SVX Network Forums Live Chat! SVX or Subaru Links Old Lockers Photo Post How-To Documents Message Archive SVX Shop Search |
IRC users: |
#46
|
||||
|
||||
Re: Spontaneous radiator combustion.
Quote:
|
#47
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Spontaneous radiator combustion.
Well...I feel stupid. Okay, Then that's a good thing.
I thought that's what the thing in front of the radiator was for...I thought that was the trans cooler. No...that's the AC radiator. Anyway.....Thanks, I'm an idiot. I cut the hoses just after the nipple, there's plenty of slack in them to be put back on the new one, less than an inch was removed from either. Last edited by Awox; 05-24-2010 at 07:46 PM. Reason: derp! |
#48
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Spontaneous radiator combustion.
Okay, so the new radiator is in. I fill it with water, just enough to get to a mechanic for a flush and fill, and to put the new thermostat in.
Normally I'd do that myself but there is no damn hose around here, and for me to buy one long enough to reach my faucet would cost more than having someone else do it, and frankly it's not the best weather to be working on a car. Anyway i take it about a mile to my mechanic to get it flushed and put the new thermostat in, everything is fine, it gets up to temperature, the fans come on for a minute because it's city driving and I've got the AC cranked, but they switched off shortly after. So all is well with the fans, not overheating, nothing. Sooooo as it's driven into the bay, they open the hood, suddently there's a pop. The overflow tank lid popped open and there's steam coming out, quite a lot of it. So we skip the flush and jump straight to cooling system diagnostic. The tester is blue if there is nothing, and yellow if there's hydrocarbons. It turned aqua...that means there is sooooomething...just not much. Anyway, still why is there so much pressure that it nearly blew a second radiator, even just after that short trip? This time, the temperature gauge always stayed level, there was no overheating, we watched it very carefully. This is still with the old thermostat in mind you. He won't replace it and do a flush because it will apparently make the problem worse? Could the thermostat just be very stuck? I had to drive it home with the cap cracked just to vent the pressure. It strikes me as odd because it's not exhaust pressure, it's steam pressure, and the temp gauge stays normal, the fans appear to be coming on at the right time. Any ideas? Or is this normal of a blown SVX head gasket? My legacy doesn't make this much pressure, and i know for a fact that there's a leak on all 4 cylinders |
#49
|
||||
|
||||
Re: Spontaneous radiator combustion.
Quote:
Unless you cut out the frame rails, and the inner fender metal.
__________________
www.svxfiles.com The first SuperCharged SVX, the first 4.44 gears, the first equal length headers, the first phenolic spacers, the first Class Glass fiberglass hood, the first with 4, 4.44s in his driveway Fiberglass Hood thread My locker 4.44 Swap link |
#50
|
||||
|
||||
Re: Spontaneous radiator combustion.
Older plastic and aluminum radiators can explode violently without a head gasket problem.
Ask the crowd that saw The Racer radiator explode violently when SOMEONE let the car run without turning on the electric fan switch at a Cumberland Autocross. I just replaced a radiator from a 92 SVX today that is not leaking, but you can crumble away the upper hose pipe like it was styrofoam.
__________________
www.svxfiles.com The first SuperCharged SVX, the first 4.44 gears, the first equal length headers, the first phenolic spacers, the first Class Glass fiberglass hood, the first with 4, 4.44s in his driveway Fiberglass Hood thread My locker 4.44 Swap link |
#51
|
||||
|
||||
Re: Spontaneous radiator combustion.
I tried telling ya, its the headgaskets. That stuff wont change color at all unless theres HC in the cooling system..... I only stressed this because I have seen it numerous times, and didnt want you to waste money.
Forgive me for asking, but didnt you say you tested it for a HG leak before dropping the cash on this new radiator?? |
#52
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Spontaneous radiator combustion.
Pulling your engine is a great excuse to start modding and paint your engine...just imagine the possibilities
Then again, thats where my paychecks go...
__________________
Cam '92 Ls-L Dark Teal 11:1 CR ECUTUNE pistons ECUTUNE .256 duration intake/exhaust cams ECUTUNE STAGE 2AV1 ECU Z32 MAF/SR20DET injectors Balanced & Blueprinted |
#53
|
||||
|
||||
Re: Spontaneous radiator combustion.
Did you ever fix the fans not working -.-?
__________________
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 |
#54
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Spontaneous radiator combustion.
All I know is I read it on a thread, but while I don't feel like researching it to prove someone else said it or have them validate whether or not they did it. I KNOW I did read it because I thought that would be a huge PITA to do and not really worth the effort.
|
#55
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Spontaneous radiator combustion.
Quote:
possibly even over a thousand |
#56
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Spontaneous radiator combustion.
pulling a subaru engine is cake. Just go that route.
|
#57
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Spontaneous radiator combustion.
Yes, the fan problem was easy, a short in one of the fan wires. The AC is working now too.
And yes, there was a coolant test done prior to the radiator purchase. It didn't show any color change at all when it was done that time. It was blue the whole time. I was told though that those things flip bright yellow with even the smallest exhaust leak into the coolant, and this second test only barely turned aqua. My gut is still telling me that it certainly is a head gasket leak, but is there any other possibility at all that would cause steam to be pushed so forcefully into the overflow tank? It's not exhaust, I smelled it, it's not gassy or exhausty at all. It's just steam from boiling coolant...Could my water pump be seizing or the old thermostat be clogged and stuck shut very badly? I'm grasping straws... This is frustrating... Oh well... |
#58
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Spontaneous radiator combustion.
Quote:
The only thing I did was support WHY I mentioned it in the first place, and should not be seen as an attack against OT or a disagreement with his knowledge of the SVX. |
#59
|
||||
|
||||
Re: Spontaneous radiator combustion.
__________________
Matt Locker Link 2015 BRZ Limited 6MT 92 Ebony LS-L ECUtune Stage2av1, Z32 MAF, 370cc injectors, TomsSVX intake, BontragerWorks 22mm RSB #003, HID Hi and Lo beams, OT endlink and bushing mods, PWR Aluminum radiator, Harvey's QC shift kit, 2.5" flowmaster 80 exhaust, 17" Michelin Pilot Sport A/S, Poly sway bar bushings, Slotted Bradi rotors, AFBeefcake powdercoated calipers, 97 grill, and a huge set of air horns. 300,000 miles and counting 92 Ebony LS-L. ecutune stage1v4, motorsport 1pc pulley. Garage Queen - sold to Dad in upstate NY 155,000 miles 19 Subaru Ascent Premium - -Hers !. 89 DL 4x4 little red wagon - a.k.a. The immortal suby. 275k R.I.P. |
#60
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Spontaneous radiator combustion.
Quote:
When a system overheats, the thermostat can melt the wax out of its operation cylinder. It should be replaced as a matter of course when an over heat has happened. Harvey.
__________________
One Arm Bloke. Tell it like it is! 95 Lsi. Bordeaux Pearl, Aust. RHD.149,000Kls Subaru BBS wheels. 97 Liberty GX Auto sedan. 320,000Kls. 04 Liberty 30R Auto Premium. 92.000kls. |
|
|