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bubble in coolant overflow. Head gasket?
Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 5:27 am
by oldbugeye
So I just got a 92 legacy turbo there is a bubble in the coolant overflow every few secants when the car is on. Should I be worried is this normal? I have herd a leak in the head gasket can make this happen. And how hard is it to pull the motor and replace them I had a wrx before this so I have done some work on Subarus but never the head gaskets. Thanks
Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 7:07 am
by ericem
Could be a rad cap, but if the cap wasn't sealing I don't see how a rad cap not sealing would cause bubbles since technically the fluid would just expand into the overflow. Hmmm . Best thing to try is remove the rad cap, burp it a bit engine off and cool. Then wash the rad cap with dish soap, really wipe the rubber particularly with your fingers. Give it another try.
Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 5:54 pm
by oldbugeye
Ok I will try that. I think its the head gasket though...it smells like gas kinda but the car idles well, holds boost I never see white smoke except in the rain or snow but, I can smell coolant out side of the car it has 222thousand miles on it also. I couldn't believe how well the car runs for how many miles it has my wrx ran worse at 170thousand miles. Thanks
Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 7:41 pm
by Mattheww044
the good ol' Legacies
.... way overlooked by most subie guys haha
Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 4:11 am
by oldbugeye
Ok I got a new rad cap and it is still blowing bubbles.
Is there anything other than a rad cap that can cos this to happen?
Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 4:18 am
by ericem
a bad headgasket could I guess
Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:26 am
by oldbugeye
Could i tell if i pressure test it?
Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:31 am
by 206er
what you can do is take it down to a shop and have em put the exhaust sniffer in the coolant tank which i think detects CO or maybe its CO2? dont remember but that is how you tell if the bubbles are exhaust. also i believe you can get an analysis done on a sample of teh coolant.