Overheating when stopped

[Apex3]

I've been noticing for the last couple days that when I come to a stop my engine temp begins to climb, it doesn't go high up, about 2/3s up the gauge, then when I start moving again it slowly falls back down to 1/2 way. Thought maybe the coolant was low, sure enough it was, but I filled it up and it still does it. Also it sounds like the coolant is boiling when I pop the hood

I'm thinking it might be the thermostat, but I'm not really sure. A quick Google search lists the fan as a culprit, but both of mine are working fine.

[SiCkSTi04]

Had this problem with my girlfriend's 03 legacy. it went away once enough coolant was in it and made sure to get all the air out of the system.

[Legacy777]

Yeah, there's still probably trapped air in the system.

Is this on a turbo or non-turbo motor? The non-turbo motor has a bleeder port on the passenger side of the radiator to help get all the air out.

[Apex3]

It's a turbo, that was another thing I was thinking it could be. But I have that port I think, just a random hose going to nothing out of the radiator? I just put it in today and drove a couple miles, so it could very well disappear after not long, thanks

[93forestpearl]

The turbo radiator sucks. The fin pitch is so tight that it collects garbage, and cuts the airflow down a crazy amount. The original unit I used from the parts car had 210k on it, and I could barely see light through the damn thing. I had the same issue, meaning temps climbed when in traffic on a hot day. Even though a N/A radiator was thinner by about a 1/4", it worked waaaay better at the time.


I like the Koyo myself.

[macipusy]

Also, make sure your radiator fans are working. If they are not, that could be the cause of it as well since it only overheats when stopped.

[douglas vincent]

/\ what he said!

[Apex3]

Radiator fans are fine, it was just the coolant, it stopped doing it after I filled up and drove for a bit. Now to find the slow leak...

[Legacy777]

Check in the front top part of the plastic end tank on the passenger side. The radiators are notorious for cracking right there.