[URAL]

Just an FYI, before you jump to get your block and heads resurfaced, you can test them first. I picked up a Starrett Steel Precision Straigh Edge (accurate to 0.001) from Mcmaster Carr. There is a procedure in the Subaru FSM that describes how to test the surfaces for trueness. Mine came out 100% spot on true, so I did not have them resurfaced.

P.S. IMO, I still think you simply have a leak somewhere.

Yes!! definitely test it before you proceed further!!!

 

[steezin_and_wheezin]

my brother's having pretty much the exact same problem here..

info: MY 02 I believe Subaru Legy GT
hit a deer a while back got a new radiator and now its just being bitchy. it was overheating so he put it in the shop they said it was a vapor lock.. got it back drove for about two weeks. then he smelt some coolant on the engine when he got out one time and it had pushed the coolant to the top of the overflow tank and had enough pressure to push it out of the cap but didn't blow the plastic cap back just squeezed it through (and it wasn't overheating..) so he took it to another shop and told them the situation. of course they just tried to make it overheat and didn't even pay attention to us saying it wasn't over heating just the coolant in the overflow tank had risen.

so we're driving back from atl (a good six hours from good ol' southwest virginia) i drove roughly three hours had to stop for a pit stop and came back outside and heard a mouth full of dirt when opened the door and new it had to be overheating.. we popped the hood BUBBLES in the overflow tank!!!

i had read half this post before we left on thursday and kicked myself in the teeth for not finishing it haha

the radiator was Completely cool so i split the cap and it was like a suction in the radiator. Immediately when I split the seal of the rad cap it filled the overflow tank and actually overflowed just a little bit.

So now he’s heated like none other, I’m confused and stressed for him.. should we do the dye test also or does this sound like a radiator issue?

 

[steezin_and_wheezin]

p.s.
it drove fine for the second leg of the journey and he said it didn't act strange at all on his half an hour commute to work this morning. any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[MattB]

It turned out to be my headgaskets. I replaced them and its fine now.

 

[steezin_and_wheezin]

hey mattB,
does it sound like we have the same situation?

 

[MattB]

Well with me driving around town I could go a long way without any issues.

As soon as I drove about 30 minutes up the highway I started overheating. I lost coolant out the overflow as well as into the combustion chamber I believe.

When I opened my radiator while hot a lot of air/water rushed into the overflow tank and it filled it up and then some usually...

 

[steezin_and_wheezin]

word, would it be worth replacing the hg ourselves or having some else incase shit needs to get resurfaced? thanks again for all the help for sure.

 

[MattB]

That depends on how much you know about working on cars. Use your best judgment/look at your wallet.

 

[steezin_and_wheezin]

sounds good, 'preciate it.