broken radiator? or bad headgasket?

[evilsvx]

ok so my svx is overheating. my cousin says its the radiator but my friend says its the headgasket. the problem is that on the highways it stays on normal level but when i get out of the highway it starts overheating. when i open the cap from the radiator, there is a white pinkwish mix but when i checked the engine oil is clean. it does not loose that much antifreeze but it still overheating. is there any place where they can test my radiator so i dont have to buy another one? thank you

[Wikedjuggalo]

Originally Posted by evilsvx

ok so my svx is overheating. my cousin says its the radiator but my friend says its the headgasket. the problem is that on the highways it stays on normal level but when i get out of the highway it starts overheating. when i open the cap from the radiator, there is a white pinkwish mix but when i checked the engine oil is clean. it does not loose that much antifreeze but it still overheating. is there any place where they can test my radiator so i dont have to buy another one? thank you

I have a similar problem with my Barcelona. I have not found the problem for whats its worth I replaced both my radiator and thermostat and that did not solve my problem. I plan on pulling the engine sometime and see what it could possible be.

[TomsSVX]

Headgaskets, you need to do them

Tom

[evilsvx]

Originally Posted by Wikedjuggalo

I have a similar problem with my Barcelona. I have not found the problem for whats its worth I replaced both my radiator and thermostat and that did not solve my problem. I plan on pulling the engine sometime and see what it could possible be.

i did changed the thermostat and it did not overheat for like two days but the next day it began the problem again

Originally Posted by TomsSVX

Headgaskets, you need to do them

Tom

but wouldnt be like antifreeze on the engine oil too? how much do you think will be labor. i already order the parts from subaru

[Wikedjuggalo]

Originally Posted by evilsvx

i did changed the thermostat and it did not overheat for like two days but the next day it began the problem again


but wouldnt be like antifreeze on the engine oil too? how much do you think will be labor. i already order the parts from subaru

From what I understand these engines rarely mix engine oil and coolant when they have blown head gaskets.

[TomsSVX]

yes, but I have seen it before. It all depends on where the break is in the gasket. Commonly it breaks just outside of the compression ring in the head gasket and leaks compression into the coolant. Other times it can break between oil and coolant jackets and mix the two into eachother or just one into another. Never the less, the gasket is broken or lifted and there is still an issue that requires the repair.

A Headgasket repair is almost all labor. The parts are not terribly expensive but it takes several hours to do it right

Tom

[evilsvx]

Originally Posted by TomsSVX

yes, but I have seen it before. It all depends on where the break is in the gasket. Commonly it breaks just outside of the compression ring in the head gasket and leaks compression into the coolant. Other times it can break between oil and coolant jackets and mix the two into eachother or just one into another. Never the less, the gasket is broken or lifted and there is still an issue that requires the repair.

A Headgasket repair is almost all labor. The parts are not terribly expensive but it takes several hours to do it right

Tom

any price quote for labor since you know what would be a fair price. thank you...

[TomsSVX]

Originally Posted by evilsvx

any price quote for labor since you know what would be a fair price. thank you...

To replace the head gaskets and rebuild the heads without the cost of parts at our shop is an even $1k. That includes resurfacing the heads if need be, lapping all valves, checking vale guide clearances, replacing valve guide seals, and the actual install of the heads and engine

Tom

[evilsvx]

Originally Posted by TomsSVX

To replace the head gaskets and rebuild the heads without the cost of parts at our shop is an even $1k. That includes resurfacing the heads if need be, lapping all valves, checking vale guide clearances, replacing valve guide seals, and the actual install of the heads and engine

Tom

so when i replace the headgasket i have to rebuilt the heads too? i thought it was just machine them

[Mike621]

Originally Posted by evilsvx

so when i replace the headgasket i have to rebuilt the heads too? i thought it was just machine them

It is HIGHLY recommended that the heads be rebuilt, as our cars are all aging and we see MANY cases of worn out valve guide seals. It is highly likely yours are already needing replacement, or will need replacement soon. It would be a shame to spend to have the heads off the motor and the HG done, and then have to do it all over again when you have a guide problem in the near future.

In simple terms, its prudent to have a little preventative maintenance done while the heads are off to avoid future problems, and ensure peace of mind.

[Crazy_pilot]

It's one of those "let's just do it while we're in here" things. Like replacing the water pump while you're doing a timing belt job.

[SoCal LS-L]

I would like to humbly declare a section of I-80 between Sacramento and Truckee "Oops I blew my head gasket" alley. So far in the last 3 weeks, I have successfully diagnosed 14 blown head gaskets, including 5 subies. While writing them up, I always ask "did ya drive with it in the red for very long?", I overwhelmingly get a sheepish "yeah for about ten minutes after I saw it there.."

I get the long climbing grades from sea level to 7000 feet where we are, and that people often neglect their fluids, but seeing the needle pegged into the red and saying "der dee derrrrr" while continuing to climb Donner summit at 70mph makes me shake my head. Ill just keep filling the vial with the blue fluid, watch it turn yellow, and getting their $89 for my 3 minutes of diag..

[kwren]

Originally Posted by SoCal LS-L

Ill just keep filling the vial with the blue fluid, watch it turn yellow, and getting their $89 for my 3 minutes of diag..

That degree of happiness for $89 in 3 minutes... sounds like a self employed person! Congratz!

Keith