My radiator hose is flat

[rallyak]

I was doing some weekly maintenance and I noticed that both of my radiator hoses were flat. The car was cold and I know that there should be some vacuum but I haven't seen it suck the hoses flat before. The hoses are not that old (less than 100k) replaced them 1 1/2 years ago. I don't think is any thing to be worried about just wondering if any one has had this happen?

[Bishop]

Could be a plugged overflow/bad radiator cap at best, headgasket at worst.

[kimokalihi]

You drove close to 100,000 miles in a year and a half? Damn!

[alexandermf]

I drove 49k last year in my subie and that's with it being fixed for 4 of those months :p

[kimokalihi]

God damn! Over 1000 a week. I would die. Haha.

[rallyak]

I have drove 1300 in less than 24 hours lots of times. When I head south from anchorage my first rest point is Fort Nelson Canada about 1300 miles, I generally there less than 20 hours.

[Chrisg03]

replace your thermostat!

[rallyak]

I know it's not a blown head gasket I drive too much and I'm not losing no antifreeze. The t stat is a oem from Subaru and seams to work just fine. It always stays at half way and the heater will burn you out even at -40.

[kimokalihi]

How come you drive so much? That's a out a months worth of my commuting in one day.

[rallyak]

I own a delivery service and use my subies as delivery vehicles. They are the biggest awd vehicle that gets descent mpg and reliable as dirt. Between three subies I have a combine mileage of 1.6 million miles and two are 1st gen. Some of my deliverys are 300 miles one way so it easy to put on a crap ton a miles on and what better car than a Subaru. I posted miles on Subaru's "Share the miles event" and it has had the number 1 slot for the highest mileage in the nation for the past year.

[Legacy777]

If you open the radiator cap do the hoses go back to normal?

The non-turbo cooling systems sometimes don't pull coolant back into the system as well and you'll get the vacuum condition. Additionally, if you have a large temperature swing the expansion and contraction of the coolant could cause that.

If you haven't replaced the radiator cap recently, that's what I'd suggest testing or replacing.

[rallyak]

Yes, when you open it the hose returns to normal, also I've never changed my cap. I just cleaned it real good,it had a lot of goop on it. So I wonder should I get a lighter cap about 13lbs cap instead of the stock oem 16lbs?

[mike-tracy]

That's interesting you mention the cap pressure- to my knowledge, the STI was the only US car with >14.7 psi cap.

[rallyak]

Well I just checked and it doesn't say. My other car has the 16lbs cap.

[mike-tracy]

That's 0.9 ATM or 13.23 PSI. Like I mentioned, I've only seen >1ATM on STI's, from the factory.

[92ss satinsvoice]

my 97 Outback has this same issue. So far I have not had an issue with it. the head gaskets are new and same with the radiator but the cap is old. I figured it was happening because the heads on this motor are off the original motor that had over heating issues so I think the heads are warped.

I have read that this collapsing of the radiator hoses can be from head gasket problems.

Best of luck.

[rallyak]

That's 0.9 ATM or 13.23 PSI. Like I mentioned, I've only seen >1ATM on STI's, from the factory.

Thanks for clarifying the 0.9 ATM wasn't sure what that was.

I have a spare cap at the shop I will try that.

I'm not sure how long it's been doing this and I'm not having any problems, I thought it odd.

[lucas]

What better of a vehicle to survive a mans world then a subaru... Hail to you sir. Good luck hope its not expensive. Id put my money on a flush and new cap. May also you that your grizzly bear blood is low in the vehicle better run one over and let the soobie feast on it to rule that out.