air lock? head gasket? coolant PROBLEM! please help!

[Fusionf21]

2008 wrx, 76k miles

I will try to make this short and tell you everything

Overheated and checked coolant, which ended up being low, so i changed the thermostat since it kept over heating.
I had a flush and refill. I have also tried so many times to get the air out without luck i assume.

Problems-

1. Cold air at idle and coming to a stop. Yet i get hot air when moving or rev'ing the motor abover 2k
2. Only over heat after hard drive. (after high boost)
3. My Coolant overfill overflows out onto the ground. Only after higher boost

I think thats everything.

Also I am not positive if i replaced the thermostats "jiggle pin" facing up or down. I cant assume this would make a big difference, but im so temped to open the thermostat back up and find out. SO SICK OF THIS!

Subaru dealership is puzzled by what is happening. He said drain and refill again. He also said HG is not common on my wrx

[SD_GR]

The dealer is not incorrect.

The thermostat should only fit one way.

Since it overheated before you changed the thermostat, suspect obstruction and/or leak. The obstruction could be anywhere in the system but my guess -- which is entirely worthless -- would be the hoses or the rad itself.

Let the car go stone cold, start it, and wait to see if you have circulation. That will tell you the thermostat is opening without removing it again. If so, then suspect poor circulation. Burp anyway since you've opened the system, and see what happens.

Has there been a pressure test? If no, do it.

[06wrx4me]

Either you have a blockage in your radiator or your HG is blown.

Did you change your fluid at the recommended 30k/60k intervals?

Did you use distilled water and Subaru Coolant?

Did you stay consistent with the coolant? Ex. Subaru long life-Subaru Long life

Oil or gas in water? Water in Oil?

FWIW plastic radiators in newer cars become obstructed more easily than the old school steel or even aluminum ones. When they become blocked your only recourse is to replace the Rad, you cannot effectively flush or boil them.

My Bro-in-laws old F150 Ford built so my pressure in on side of the tank (water super heated because of the blockage turned to vapor, built up pressure), that it not only puked all the water out of the overflow reservoir, it blew a dollar bill sized chunk of the Driv side radiator tank off. Sounded like some shot his radiator.

[Fusionf21]

I bought the car used at 60k. He changed the coolant to green... so it was not used with subaru's coolant.

No oil in water, no water in oil

NO leak that is visible

When I got the coolant changed again by someone else he said it was holding pressure, but he also said he had a very hard time getting the air out that he had to manually do it. Which I have done MANY times. It just wants to puke it out.

My leak down, compression test 2 months ago said everything was cool. I know it could have changed in that time though.

[Fusionf21]

oh also when you drained your rad, did you noticed if it drains fast or slow?
mines pretty slow, making me think something is in the way

[06wrx4me]

oh also when you drained your rad, did you noticed if it drains fast or slow?
mines pretty slow, making me think something is in the way

If they changed coolant without completely flushing the system, that could have clogged your radiator. Not all coolants are universal and compatible. In fact in you ever mixed Dex Cool and your average Green coolant and added heat, you got a nasty goopy mess.

I'd bet your radiator is clogged.

Also, when draining, the rad will drain slow until you take the rad cap off. Once the rad cap is off, it pukes everywhere.

[Fusionf21]

If they changed coolant without completely flushing the system, that could have clogged your radiator. Not all coolants are universal and compatible. In fact in you ever mixed Dex Cool and your average Green coolant and added heat, you got a nasty goopy mess.

I'd bet your radiator is clogged.

Also, when draining, the rad will drain slow until you take the rad cap off. Once the rad cap is off, it pukes everywhere.

both caps were off.. pretty much took about 15-20 min to drain. which seems crazy to me. I dont want to be throwing money around, but if you agree that its the rad i think i might replace. 1800 radiator doesn't make a radiator for my car. Any after market brands you suggest?

[06wrx4me]

both caps were off.. pretty much took about 15-20 min to drain. which seems crazy to me. I dont want to be throwing money around, but if you agree that its the rad i think i might replace. 1800 radiator doesn't make a radiator for my car. Any after market brands you suggest?

Koyo

Koyo Aluminum Racing Radiator Manual Transmission Subaru WRX 2008-2013 at RallySportDirect.com

[Fusionf21]

thanks for the help. I will let you know if it works

[06wrx4me]

I think you can take the radiator out and have the blockage measured at a Rad shop. I'd call around locally and see if you can find a shop that can do it.

[Fusionf21]

I pressurized the system and it seemed that the neck on the rad was leaking/cracked. I just changed it out the other day and under normal driving it seems fine. Today I went on the highway and only went into boost a few times (once hard) and now it's overflowing still.

[06wrx4me]

I pressurized the system and it seemed that the neck on the rad was leaking/cracked. I just changed it out the other day and under normal driving it seems fine. Today I went on the highway and only went into boost a few times (once hard) and now it's overflowing still.

So you changed the radiator?

Did you change the hoses too?

Thermostat?

[Fusionf21]

Thermostat is new and one cap is new. Hoses are old