rverdoold Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 Was adding window washer liquid yesterday on the 91 legacy and also checked the oil levels. All were fine. But when i checked the coolant tank the volume was just below the MIN mark (about 1 cm or so). Just had been driving the car for about 1000 km in 5 days with my girlfriends parents. Showing Holland. Usually driving around 100 km/h on the highway. Nice and normal speed at 3k rpm. At normal roads at 2.25k rpm (80 km/h). Car drives fine however in top gear not a racer (but think the 2.0l with the 4eat and 250k km is never a racer) Although when i shift back it just wants to go like a plane. It drives fine. I changed the coolant 2 years ago and added a year ago about 300 ml. Now added about 200 ml. When car is running it never ever overheated or even showing the needle higher than in the middle. When running at idle airbubbles are shown in the overflow tank about 1 bubble per 3 seconds. There is not much oil usage and also havent seen oil in the coolant. Heater works fine as well the radiator cap. Could this be a head gasket or is it just the driving in hot (25C) weather for 1000km. Could it be evaporated coolant? I am woried cause some search results show all HG problems in combination or airbubbles in coolant tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOthis Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 usually bubbles in the overflow is not a good sign.......how many miles on the car? have the HG's ever been done? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 With bubbles in the overflow tank, it should be easy enough to check the coolant for exhaust gases. Ja? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rverdoold Posted May 7, 2008 Author Share Posted May 7, 2008 usually bubbles in the overflow is not a good sign.......how many miles on the car? have the HG's ever been done? 250k km ~180k miles HG never been done what would happen if i keep driving it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 250k km ~180k milesHG never been done what would happen if i keep driving it? Run out of fluid, over heat the oil, warp the cylinder heads, blow the radiator, bake the engine and ruin the block. Nothing too bad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rverdoold Posted May 7, 2008 Author Share Posted May 7, 2008 Run out of fluid, over heat the oil, warp the cylinder heads, blow the radiator, bake the engine and ruin the block. Nothing too bad Always to the point (not what i want to hear though ) Does air bubbles in the coolant tank always mean a HG failure? or could it be a leak somewhere else in the system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 Blown Head Gasket or just nothing to worry about?nothing to worry about, more like something to keep your eye on. you mentioned adding coolant...over how much time are you adding it? subaru even considers a certain amount of "coolant consumption" normal on brand new cars so just that you're adding some isn't that alarming. how do you know your radiator cap is good? i would check the radiator cap and the hose that goes from the radiator to the overflow tank. make sure the overflow tank isn't just leaking. what would happen if i keep driving it?most likely nothing. keep checking the coolant, don't run low and it likely will never overheat. if you start loosing coolant at an alarming rate (i don't know if it's alarming yet, but doesn't seem to be), then you need to revisit this thread and update us with details. has the water pump ever been replaced? rebuilt or subaru and how long ago? do the air bubbles continue into the overflow tank after the car is turned off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rverdoold Posted May 7, 2008 Author Share Posted May 7, 2008 nothing to worry about, more like something to keep your eye on. you mentioned adding coolant...over how much time are you adding it? subaru even considers a certain amount of "coolant consumption" normal on brand new cars so just that you're adding some isn't that alarming. how do you know your radiator cap is good? i would check the radiator cap and the hose that goes from the radiator to the overflow tank. make sure the overflow tank isn't just leaking. most likely nothing. keep checking the coolant, don't run low and it likely will never overheat. if you start loosing coolant at an alarming rate (i don't know if it's alarming yet, but doesn't seem to be), then you need to revisit this thread and update us with details. has the water pump ever been replaced? rebuilt or subaru and how long ago? do the air bubbles continue into the overflow tank after the car is turned off? The waterpump is a point. As far is i know it has never been replaced. Problem with the car is the hard regulations in holland. It runs great and also emmision tests (government) were always fine. But it has some rust on the inside wheel arch in the left back. So it might only be allowed for an other year or maybe 2. I have to fix it but have not time for it (and tools, but have friends though ). Was thinking of cleaning it out with a steel brush and then coat it with rustblocker which should help. I just dont want to spend much money on a 1000 euro value car The 200 ml i added was over a year time so not to much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 The 200 ml i added was over a year time so not to much. yeah, that's completely benign, a non-issue, no big deal. I just dont want to spend much money on a 1000 euro value car and at this point there's nothing telling me you need too. i'd still consider replacing the radiator cap, they are a maintenance/replacement item and they're super cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rverdoold Posted May 12, 2008 Author Share Posted May 12, 2008 Just had a look with a friend of my father going for a world trip (he owned a non-dealership garage for 40 years). Checked the engine by removing radiator cap (which was fine according to him) and then rev up the engine to 3k if the coolling water is running out from the radiator (loss of compression) than the head gasket is leak. And it was comming up slowly so its blown but advice was to drive it normally and keep water in there. And when possible make sure you get the priority at a roundabout (hope you know what that means). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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