My first Subaru...

[mrmcq]

So I have stumbled upon this site a few times during google searches, and figure WTH I'll register and ask questions if I need to.

My family has owned Subaru's for as long as I can remember, from the 1987? Justy, to the 2001 Outback that replaced it. I know just purchased one of my own. 1990 Legacy L Sedan FWD (even though I wish it was AWD).

A little history on the car, that I know. My grandparents purchased it in 2003 with 130K on it, they kept up with maintenance pretty good, I've got a mojority of the receipts as proof. they drove it everyday until a few years ago when my grandmother passed away, my grandfather would drive it to/from work. Until it blew a radiator hose, he thought it was the water pump so he milked it for a little while they gave up and parked it in 2009. It sat in his driveway until last week.

I towed it to my house where it received:
New hoses, radiator rinse out, new thermostat, fresh oil, and a new battery. I have a few minor things to fix before I can drive it daily again, i.e. steering bellows, gas gauge, radio. The ODO says 171k and believe it or not she fired right up after replacing those couple items. I'm very impressed, the lash adjusters where quite noisy on first start, but they have started to quiet down a little. I willl probably end up doing a 2 can seafoam treatment after payday. I look forward to seeing how many miles this little car has left in her.

[cj91legss]

welcome, and im sure she's got atleast another 150k in her

[Redlined]

welcome aboard! This is a great websight with alot of good information floating around in it! Feel free to ask any questions that come to mind!

Also.. we need pics!

[mrmcq]

Thanks for the welcomes I have 2 questions posted in other threads.

[mrmcq]

Well, took if for a test drive to work the other day. It's about 10 miles each way. The morning drive (somewhere around 50 deg.) it over heated but stayed below red. On the way home (about 65) it shot up to red, had to stop and let it cool. Well when I stoped I opened the hood here's what I found: no steam coming from anywhere on the motor, hoses where hot as crap confirming the temp gauge, opened the overflow and the bright green coolant was now a dark green with air bubbles coming through the hose...

Maintenance performed on cooling system prior to first run:
new hoses, bypassed heater core (had steam coming out of vents), Flushed radiator, new thermostat, Fresh antifreeze.

I have tried to get a sniff tester, but none of the local auto parts stores have them. Looks like I will be heading to Harbor freight on payday to pick up a cylinder bleed down tester (or whatever they are called). After some internet searches I suspect that it has a blown head gasket. Question for you all: if head gasket is bad, do I have to pull the motor to change them or can it be done with motor in?

[evolutionmovement]

Definitely sounds like a blown head gasket in its final stages. You don't have to pull the engine, but it's easier.

[Legacy777]

When you filled & bled the cooling system, did you remove the bleeder screw on the passenger side of the radiator?

If you've got steam coming out of the heater vents, it sounds like the heater core may be bad.

[mrmcq]

When you filled & bled the cooling system, did you remove the bleeder screw on the passenger side of the radiator?

If you've got steam coming out of the heater vents, it sounds like the heater core may be bad.

yes i did, managed to over fill and made a puddle in my garage. And I know the heater core is bad, not only did I have the steam, but fogging window, and no heat when set to full heat.

[lucas]

welcome brother!!! go for the half million mark