nizmo80

iTrader: (2)

Hi lads

I had a over heating problem yesterday on the way to work
My car started to overheat.
I felt the top radiator hose which was very hot and I felt
The bottom hoses Wich was mildly warm and only
Cold air was blowing from my heaters so I thought
It was the thermostat.
So I went and replaced it with a new one.
When I took my car out the engine temp was fine
And I was getting hot air again but today while I was driving
The heaters now and again went cold and the temp gauge
Started to go up and then hot air started to blow out again
And the temp on the gauge went back down.

Any ideas lads
Could this be a sign of the head gasket starting to go?

Cheers

nizmo80

iTrader: (2)

Oh yea I forgot to mention I took out my radiator to replace the
The thermostat and didn't see any creamy water and
When filling the radiator back up I had a friend squeezing
The radiator hoses to try and prevent airlock.
And there doesn't seem to be any loss in power when
Driving the Scoob either.

Also if it is the gaskets that have went
How much does it cost roughly to have it repaired

Thank you

forister

iTrader: (1)

i buddy try this start car up take rad cap off it cud be air . run till hot

jak_daniels

Ive had the exact same problem the last few days, temp gauge went into the red the other night while stuck in a traffic jam and heaters started blowing cold, went ok as i got moving again. Did the same thing as advised ^^^^ and let it run from cold with cap off and touch wood seems ok now. Is it using water ????

nizmo80

iTrader: (2)

Not to sure if the cars water level is going down as
I didn't have a chance to check because when I noticed
It happening again i was driving away to the airport to catch a
Flight.
But as soon as I get home that is something I will be checking

r1c

iTrader: (9)

Sounds like an air lock still, keep bleeding it

nizmo80

iTrader: (2)

Cheers lads
When I get home I will try bleeding it again.
What would be the signs of a blown head gasket?

Thank you

morandpeter

iTrader: (5)

norman did you get sorted out?

nizmo80

iTrader: (2)

Hi Pete

Hows things mate

I notice the the temp going up and down when I was driving
To the airport to work down in England.
I should be home on Wednesday.
When I get home I am going to try bleeding the system again
I will swing by a garage aswell to see if they can do a
Sniff test on the radiator to see if any exhaust fumes
Are in the system.
I hope it's just a case of airlock and not
The head gasket thats went.

Shaks-STI

iTrader: (7)

I had a similar problem with mine after a motorway drive, i wanted to believe that it was airlock but it was the head gasket, with mine when i was driving at 50-70mph it wouldnt overheat but as soon as i slow down its started to overheat again, few tests later and discovered that the head gaskets needed replacing. Hope yours isnt the same. Good luck bud

nizmo80

iTrader: (2)

Hi blacksti97

When your impreza head gasket went mate
How much did it cost to repair mate.
Just to give me a idea of what repair costs will
Cost if it is the gasket that has went mate.

Thank you

morandpeter

iTrader: (5)

i had th hg go on mine and was expecting a bill of approx 700-1000 for a proper job. theres a good guy David Falconer, in blackburn that will take your heads, strip em down, machine it and give you them back re-assembled. good excuse to blast up the tyrebagger s'pose : )

i ended up buying a 2nd engine from another member here and getting jim king to fit it. it already had stainless cometic triple layer gaskets etc fitted. worked out same price as gettin old engine fixed.

as it happens sniff test didn't work, just experience from Jim and Mike. if you need another set of eyes gees a shout min.

(there could also be a leak somewhere in your system as well, ie rad, split hose etc that also could explain water loss and airlock)

Shaks-STI

iTrader: (7)

700-1000 ^^^^^

blackhawk56

iTrader: (1)

yeh sniff test aint accurate my 06 hawk sti had head gasket away and it was passin sniff test greersport in beith near glasgow fixed mine top job for a very good price

nizmo80

iTrader: (2)

Hi guys thanks for the info

Hi pete yea that would be excellent mate
I should be home around the middle of the week
If you could have a look with me that would be
Much appreciated as you have had this problem
Before and will have a good idea what to look for mate.
When I took the radiator out to change the thermostat
It was raining alot so I couldn't see if there was a leek
Because the ground was wet where we were working on
The car.
Before I changed the thermostat I couldn't drive 5 mins
Before the engine would overheat.
Now that I have changed the thermostat it has made
A massive improvement instantly and when I drove to
The airport it was 10miles away and only twice the temp
Went up a bit and came right back down to normal level.
also when a head gasket goes does it happen gradually
Or is it instant because the day before it was perfect
And when I drove to work the next day it happened within
20mins of driving

When I get back home when would be best for you
To have a look at the car with me mate and where
Would be best for you to meet up.

Thank you

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

The times when the temp. gauge needle does creep, or indeed shoot up... Is this after you use meaningful boost? And when you did't use boost prior to using boost, it was all normal? If so, then it's odds on you have an airlock. Which, in itself, could well mean a fractured HG.

When it shoots up, come to stop, and check the temp of the bottom hose - if it's all but stone cold, then you defo have an airlock.

I had this happen to me on previous 93 WRX.

nizmo80

iTrader: (2)

When the needle started to go up I was in traffic at the time
I wasn't really boosting a lot before I went into the traffic.
Just driving normally but that was after driving about
8 miles with no temp problems.

morandpeter

iTrader: (5)

on mine when it had gone to over heat the top rad hose was solid (un squeezable) and steaming water was pissing out through the expansion tank overflow on the nearside wing.
the exhaust smelt different as well sort of a sweet smell i gather this would have been coolant mixing due to a failed hg.but in short it would go to airlock after driving on full boost for a few minutes. which was basically forcing air from the block into the cooling system.

Joz is a bit of a guru and i would defo listen to his wise words, helped me out alot. even sold me a silicone turbo inlet! (still sounds frickin awesome joz)

morandpeter

iTrader: (5)

if the car was driving fine before you did all the remedial work chances are it is just airlocked and hasn't been bled properly. unfortunately i was told that an overheat situation can lead to a hg fail, so matters might not have helped much.

best we could do is check for leaks and give it a good bleed. then its a case of suck it and see. Where abouts are you anyway? it would be good to have a "private road" to drive on boost as this was how mines was sort of tested.

nizmo80

iTrader: (2)

Hi pete

I live in torry mate
There is the nig bay road just at the back of my house
Where I like to drive when I am giving my cars a bit of a
Thrashing. Lol

Where about in Aberdeen are you from pete.

The car was overheating badly before I took out the
Radiator and changed the thermostat now it
Seems to be not bad with the exception that in 10 mile
That I drived it the temp went up twice and came straight
Back down.
I hope that its not been filled properly when I filled the system. Lol

Cheers mate

blackhawk56

iTrader: (1)

take a look in the expansion tank bhind passenger side light is ther any blackish gunk?stick ur finger in and run it round the plastic c if its oily

nizmo80

iTrader: (2)

Hi mate

I will check the overflow when I get back from working
In England.

Cheers mate