Forester coolant level experience

[Charles Packer]

From several threads here I've pieced together that
erratic coolant behavior can signal a head gasket
problem.

Here's what's happened so far with my wife's 2001
Forester, which we purchased used in 2003 and now has
120K miles on it:

Last fall I noticed erratic coolant levels in the
reservoir. (Coincidentally -- or not? -- I had had the
timing belt and water pump replaced a few weeks
earlier, as per Subaru's 100K mile recommendation.)

So she took it to the dealer to have that
free recall work done, which I understand involves
an additive put in the radiator. Then throughout the winter
I monitored the level carefully -- of the reservoir,
that is, which remained oddly over the "full" mark.
But then on the first really hot day this year, she
reported that the temp gauge went almost into the red. I
discovered that the radiator needed about a gallon
of coolant, even though the reservoir level was
still over full. The hose from the top of the
radiator to the reservoir seems to be okay.
What's going on? What else should I look for, and
under what engine temperature conditions?

 

[.._..]

Your seals are probably already shot. The 'coolant conditioner' won't fix
it unless you have it in there before anything starts to go bad.

Run the car and look for bubbles in the overflow tank. Or flush the fluid
and then run it a while and test for hydrocarbons. Do you know if the
thermostat was replaced during the work? There is a special Subaru one so
you can't just use any old after market, that could cause fluid and needle
oddities if you have the wrong one.

You may be better off just flushing the fluid and selling the car, it's out
of warranty now so "recall work" will probably not be done for free anymore.

New head gaskets run about 3k when you do the stuff that would be easy when
you are in there.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

From several threads here I've pieced together that
erratic coolant behavior can signal a head gasket
problem.

Here's what's happened so far with my wife's 2001
Forester, which we purchased used in 2003 and now has
120K miles on it:

Last fall I noticed erratic coolant levels in the
reservoir. (Coincidentally -- or not? -- I had had the
timing belt and water pump replaced a few weeks
earlier, as per Subaru's 100K mile recommendation.)

So she took it to the dealer to have that
free recall work done, which I understand involves
an additive put in the radiator. Then throughout the winter
I monitored the level carefully -- of the reservoir,
that is, which remained oddly over the "full" mark.
But then on the first really hot day this year, she
reported that the temp gauge went almost into the red. I
discovered that the radiator needed about a gallon
of coolant, even though the reservoir level was
still over full. The hose from the top of the
radiator to the reservoir seems to be okay.
What's going on? What else should I look for, and
under what engine temperature conditions?

I'd suggest a new radiator cap too if it hasn't been replaced. Also,
confirm that the electric radiator fan cycles on/off.

But it does 'sound' like HGs. (hope not)

Carl

 

[S.Hansen]

From several threads here I've pieced together that
erratic coolant behavior can signal a head gasket
problem.

Here's what's happened so far with my wife's 2001
Forester, which we purchased used in 2003 and now has
120K miles on it:

Last fall I noticed erratic coolant levels in the
reservoir. (Coincidentally -- or not? -- I had had the
timing belt and water pump replaced a few weeks
earlier, as per Subaru's 100K mile recommendation.)

So she took it to the dealer to have that
free recall work done, which I understand involves
an additive put in the radiator. Then throughout the winter
I monitored the level carefully -- of the reservoir,
that is, which remained oddly over the "full" mark.
But then on the first really hot day this year, she
reported that the temp gauge went almost into the red. I
discovered that the radiator needed about a gallon
of coolant, even though the reservoir level was
still over full. The hose from the top of the
radiator to the reservoir seems to be okay.
What's going on? What else should I look for, and
under what engine temperature conditions?

Sounds just like headgaskets; sorry!
at our shop a head gasket set runs about 1500.

 

[boris]

Sounds just like headgaskets; sorry!

at our shop a head gasket set runs about 1500.

When headgasket failed on my 2001 Forester, the dealer charged almost $3000
to get it fixed. I didn't care, because I had extended warranty at the
time - I only had to pay $100.
But it's interesting that prices can vary so much (for the same fix).

bORIS

 

[S.Hansen]

When headgasket failed on my 2001 Forester, the dealer charged almost
$3000 to get it fixed. I didn't care, because I had extended warranty at
the time - I only had to pay $100.
But it's interesting that prices can vary so much (for the same fix).

bORIS

Depends on what the dealer "sells" our cost is a basic remove, clean and
reassemble- this is what most rubies need. BUT you may need the head
resurfaced if it has warp over 2 thousahths of a inch- that's more. then IF
they are doing something with the valves....