The Subaru Outback in question has a bleeder on the top, passenger side of the one year old radiator.
And yes I bled the system multipal times.
At one point I had a cooling system pressure gauge on the radiator and the pressure was climbing over 17PSI at idle.
THIS is a sure sign of compression pressure leaking into the cooling system.
I have not as yet checked the thermostat that was in the Outback when it overheated on my parents, but I will if only to find out how/why the head gasket failed, or the head cracked.
As soon as I can get a minute, I will do so.
I still think that the cold bottom hose,
even in the light of a known HG problem, is a red flag.
More on this later.
Very tired Tom.
PS; Just got back from picking up Nick in PGH, for a short leave.