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#1
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Running with no radiator
Okay, my radiator blew apart and I am assuming the head gasket blew but I ma not sure now. I hooked up a by pass pipe to connect the hoses. I took out the thermstat. I checked that I can turn the crank with a wrench. No hydro lock. The oil level hasn't changed. After sitting all day it started right up and ran. No smoke in the exhaust. I ran it until the temperature came up to normal. So this is not making any sense to me Any Ideas? If I put in a new radiator I am afraid it will just blow apart also. I still do not know why the radiator blew up.
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#2
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what do you mean by "blew apart". I have had one (and seen more) radiators split open on the tank part of the radiator. That certainly makes a mess with a hot/pressurized system. That was no big deal except for the expense. Of course that assumes the vehicle wasn't driven too far with the temp needle burried on the high side.
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#3
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I don't know why it did this but I got a wide open split about 16" long and an inch wide. I got no warning the temperature wasn't high, I heard a hiss and them bam-pop and the steam and coolant all over my car from the hood to the trunk.
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#4
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I only bought my SVX a couple of months ago and it came with a newly installed radiator so I can't say for sure, but here's what recently happened to my daughter's MR2. FYI, she claims she had no warning either.
A split opened on the side (the tank isn't on the top like the SVX) and was about 1/2 inch wide and about 6 inches long. Took it to a radiator shop when I found out how much Toyota wanted for a new one. The guy there tried to braze a patch, but didn't charge me anything because he said the metal was thin and fatigued. He doubted the patch would work for any length of time, but left it up to me. I've done work with this guy before, so I trust him and believe he knows his business. Anyway, as long as you didn't drive too far without water it should be OK. Without water the tranny gets heat (assuming you are using the stock cooler) and the block/heads can warp. As an aside, I got a replacement radiator from a website www.auto-car-radiator.com they don't show an SVX (but lots of other Subaru products). I'd call them (and no I don't work for them - my employer is the US Air Force). They sold me the MR2 radiator for $160 less than the best dealer price I could get, and when I opened the box I found it was actually a genuine Toyota product. Sorry for the length. |
#5
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Here's a theory, however unlikely it may be.
You recently did your waterpump and such, right? You probably removed the radiator to get the space up front to work on the car? I've found that the 10 year old plastic on the radiator can be quite brittle, and you may have inadvertantly caused two minor hairline fractures when you re-tightened the hose on the radiator. With heat and pressure, well, POOF! Considering that it's just coolant circulating in there, in order for it to "blow", it would require excessive pressure, which maybe a faulty cap could have caused excessive pressure? And the only thing that could cause a pressure increase was heat, but you said the engine didn't overheat at all. But you'd think that if there was excessive pressure that it would've blown through one of the gaskets (water pump?) or through the upper or lower radiator hose. Am I making any sense? VK |
#6
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Plastic tanks pop all of the time, they're really a poor replacement for the brass tanks. A lot of the replacement radiators we use have metal tanks instead of the E plastic tanks. I've seen all-metal radiators bow and/or blow out from bad caps not releasing pressure, without harming hoses or gaskets.
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ASE Certified Master Automotive Technician w/L1. ASE Certified Master Medium/Heavy Truck Technician. Certified EVT (Emergency Vehicle Technician) |
#7
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Quote:
So, Beav: are we saying that the purchase of new radiator cap every two years or so, is a wise investment? Ron.
__________________
Good s**t happened. 69 was worth the wait. '92 stock semi-pristine ebony - 160K '96 Grand Caravan - 240K '01 Miata SE - 79K '07 Chrysler Pacifica - 60k - future money pit. |
#8
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Ron,
Has that high-maintenence mistress of yours left the beauty shop yet? Inquiring minds want to know...
__________________
. Subaru Ambassador 1996 Polo Green LSi #216..138,100 miles...SOLD JFICX8659TH100216.....Date of Manufacture: November 16, 1995..... Fuji Heavy Industries..Ōta North Plant....Ōta City,. Gunma Prefecture, Japan In-Service Date: January 2, 1997 "The Pristine Green Polo Machine” First Polo Green on the Network First Clear front turn signals, JDM Alcyone hood emblem, rear panel, and BOXER engine cover on the Network (US) (2000) First 5000K HID factory fog lights (2007) First SVX JDM BBS wheels on a USDM SVX (2013) HID lighting (5000K) for headlight and H3 fog lights, PIAA SuperExtreme 120W high beams, rebuilt EG33 longblock, Cometic head gaskets, Phase II flexplate, AMR aluminum radiator with custom silicone hoses, 160A high-output alternator in aluminum-ceramic coated case, new design alternator wiring upgrade v.4, rare factory headlight protectors, refinished JDM BBS mesh aluminum wheels and custom, polished billet aluminum new hex center caps, LED grille mod, R1 Concepts high-carbon cryo slotted rotors, Akebono ceramic pads, Goodridge S/S braided brake lines, Smallcar Stage 1 shift kit, ThermalTech aluminum/ceramic-coated valve covers, Energy Suspension urethane front & rear swaybar bushings, Bontrager22 rear swaybar with QS Components Chromoly Teflon/Kevlar endlinks, "$15.00/5 minute" suspension mod. Hella Supertone horns, Custom stainless steel exhaust system with 2" headpipes, Magnaflow cats, AeroTurbine AR25 resonator /AWD "Bullet" muffler. R.I.P. 2010 Subaru Outback Limited 2.5 CVT...338,000 miles. Totaled by a 1,300 lb. COW March 4, 2016 2014 Hyundai Avante Limited ...178,000 miles. Actually quieter and smoother than the Outback 2007 Mazda Miata MX-5 PRHT...102,000 miles. Plenty of parts, service and windshields. 4th Registered Network member —2/21/2001 My NEW locker..I...My Email..I..Wikipedia/SVX . . |
#9
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Quote:
Also I have yet to see a radiator blow a plastic tank on the cold side of the radiator.
__________________
ASE Certified Master Automotive Technician w/L1. ASE Certified Master Medium/Heavy Truck Technician. Certified EVT (Emergency Vehicle Technician) |
#10
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Quote:
Ron (ding-free for a day).
__________________
Good s**t happened. 69 was worth the wait. '92 stock semi-pristine ebony - 160K '96 Grand Caravan - 240K '01 Miata SE - 79K '07 Chrysler Pacifica - 60k - future money pit. |
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