sleepingAwake
12-23-2011, 04:37 PM
Ok I tried searching but it seems the keywords I need to use arent coming up with much.
Heres the deal.
I did a HG job on a friends 1996 Legacy Outback with a DOHC EJ25.
I'm no stranger to Subarus and this isnt my first head gasket job. I took more time than needed and went slow. I wanted this to be the best head gasket job I've ever done.
Updated stamped steel gaskets were used and heads were decked ever so slightly.
The owner replaced the water pump and timing belt right before I did the head gaskets.
Initially there was a ton of air in the system but we've managed to get that out... or so we think.
Here is the sequence of events.
head gaskets done
car is having issues with air in the system still, temp gauge spiking, fans staying on, lower radiator hose cold.
bleed more air and swap thermostat while were at it
still doing the same thing
radiator blows into the tranny cooler, he replaced the radiator and back flushed the heater core around the same time
car now goes through at least one fan cycle ok but not a second (car heats up, fans come on, car cools down, fans go off, car heats up again, fans come on, fans never shut off, lower radiator hose goes cold, heater still putting out good heat)
Temp gauge in the car has read good since replacing the radiator and bleeding the excess air
I have gone as far as getting a hydrocarbon tester to show that exhaust gases were not in coolant, test was negative.
Car runs awesome by the way, doesnt show any signs of leaking head gasket.
He's thinking temp sensor for the ecu. I'm thinking a bad thermostat. The thermostat in there is non-oem. We've discussed how important it is to use an oem thermostat.
I think we've both been reluctant to crack open the cooling system as bleeding it is such a pain.
What does everyone hear think? Am I missing something? Need more info?
Thanks
Heres the deal.
I did a HG job on a friends 1996 Legacy Outback with a DOHC EJ25.
I'm no stranger to Subarus and this isnt my first head gasket job. I took more time than needed and went slow. I wanted this to be the best head gasket job I've ever done.
Updated stamped steel gaskets were used and heads were decked ever so slightly.
The owner replaced the water pump and timing belt right before I did the head gaskets.
Initially there was a ton of air in the system but we've managed to get that out... or so we think.
Here is the sequence of events.
head gaskets done
car is having issues with air in the system still, temp gauge spiking, fans staying on, lower radiator hose cold.
bleed more air and swap thermostat while were at it
still doing the same thing
radiator blows into the tranny cooler, he replaced the radiator and back flushed the heater core around the same time
car now goes through at least one fan cycle ok but not a second (car heats up, fans come on, car cools down, fans go off, car heats up again, fans come on, fans never shut off, lower radiator hose goes cold, heater still putting out good heat)
Temp gauge in the car has read good since replacing the radiator and bleeding the excess air
I have gone as far as getting a hydrocarbon tester to show that exhaust gases were not in coolant, test was negative.
Car runs awesome by the way, doesnt show any signs of leaking head gasket.
He's thinking temp sensor for the ecu. I'm thinking a bad thermostat. The thermostat in there is non-oem. We've discussed how important it is to use an oem thermostat.
I think we've both been reluctant to crack open the cooling system as bleeding it is such a pain.
What does everyone hear think? Am I missing something? Need more info?
Thanks