94 Subaru Impreza overheating

[Rob]

Hi Group,
I am new to this group. Is there an archive or FAQ?
When my Impreza is driven for short distances the engine smells hot although
the temp gauge is normal.
Once the fans come on the smell goes away but it appears to me as if the
fans come on at too high a temperature. Does anyone know where the
thermostats or sensors which operate the fans are located?
I would like to try replacing them but don't know where they are. I assume
because the temp gauge doesn't go past half way that the engine thermostat
is probably OK.

Grateful for any suggestions

Rob

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Hi Group,
I am new to this group. Is there an archive or FAQ?
When my Impreza is driven for short distances the engine smells hot although
the temp gauge is normal.
Once the fans come on the smell goes away but it appears to me as if the
fans come on at too high a temperature. Does anyone know where the
thermostats or sensors which operate the fans are located?
I would like to try replacing them but don't know where they are. I assume
because the temp gauge doesn't go past half way that the engine thermostat
is probably OK.

Grateful for any suggestions

Rob

There's no formal FAQ for this group and any searche results would just
depend on what your ISP keeps archived I guess. Likely not a lot.
Do you 'smell' toasted marshmallow/sweet odor? That would be coolant. Is
the coolant decreasing? (not just the level in the o'flow bottle -
(carefully) check the radiator too. Any spots of leakage/drips?

There are some good posts and 'stickies' for soobs at
www.ultimatesubaru.net and at www.nasioc.com .

In general, unless these items have been serviced recently, you could
have; air in coolant system, bad radiator cap, clogged overflow hose,
leaking water pump, leaking hoses/heater core, leaking radiator, bad
head gasket.

Getting/keeping air outta soob cooling systems can be tricky.

 

[Rob]

Thanks for reply Carl.

Quite right. The smell is similar to that smell you get when an engine
boils - hot coolant.
Doesn't seem to be losing coolant. When you remove radiator cap radiator is
full to the brim and overflow bottle never falls below the low normal level.
How would I know if there was an airlock in there somewhere?
You can drive it 150km on the highway without the temp gauge rising above
half way and with no apparent loss of coolant. When you stop the smell is
normal.
But drive 4 to 6 km from cold (especially in traffic) and then get out and
the engine smells very hot. At this stage the fans still have not come on.
If you let it idle for a while longer the fans do come on and then it seems
to cool down a bit.
I don't know what triggers the fans to come on but it seems to me they don't
come on quickly enough in traffic and slow driving to keep the engine cool.

Regards
Rob

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Thanks for reply Carl.

Quite right. The smell is similar to that smell you get when an engine
boils - hot coolant.
Doesn't seem to be losing coolant. When you remove radiator cap radiator is
full to the brim and overflow bottle never falls below the low normal level.
How would I know if there was an airlock in there somewhere?
You can drive it 150km on the highway without the temp gauge rising above
half way and with no apparent loss of coolant. When you stop the smell is
normal.
But drive 4 to 6 km from cold (especially in traffic) and then get out and
the engine smells very hot. At this stage the fans still have not come on.
If you let it idle for a while longer the fans do come on and then it seems
to cool down a bit.
I don't know what triggers the fans to come on but it seems to me they don't
come on quickly enough in traffic and slow driving to keep the engine cool.

Regards
Rob

I suppose the thermostat could be sticking, seems odd the gauge shows
normal though.

Carl