Overheating while stationary
Recently on an airport run I noticed my water temp gauge needle creeping up to the top, apart from sitting just below half way when the car has warmed up I've never seen the needle move before.
The car overheats only when stationary and returns to the normal temperature when driving. Yesterday I dropped the coolant and changed the thermostat while I was at it (filled from the rear most pipe on the header tank, no glugs etc) however the problem still persists. When the radiator fans start up there is no hot air being blown away, the radiator is cool to the touch however the heaters do push out really hot air. I was thinking of getting a sniff test done next to rule out HG failure, is there anything else I can try before taking it to a garage? It's a 2002 STi Type UK. Thanks in advanced. |
I'd say you have an airlock unless you toasted it at the airport but I guess you must have switched it off soon as you seen the needle creeping up?
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Yeh, turned it off right away at drop off!
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I've heard of a few radiator cores furring up and blocking, but I think a sniff test would be the best move, just in case.
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If its the radiator then I'd obviously replace. How are these japspeed ones like? Worth getting?
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Look for a fully alloy one like a Nissens.
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Originally Posted by TonyBurns
(Post 11883277)
Look for a fully alloy one like a Nissens.
I also say, get a sniff test first. I've heard of a lot more head gasket failures than knackered radiators. |
Assuming you have no leaks etc then if you see your needle shoot up high then the damage has already been done slightly and will over time get worse as the needles in subarus go high too late IMO .
Sniff test won't always show up if slight hg issues, mine didn't anyway. Any loss of coolant into expansion tank etc? |
Don't those cheapo, all ally ones warp and buckle?:wonder:
When mine needed replacing, I opted for OEM - as they are good for at least 10 years, before you might get problems (e.g pinhole in plastic endtank, etc.) |
Originally Posted by bustaMOVEs
(Post 11883289)
Assuming you have no leaks etc then if you see your needle shoot up high then the damage has already been done slightly and will over time get worse as the needles in subarus go high too late IMO .
Sniff test won't always show up if slight hg issues, mine didn't anyway. Any loss of coolant into expansion tank etc? |
If you loosen the top hose and move it does water come out? May be worth draining again and fill the radiator through the top hose and fill the block through the top hose connector slowly until water is in the header tank. Refit the top hose and top the header tank up whilst gently squeezing the top hose to push air out. I spent some money and bought this kit as I had two cars to do the timing belts on.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cooling-Sy...wAAOSw0e9Ut5kN |
If you go for a spirited country drive, check the expansion tank to see if it's bubbling.
I had an intermittent overheat problem caused by failing head gaskets, but that was on a 2.5l which are notorious for it. Might also be worth checking the cooling fans. If it only happens when stationary the engine relies on the fans to cool the rad, but when moving the airflow over it might be enough. Do they come on if you leave it idling for a while? |
Originally Posted by Bazil_SW
(Post 11883390)
If you go for a spirited country drive, check the expansion tank to see if it's bubbling.
I had an intermittent overheat problem caused by failing head gaskets, but that was on a 2.5l which are notorious for it. Might also be worth checking the cooling fans. If it only happens when stationary the engine relies on the fans to cool the rad, but when moving the airflow over it might be enough. Do they come on if you leave it idling for a while? |
How cool is cool? If the rad isn't really getting hot, it could be the thermostat? A dodgy stat that's not opening would certainly cause overheat.
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Originally Posted by Bazil_SW
(Post 11883398)
How cool is cool? If the rad isn't really getting hot, it could be the thermostat? A dodgy stat that's not opening would certainly cause overheat.
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Originally Posted by Edwardjr
(Post 11883452)
The Thermostat was changed at the same time as the coolant.
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Yes, sorry you had mentioned about changing the stat already.
I'm not sure the arrangement on scoobs but I've seen it before on other cars where the water pump vanes have detached from the pump drive shaft so the shaft was rotating and the vanes were moving much more slowly or not at all, dragged only by the friction between the two. This could mean that at idle the vanes do not move, or move so slowly they do not pump any coolant, but at higher engine speeds the vanes move slightly faster pumping a little coolant through to the engine, that might explain how it's only happening at idle and not when driving? Just a thought and not sure how to check it other than pulling the water pump out. |
Originally Posted by Bazil_SW
(Post 11883461)
Yes, sorry you had mentioned about changing the stat already.
I'm not sure the arrangement on scoobs but I've seen it before on other cars where the water pump vanes have detached from the pump drive shaft so the shaft was rotating and the vanes were moving much more slowly or not at all, dragged only by the friction between the two. This could mean that at idle the vanes do not move, or move so slowly they do not pump any coolant, but at higher engine speeds the vanes move slightly faster pumping a little coolant through to the engine, that might explain how it's only happening at idle and not when driving? Just a thought and not sure how to check it other than pulling the water pump out. |
Originally Posted by 360ste
(Post 11883372)
If you loosen the top hose and move it does water come out? May be worth draining again and fill the radiator through the top hose and fill the block through the top hose connector slowly until water is in the header tank. Refit the top hose and top the header tank up whilst gently squeezing the top hose to push air out. I spent some money and bought this kit as I had two cars to do the timing belts on.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cooling-Sy...wAAOSw0e9Ut5kN |
Hello, did you get to the bottom of this?
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Originally Posted by Edwardjr
(Post 11883470)
Might have to make a purchase :thumb:
:thumb: |
Having same issues over past year my coolant temp hitting over 100 about 4 times car booked into subaru next week for thermostat and coolant change so hopefully it's just a sticky one car only done 29000 2.5 hawk
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It has a air lock , Scoobys are an ass to bleed sometimes, if no hot air in heaters then there's no hot water in the matrix therefore there's an air lock in the car obviously
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Originally Posted by esxboy1
(Post 11889721)
It has a air lock , Scoobys are an ass to bleed sometimes, if no hot air in heaters then there's no hot water in the matrix therefore there's an air lock in the car obviously
Its been filled wrong if there is air in the system and it needs draining and starting again |
^^^This.
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Originally Posted by Cambs_Stuart
(Post 11887370)
Hello, did you get to the bottom of this?
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Originally Posted by esxboy1
(Post 11889721)
It has a air lock , Scoobys are an ass to bleed sometimes, if no hot air in heaters then there's no hot water in the matrix therefore there's an air lock in the car obviously
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Originally Posted by Edwardjr
(Post 11890579)
Indeed I did, a small split in a hose that I couldn't see. £20 later and all is well (plus a sniff to be on the safe side)
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Originally Posted by Cambs_Stuart
(Post 11890622)
Glad to hear it wasn't anything too expensive!
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