It *wasn't* the head gaskets!

lvhllkr

lvhllkr

New member
So.. Kinda long story here bare with me, back around May I parked the Subaru and went looking for a used car cheap on craigslist due to multiple people including a longtime Subaru garage owner tell me it was definitely the head gaskets with the symptoms I was explaining. Few weeks ago I wrecked my car leaving elizibeth annes gas station in Lewiston(mentioned details in case anyone saw hahaha), So I decided to try my luck with the 1996 outback again out of desperation, and the fact it seemed to idle in the driveway without overheating now. Long story short after lots of coolant(more spilled on me than got in the radiator I think), a nice cooling system burping session, and replacing the POS Stant thermostat with an OEM one from Evergreen, the car is no longer overheating! I have my beloved Subaru back!
default_idk.gif
Lesson of this experience for me is don't give up on a car until you *know* what the problem is.

 
Awesome!! Sounds like it was just a sticky thermostat!

Good job on getting it back running again pretty easy, another suby lives!

 
another lucky winner!
default_idk.gif


I have gone as far as blowing porous smoke rings out of suby heads empty bolt holes.

if no self heal? step up the ignition coil (I had one take on incinerator poison in pennsylvania)

and I did find a common antifreeze, called "peak".. all of them work, but long term shows peak likes the sube.

1996 should still have the stronger engines, you may have just proved it with your own.

the ea engines are absolutely famous for "christine" car healing their way back to normal..

 
It didn't heal itself... he replaced a broken thermostat and now it works.

There isn't a coil like what you're thinking on EJ engines, it's digital.

 
Yeah I bought Peak Gold to do the flush and refill, ran out and used some Zerex g-05 I had leftover from the mercedes for the last 3/4 of a gallon, and a *tiny* bit of some old coolant laying around in the garage from advance auto. I lost some coolant when I replaced the POS stant with the Subaru part, first I tried to just flush, refill, and burp but that didn't work, and then I realized the bottom radiator hose was cold and that cemented my decision to try the OEM t-stat. Woohoo for cheap fixes! Moral of the story is... BUY REAL SUBARU T-STATS. There is no other replacement! The stant thermostat opens 10 degrees later from what I was reading, and I think it has less range of movement too. Also the stant just looks really wimpy and poorly made in comparison, and the subaru t-stat was only $18 and some change vs like 10-12 for the stant if I recall the price. Totally worth it for a car that is now back from the dead! haha

 
Last edited by a moderator:
I have a feeling your head gasket issue isn't over but keeping my figures crossed. Good luck!

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top