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  #1  
Old 09-11-2010, 08:55 PM
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Radiator cap

My radiator cap looks odd. It looks oval shaped and the top rubber piece is larger than the metal cap that is spring loaded. Others I have seen have the rubber slightly smaller than this metal cap. Maybe I damaged it when troubleshooting my old temp gauge problem?

Anyone have luck with third party caps? I won't be able to get one from a subaru dealer on Sunday.
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1996 Polo Green Subaru SVX LSi, 168,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF, Redline 75W90 gear oil, K&N HP-4001 Oil Filter, Mobil 1 5W50 FS (3qt) and 5W30 High Mileage (4qt) Oil Blend, Motul RBF600 Brake Fluid, AC Delco A975C Air Filter, NGK BKR6EIX-11 plugs, Centric Rotors, Power Stop Evolution Carbon Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads
2005 Gray Acura RL, 165,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF with Lubegard Platinum Protectant, Mobil 1 5W20 High Mileage Extended Performance Oil
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  #2  
Old 09-12-2010, 04:27 PM
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Re: Radiator cap

I replaced mine with a "Stant" branded one the other week and it is working fine. Be careful though, I bought another brand before that should have fit but the inner grommet didn't seal properly. From what I gather any cap for an early to mid 90s impreza or liberty should fit.
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  #3  
Old 09-12-2010, 05:00 PM
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Re: Radiator cap

Yeah, I got a Stant. Looks very different from the existing cap. The rubber on top of the spring loaded cap is smaller than the the cap itself. The one that was on the car had a rubber seal that was much bigger than the metal cap. I'm thinking they screwed up and put the wrong one on. I wonder what damaged that may have caused. It looked like the coolant was moving in and out of the overflow tank so I didn't think much of it until I looked at it the other day. I was getting a slight coolant odor and it looked like I might have lost a small amount of coolant over the last couple of weeks (couple of ounces). I was looking at the coolant in the radiator when I noticed the odd cap.
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1996 Polo Green Subaru SVX LSi, 168,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF, Redline 75W90 gear oil, K&N HP-4001 Oil Filter, Mobil 1 5W50 FS (3qt) and 5W30 High Mileage (4qt) Oil Blend, Motul RBF600 Brake Fluid, AC Delco A975C Air Filter, NGK BKR6EIX-11 plugs, Centric Rotors, Power Stop Evolution Carbon Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads
2005 Gray Acura RL, 165,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF with Lubegard Platinum Protectant, Mobil 1 5W20 High Mileage Extended Performance Oil
2009 Red Toyota Venza, 123,XXX, Mobil 1 5W30 High Mileage Oil
1992 Red Ferrari 348 ts, 82,XXX, Redline everything
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  #4  
Old 09-12-2010, 05:10 PM
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Re: Radiator cap

Also, I noticed from other pics that I am missing the cover on the back of the engine. Here is a pic:



Do I need this cover or is it just for looks?
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1996 Polo Green Subaru SVX LSi, 168,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF, Redline 75W90 gear oil, K&N HP-4001 Oil Filter, Mobil 1 5W50 FS (3qt) and 5W30 High Mileage (4qt) Oil Blend, Motul RBF600 Brake Fluid, AC Delco A975C Air Filter, NGK BKR6EIX-11 plugs, Centric Rotors, Power Stop Evolution Carbon Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads
2005 Gray Acura RL, 165,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF with Lubegard Platinum Protectant, Mobil 1 5W20 High Mileage Extended Performance Oil
2009 Red Toyota Venza, 123,XXX, Mobil 1 5W30 High Mileage Oil
1992 Red Ferrari 348 ts, 82,XXX, Redline everything

Last edited by Huskymaniac; 09-12-2010 at 05:23 PM. Reason: Inadvertant posting
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  #5  
Old 09-12-2010, 08:30 PM
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Re: Radiator cap

My original corroded cap had a wider inner seal as well, the new one seems to seal ok though, the other one I tried had too short a spring and was overflowing into the reservoir.
Mine is missing the H6 cover also, I'm guessing the screws must break easily. It's purely for looks though.
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  #6  
Old 09-12-2010, 09:11 PM
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Re: Radiator cap

I will only get the Subaru caps.
No problems, carry on.
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  #7  
Old 09-12-2010, 10:31 PM
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Re: Radiator cap

Quote:
Originally Posted by spleen_merchant View Post
My original corroded cap had a wider inner seal as well, the new one seems to seal ok though, the other one I tried had too short a spring and was overflowing into the reservoir.
Mine is missing the H6 cover also, I'm guessing the screws must break easily. It's purely for looks though.
Which one are you calling an inner seal? Look at the cap in this link:

http://www.smart-service.com/blog/20...u-head-gaskets

The seal I am talking about is the top one in this picture. It is the smaller one and sits on top of that metal cap and below the little metal rivet looking part. On my cap, this rubber seal is oval shaped and way bigger than the metal cap where, I believe, it should be slightly smaller and round. I think I got the wrong cap. The Stant one should be OK until I figure this out.
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1996 Polo Green Subaru SVX LSi, 168,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF, Redline 75W90 gear oil, K&N HP-4001 Oil Filter, Mobil 1 5W50 FS (3qt) and 5W30 High Mileage (4qt) Oil Blend, Motul RBF600 Brake Fluid, AC Delco A975C Air Filter, NGK BKR6EIX-11 plugs, Centric Rotors, Power Stop Evolution Carbon Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads
2005 Gray Acura RL, 165,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF with Lubegard Platinum Protectant, Mobil 1 5W20 High Mileage Extended Performance Oil
2009 Red Toyota Venza, 123,XXX, Mobil 1 5W30 High Mileage Oil
1992 Red Ferrari 348 ts, 82,XXX, Redline everything
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  #8  
Old 09-13-2010, 05:02 PM
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Re: Radiator cap

Here are pictures of the cap I took off today. This really doesn't look right.




I know what happens if the cap doesn't provide pressure to reduce the boiling point of the fluid. What happens if the pressure is too high?
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1996 Polo Green Subaru SVX LSi, 168,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF, Redline 75W90 gear oil, K&N HP-4001 Oil Filter, Mobil 1 5W50 FS (3qt) and 5W30 High Mileage (4qt) Oil Blend, Motul RBF600 Brake Fluid, AC Delco A975C Air Filter, NGK BKR6EIX-11 plugs, Centric Rotors, Power Stop Evolution Carbon Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads
2005 Gray Acura RL, 165,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF with Lubegard Platinum Protectant, Mobil 1 5W20 High Mileage Extended Performance Oil
2009 Red Toyota Venza, 123,XXX, Mobil 1 5W30 High Mileage Oil
1992 Red Ferrari 348 ts, 82,XXX, Redline everything
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  #9  
Old 09-13-2010, 05:12 PM
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Re: Radiator cap

Glycol can cause swelling of the rubber in the cap after long periods of exposure (years). It is best to replace the cap. Stant makes a 16psi cap that can be found at most auto parts stores. If possible have them test the cap before you buy it to make sure it holds the rated pressure

Tom
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  #10  
Old 09-13-2010, 06:36 PM
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Re: Radiator cap

Quote:
Originally Posted by TomsSVX View Post
Glycol can cause swelling of the rubber in the cap after long periods of exposure (years). It is best to replace the cap. Stant makes a 16psi cap that can be found at most auto parts stores. If possible have them test the cap before you buy it to make sure it holds the rated pressure

Tom
This was the "new" cap the mechanic put on when he flushed the system and changed the thermostat. I take it, it doesn't look right to you.
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1996 Polo Green Subaru SVX LSi, 168,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF, Redline 75W90 gear oil, K&N HP-4001 Oil Filter, Mobil 1 5W50 FS (3qt) and 5W30 High Mileage (4qt) Oil Blend, Motul RBF600 Brake Fluid, AC Delco A975C Air Filter, NGK BKR6EIX-11 plugs, Centric Rotors, Power Stop Evolution Carbon Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads
2005 Gray Acura RL, 165,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF with Lubegard Platinum Protectant, Mobil 1 5W20 High Mileage Extended Performance Oil
2009 Red Toyota Venza, 123,XXX, Mobil 1 5W30 High Mileage Oil
1992 Red Ferrari 348 ts, 82,XXX, Redline everything
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  #11  
Old 09-13-2010, 06:46 PM
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Re: Radiator cap

I've had more than one cap develop elephantitis.
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  #12  
Old 09-13-2010, 06:57 PM
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Re: Radiator cap

Quote:
Originally Posted by Huskymaniac View Post
This was the "new" cap the mechanic put on when he flushed the system and changed the thermostat. I take it, it doesn't look right to you.
That is not a new cap

Tom
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  #13  
Old 09-13-2010, 07:01 PM
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Re: Radiator cap

Quote:
Originally Posted by TomsSVX View Post
That is not a new cap

Tom
Is it possible they got the wrong cap from the dealer? I don't think they would have said they installed a new cap when they didn't. These guys seem pretty honest. Of course, they could have screwed up and put the old one back on by mistake or they could have gotten the wrong cap.
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1996 Polo Green Subaru SVX LSi, 168,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF, Redline 75W90 gear oil, K&N HP-4001 Oil Filter, Mobil 1 5W50 FS (3qt) and 5W30 High Mileage (4qt) Oil Blend, Motul RBF600 Brake Fluid, AC Delco A975C Air Filter, NGK BKR6EIX-11 plugs, Centric Rotors, Power Stop Evolution Carbon Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads
2005 Gray Acura RL, 165,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF with Lubegard Platinum Protectant, Mobil 1 5W20 High Mileage Extended Performance Oil
2009 Red Toyota Venza, 123,XXX, Mobil 1 5W30 High Mileage Oil
1992 Red Ferrari 348 ts, 82,XXX, Redline everything
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Old 09-13-2010, 07:38 PM
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Re: Radiator cap

Quote:
Originally Posted by Huskymaniac View Post
Is it possible they got the wrong cap from the dealer? I don't think they would have said they installed a new cap when they didn't. These guys seem pretty honest. Of course, they could have screwed up and put the old one back on by mistake or they could have gotten the wrong cap.
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  #15  
Old 09-14-2010, 11:09 AM
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Re: Radiator cap

Quote:
Originally Posted by TomsSVX View Post
That is not a new cap

Tom
They also added a carquest branded anti-rust and water pump lubricant additive when they flushed the coolant. Maybe that stuff swelled the rubber. They added that when I told them to add the Subaru stuff per the dealer's recommendation.
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1996 Polo Green Subaru SVX LSi, 168,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF, Redline 75W90 gear oil, K&N HP-4001 Oil Filter, Mobil 1 5W50 FS (3qt) and 5W30 High Mileage (4qt) Oil Blend, Motul RBF600 Brake Fluid, AC Delco A975C Air Filter, NGK BKR6EIX-11 plugs, Centric Rotors, Power Stop Evolution Carbon Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads
2005 Gray Acura RL, 165,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF with Lubegard Platinum Protectant, Mobil 1 5W20 High Mileage Extended Performance Oil
2009 Red Toyota Venza, 123,XXX, Mobil 1 5W30 High Mileage Oil
1992 Red Ferrari 348 ts, 82,XXX, Redline everything
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