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#1
11-18-2007, 08:33 AM
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Silla radiator update... and not a good one
For some reason I always seem to be experiencing some sort of coolant leakage everytime the season changes, whether its the hoses leaking or something to that extent.
This time I kept noticing coolant spilling through the radiator cap. I replaced the radiator cap but it did it again. I checked and blew out the overflow hose. I then checked the Fsm and diagnosed it as a bad thermostat. I replaced that and the problem went away. Today I drove the car and now the radiator seems be leaking where the plastic tank meets the metal grates of the radiator. The car never overheated, but I feel that the sillas should be a tad more durable than to fail under this kind of condition? It was almost 3 months old. I think Im going to see what I can do as far as replacing it.
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Tim 92 Liquid Silver SVX 5MT 2009 BMW Z4 (Gone) 2012 Camry V6 SE 
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#2
11-18-2007, 08:44 AM
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I would check back with the company that you bought it from. I would think that it may be a problem with that one. I have not heard negative things about them until now. As a matter of fact, I just bought a similar one yesterday.
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. Earl .... ... .... ><SVX(*> Subaru Ambassador [COLOR=”silver”]1992 Tri Color L[/COLOR] ~45K (06/91) #2430 1992 Dark Teal LS-L ~184K (05/91) #0739 1992 Claret LS-L ~196K (05/91) #0831 1992 Pearl LS-L ~103K (06/91) #1680 1992 Pearl LS-L ~151K (06/91) #2229 1992 Dark Teal LS ~150K (07/91) #3098 (parts car) 1992 White LS-L ~139K (08/92) #6913 1993 25th AE ~98K (02/93) #164 1993 25th AE ~58K (02/93) #176 1993 25th AE ~107K (02/93) #215 1993 25th AE ~162K (02/93) #223 1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~124K (1/94) #2408 1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~144K (10/93) #1484 1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~68K (10/93) #1525 1994 Barcelona Red LSi ~46K (02/94) #2624 1994 Pearl LSi ~41K (12/93) #1961 1995 Bordeaux Pearl LSi ~70K (02/95) #855 1996 Polo Green LSi ~95K (03/96) #872 1997 Bordeaux Pearl LSi ~55K (08/96) #097 2003 Brilliant Red LS1 Convertible ~29K (04/03) #8951 1999 Magnetic Red LS1 Coupe ~33K (04/99) #6420 My Email | Old Locker | New Locker | Picture of 15 of the 19
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#3
11-18-2007, 10:56 AM
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I have a Silla in our Land Rover and I've never had any problems with it.
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1997 Boudreaux LSi 1994 SVX LSi(SOLD) Kool Blue air filter, 4500k HID's, airbox mod, Hella horns, WRX 6 disc stereo, Infinity Reference and Clarion Pro Audio speakers, Infinity basslink sub, ECUtune Stage 1v5, ECUtune TCU, Power mode mod, Mad muffler mod v1.3
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#4
11-18-2007, 11:38 AM
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I have one in my SVX I believe. Haven't had a problem with it. Hope you get everything going good. Also maybe the shipping company dropped it or something and damaged it.
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1994 SVX L - FWD Barcelona Red 190K miles ~ SOLD 1994 SVX LS - 5spd AWD Emerald Green 202k miles PWR Radiator, HID 5000k, New paint job with issues, 17" STI BBS wheels, converted to 5spd AWD from FWD. Purchased from SVXyGirl 2/20/09 -- Undergoing complete rebuild 1993 Justy 4wd 5door- Teal of sorts , beater. 2008 OBXT Newport Pearl 65k miles
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#5
11-19-2007, 01:24 PM
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I drove it again and I can't seem to find where the leak is up top. It seems to behave the same way as it did before.
The autozone and the pepboys thermostat seem to be much smaller in depth than the Subaru OEM one. Should that make a difference? The actual diameter of the thermostat is the same as the OEM. Is everyone using the OEM one? I just brought my original thermostat that I took out to 180 degrees and it still would not open. I went even higher to boiling but the thermostat did not open. I know that the one i took out is bad, but now i'm not sure if the replacement is bad or if its insufficient in size. 
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Tim 92 Liquid Silver SVX 5MT 2009 BMW Z4 (Gone) 2012 Camry V6 SE
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#6
11-19-2007, 01:47 PM
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T-Stats are man made mechanical devices that CAN fail brand new out of the box.
So its not all that crazy that the new t-stat doesnt open.
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Mike 1992 SVX LS-L Pearl White 102,000 miles (Gone) 2005 Evolution 8 SSL Tarmac Black (new daily) 1995 Eclipse GSX Durango Copper Pearl (teh beast) 276awhp/280awtq @ 18psi (560's inj) 260awhp/260awtq @ 17psi (stock inj)
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#7
11-19-2007, 01:54 PM
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After warming up the car, the bottom hose still continues to be cold while the top is hot. The day before I drove the car pretty hard after replacing it without any issues. I hope that's what it is
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Tim 92 Liquid Silver SVX 5MT 2009 BMW Z4 (Gone) 2012 Camry V6 SE
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#8
12-11-2007, 07:13 AM
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I just wanted to give an update to everyone.
The 3rd thermostat was tested to open all the way and the 2nd thermostat replacement was bad. The original Subaru one was bad also. After replacing it the radiator stopped leaking out of the cap, but now leaked out of the seams were the plastic tank meets the aluminum grates of the radiator. I called up Radiators US, the store I bought it from off Ebay. The silla radiators have an lifetime warranty for normal wear and tear issues. They offered me 2 options. I can pay 170 dollars for a new one to ship out, then I return the old one and they will credit me back, or I can send the old one out first and not get charged. My new radiator should get here this week. Right now the SVX is sitting in the garage.
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Tim 92 Liquid Silver SVX 5MT 2009 BMW Z4 (Gone) 2012 Camry V6 SE
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#9
12-11-2007, 08:28 AM
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Tim, go spend the extra $4 and get a Subaru t-stat. For whatever reason aftermarket stants and the like and subarus just don't go together well over the long hall. Cracked heads or blow gaskets cost much more than $4 every 100k or so.
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#11
12-22-2007, 03:48 PM
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Update again... I finally got the radiator after it got delivered to the wrong house (had to go there to get it). I replaced the radiator now and put everything back together. It still leaks out from the cap.
 Bottom hose is cold, while the top radiator tank and upper hose is very hot. Blah... I'm just going to call Liberty Subaru this week and order an OEM radiator cap, thermostat and gasket.
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Tim 92 Liquid Silver SVX 5MT 2009 BMW Z4 (Gone) 2012 Camry V6 SE
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#12
12-22-2007, 06:11 PM
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Tim you did properly bleed the system on filling with coolant right? Run with no cap until the t-stat opens with your heat on. You have the t stat facing the right way with the nipple pointing the right way? Sounds to me like the t stat isn't opening which means its bad or it simply doesn't have any fluid behind it. Air won't make a t-stat open. That's all I can think of at the moment.
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#13
12-22-2007, 08:18 PM
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I ran the car for about 20 minutes until all the bubbles were worked out. I did not however turn the heat on.
the aftermarket tstats from autozone are the same diameter as the subaru oem, but the subaru is bigger and beefier. should that make a difference?
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Tim 92 Liquid Silver SVX 5MT 2009 BMW Z4 (Gone) 2012 Camry V6 SE
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#14
12-22-2007, 08:32 PM
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Tim,
Everything that Ben said + note that the Subaru-supplied T-stats have a small hole with a "jiggle pin" (yeah, that's a technical term  ) that allows air bubbles to escape when you're filling the system, while aftermarket T-stats don't. The lower hose not getting warm does point to the T-stat not opening up. I wouldn't give up on the radiator just yet. -Bill
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Retired NASA Rocket Scientist Most famous NASA "Child" - OSIRIS-REx delivered samples from asteroid BENNU to Earth in Sept. 2023 Center Network Member #989 '92 Fully caged, 5 speed, waiting for its fully built EG33 '92 "Test Mule", 4:44 Auto, JDM 4:44 Rear Diff with Mech LSD, Tuned headers, Full one-off suspension '92(?) Laguna, 6 spd and other stuff (still at OT's place) My Locker
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#15
12-22-2007, 09:13 PM
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The Stant Thermostat does have the jiggle pin. It's weird because I boiled in a pot before I installed it and saw that it did fully open at 180 degrees.
It just stinks because the car was sitting since thanksgiving and it's one thing after another. I got a code 11 and 21 today but got rid of it by cleaning the carbon deposits off the crank sensor. I'll just wait until I can get the OEM one. luckily the car is no longer a daily driver. 
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Tim 92 Liquid Silver SVX 5MT 2009 BMW Z4 (Gone) 2012 Camry V6 SE
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