Subaru Overheating!

[Apple]

k guys this is not really for a legacy but my older car a 1986 GL, since this forum said subaru talk only I figured it still applied. Well my poor GL is overheating mechanic said thermostat and fixed that still hot, then said a valve that the thermo might have messed up fixed that still hot , now says radiator so I bought one for 50$ and installed it myself following a haynes book still hot, it's running anywhere from the hash line and higher but that's for driving like less than half a mile. my reservoir is completely full of the coolant that I put in it after installing it and the lines are not clogged so what next is there to try cause the poor car is only worth like 400-500 and I've recently put about 200 in parts and labor. Hope for some good answers :(.

[deadlydave]

have you checked the radiator cap?

My GL boiled it's coolant until it was dry, I re-filled and replaced the cap, and all was good.

[b33rnut010]

on my friends GC8, it kept overheating, and the thermostat was replaced, problem remained...
Turns out the water pump was frozen solid, could be worth checking.

Also, did you make sure that all the air was out of the coolant system, an improperly bleed system can cause overheating also.

-bret

[Monkhouse]

Also, did you make sure that all the air was out of the coolant system, an improperly bleed system can cause overheating also.

-bret

Didn't Joe Namath warn us against this on the Simpson's?

[Sarra]

Also, did you make sure that all the air was out of the coolant system, an improperly bleed system can cause overheating also.

-bret

Didn't Joe Namath warn us against this on the Simpson's?

No, he went on and on about vapor lock. :lol:

[b33rnut010]

HA, dude, its a problem for sure... the coolant and vapor lock.

oh thats a great simpsons... little off topic

[Apple]

hmmm....can any one suggest on how to get the air out properly. dont even think i did that lol. thanks for all the replies.

[b33rnut010]

what i have done in the past is take off the rad. cap, start the car, and pour antifreeze in untill its full, let the car idle with the cap off allowing bubbles to escape, pouring more antifreeze in as necessary... just go until the car reaches operating temp and the fans come on, maybe squeeze the coolant line a few times to expedite the process.

There might be a bleeder screw, but i sure as shit couldnt find it.

[Apple]

hey guys that definately helped a lot but it still heating up and it's going up and when I get to going faster the heat goes down....a guy told me that instead of pure antifreeze I should be using 50/50 mix anti and water...would this be another cause of my heating problem?

[Wiscon_Mark]

Yeah, water will dissipate heat well. Ideally, you should use 100% distilled water, but if you live in a climate where water can freeze, you need to add antifreeze to keep the water from freezing up and becoming ineffective.

50/50 is a good compromise. Antifreeze won't cool your engine very efficiently.

[SammyDaFish]

if it overheats while idling and is fine while driving at speed your fan clutch is probably bad. don't let it overheat to much, those old 1.8's have issues with the heads cracking easily when overheated.