simbey1982 Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 My Car 1992 Legacy Turbo, engine has 130,000 miles Manual Tranny the guy i bought it from put a WRX coolant system in it (dont know why) So for the past 2 years...pretty much since i have owned the car, i have sludge in the coolant see pictures, i dont notice any coolant in the oil and the coolant level stays pretty constant.... I did a coolant system flush about 2 mo's ago thinking that would clean it out but the sludge is right back. The sludge is oily and doesnt mix with the coolant. What the heck is the problem?? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Setright Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Certainly looks like oil is mixing with your coolant. The WRX cooling system? I expect it only reaches to the alloy header tank. Your Legacy left the factory with a bakelite header tank, and with time (10 years+) they crack. Perhaps that is what happened. It cracked the original header tank, overheated and blew a small hole in a head gasket. Ever since, it's been leaking small amounts of oil into the coolant? Yes, I'm sorry, that is bad news. I think you are looking at a headgasket job. Of course it is possible that you (or previous owner) has mixed incompatible coolant types? Did you flush by filling with pure demin water and actually driving the car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simbey1982 Posted March 31, 2008 Author Share Posted March 31, 2008 I had a coolant hose burst right under my turbo so i flushed the entire system with water then filled it back up with a premium mix...that was about 2 months ago and now its full of sludge again...i just had another coolant hose burst...its killing my hoses post haste....I was hoping beyond hope that this isnt a head gasket.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FSRBIKER Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 It sure sounds and looks like a head gasket, you are probably blowing hoses since you are pressurizing the system with exhaust gases from a leak as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Anyone check the PCV valve and its hoses lately? Some sludge at the cap is normal, as its condenstaion, a natural cycle of running an engine. Have you done anything to alter the intake system? nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdjdc Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Nipper: That is sludge at the radiator cap, not the oil cap. That is not normal and my vote is also for a HG job. Sorry for the bac news, but my 14 year old daughter and I did the entire job and a clutch replacement last Thursday. Started at 9:30am and drove the car at 5pm. It can be done in a day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 radiator cap, ewwwwwww Head gasket? Cracked head? There are not a lot of reasons for the two of them to cross paths. Maybe a problem at the turbo seal. Have the system pressure tested first and see whats going on. You have to start by ruling things out. I dont know much about the turbo itself. I am going to assume it has both an oil jacket and a water jacket? I would suspect something around the turbo, where oil pressure is higher then coolant pressure, so the oil can get into the coolant, but not the other way around. nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aircraft engineer Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 All the turbos I've ever seen are "air cooled" with supply line from oil pressure and a gravity return pipe to the sump. Oil like that is almost for sure a head gasket issue (either that or someone got a little confused and dumped oil into the radiator ) (I'm not familiar with Sub turbos but I AM with diesel stuff) Sub turbo is oil/water cooled? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screwbaru2 Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Are there bubbles in the coolant @ idle? If there is it's probably a HG or crack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simbey1982 Posted March 31, 2008 Author Share Posted March 31, 2008 Soon as i get the replacement hose and the coolant filled back up i will check for bubbles. this is the coolant resivor in the picture not the oil...there is no sludge in the oil filler. The problem hose was one of feed/returns to the heater core...when i took it off, sludge poured out of the nipple on the firewall. seems like a lot of sludge.... The intake system was modified due to a wrx intercooler being put on. The trubo is both oil and water cooled from what i can tell, has feed/returns for both oil and coolant. Let me know Cory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Remove the tank and give it a good scrubbing. There may not be anything wrong with it, its just old c***p thats trapped in the tank. nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdjdc Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 The subie turbos are water cooled. I had an 87 turbo and it was water cooled and I assume they have continued with that design to keep the intense heat to a minimum. If the problem was in the turbo he would have a leak in the water jacket and it would be opuring out white smoke from the tailpipe. I seriously doubt the turbo is the problem. More likely that the HG is leaking, but it could be a cracked head or block. Has the engie been overheated and if so, how many times? When they are overheated seriously often times the main bearings will fail, so that is a telling tail about the engine overheating. The best procedure is to remove the heads and have them pressure tested and resurfaced prior to re-installation. Also be sure to use only Subaru Headgaskets. If you want to save money, look at the Nippon Reinz gaskets. They are the same ones used by Subaru as OEM. I ordered a set and the stickers on the package was identicle to the gaskets I got from the dealership and at t much lower price. I believe that the parts bin sells them. Good Luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simbey1982 Posted April 1, 2008 Author Share Posted April 1, 2008 Ive set up to do a head gasket job and a resurfacing/leakdown test. Anything else i should do while im in there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FSRBIKER Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 If you tear it down then make sure you replace the water pump, thermostat, timing belt, possibly idlers and tensioners which I did as cheap insurance as you are already there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulwnkl Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Nearly all automotive turbos these days are water cooled (struggling to think of one that isn't...). Still, I think it more likely a HG than a turbo issue for the reason mdjdc mentions about white smoke pouring out the exhaust. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnceggleston Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 i know nothing about turbos.... white smoke would make a lot of sense if the coolant was leaking into the exhaust or intake, but is there oil also in the intercooler that water could leak into? would an engine run if you disabled the turbo and re-routed the coolant line to exclude the turbo? to check for sludge then? probably can't disable the turbo while it is still on the engine. oh well, .................just wondering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spokanesoob Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 if i'm correct the engine will run. but not very well. if its the turbo your just better off getting a new one. or used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 if i'm correct the engine will run. but not very well. if its the turbo your just better off getting a new one. or used. It will run, but it will be a real dog. nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four-fleet-feet Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Re the sludge in the heater core hose: I know Subaru frowns on power flushes of the coolant system, but I'd have one done to get the rest of the crud out of your system after you're all done. Dealer flushes cost more, but I'd consider it to get that new Subaru coolant. Also, if your heater wasn't up to par, I'd look at replacing the heater core itself. I know HG problems can show up as a internal heating failure, but in this case I'll bet the core itself is crudded up from all that sludge. They're cheap at a JY, if you don't want to spring for a new one and can't get your old one cleaned out. Good luck! (Ewwwww, what a gunky rad cap.......) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSubaruJunkie Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 I got a '93 Legacy Turbo and I was blowing coolant lines left and right (See my thread here: http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?t=31310) I ended up pressurizing the system so bad it bulged and cracked the coolant tank. Thats when I got fed up and pulled the motor. I replaced the head gaskets, along with the timing belts (since I was in there). The car has been running for the past 200 or so miles since I put the motor back in and ive had no problems *knock on wood* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simbey1982 Posted April 2, 2008 Author Share Posted April 2, 2008 Well im going for it Headgaskets Resurface Heads/Pressure Test New Heater hoses Timing Belt Water Pump Thermostat Things ive been putting off but am now going to do Struts Front Ball Joints Removing idiot things put on before i got it High flow fuel pump fuel cut defender = sucky gas mileage and out of control boost And things afterward Coolant system flush Alignment What does it cost? about $1000 and 40hours of my time...=0) Itll be a long week, Thanks for all the help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 DO yourself a favor, clean out the radiator as the first thing you do. The sludge will become glue once air hits it and clog the radiator. For this age vehical, I would look into getting a replacement or rebuilt radiator. nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simbey1982 Posted April 2, 2008 Author Share Posted April 2, 2008 Thanks will do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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