head gasket with a rough body, when the car needed 4 struts, all brakes, all the rubber suspension bushings, etc etc.

 

But mine actually never overheated, even after driving on the leaking head gasket for awhile.

Edited August 10, 2017 by CNY_Dave