Special additive for cooling system?

[Tony Hwang]

Hi,
I got a mail today from Subaru saying they need to put in special
additive to the cooling system which will take 15 mins. of time.
What is this? Anyone got same mail?
Tony

 

[Ken Lyons]

I got a mail today from Subaru saying they need to put in special
additive to the cooling system which will take 15 mins. of time.
What is this? Anyone got same mail?

So the finally got around to you? I don't know what is in it, but it
miraculously extends the head gasket warranty to 100,000 miles. I have a
feeling it is nothing more than a Stop-Leak type of chemical.

 

[Edward Hayes]

Do it as your warranty goes to 8 years 100,000 miles and yes it took my
dealer about 15 minutes.

 

[Ed Fortmiller]

Hi,
I got a mail today from Subaru saying they need to put in special
additive to the cooling system which will take 15 mins. of time.
What is this? Anyone got same mail?
Tony

It is Subaru's fix for their leaking head gasket problem. They will no
longer pay under the warantee to replace the head gaskets unless the
additive fails to work. The offical Subaru name for this stuff is: Cooling
System Conditioner. Part number SOA635071. The cost is about $1.75. Much
cheaper for Subaru than having a mechanic replace head gaskets.

The stuff is likely the same as Holts Radweld. Container is the same shape,
same quantity (125 ml), same color (blue) container with a red cap, and even
has the HOLTS name near the bottom. Also says "Manufactured in England for
Subaru of America, Inc."

See: http://www.holtsauto.com/products/index.html

and look for Holts Radweld

--
Ed Fortmiller | (e-mail address removed) | Hudson MA
*
* To avoid getting a lot of SPAM junk mail, I have altered my REPLY-TO
* address. PLEASE remove the leading "RUBBISH" from my REPLY address.
* Any Email sent to the address without removing "RUBBISH" will
* automatically be discarded without me even seeing it.

 

[Jim]

Takes about 15 minutes? If one whose car was past
100K but has a very tiny weep of coolant visible wanted
to add this on ones own, do you know if the coolant
has to be new? It would seem not if they do it in
15 minutes. Although there is a tiny weep of coolant
visible near the bottom of my engine (I don't recall
where exactly, it was shown to me in connection
with diagnosing multiple oil leaks), I have never
had to add any coolant...the system is full and the
overflow tank has not dropped perceptibly.

Jim

 

[Mike]

The dealer replaced the head gaskets on my '01 back in December. I've
heard they try the sealer first now. I had the sealer added about a
month ago, also bought an extra bottle ($1.50) for when I flush the
system again.

Mike

 

[Henry Paul]

So in other words, they haven't fixed the head gasket problem yet?

 

[Marc]

You remove about 4 ounces of coolant then add the conditioner
(stop-leak)then run for a minimum of 15'. I personally would do it for
longer with the heat for the cabin on as well. You must do this each time
you change the coolant.

For the poster with over 100k, is your engine one of the earlier 2.5 SOHC
engines? Have you changed the t-Belt.

I would consider swapping my water pump at the same time.

Marc

 

[X-Eliminator]

I got a '99 Legacy 2.2 and I always see a little anti freeze weep on
the thermostat housing (right under the water pump) , but I never see
anti freeze spots on the garage floor.

=======================================================

 

[villager]

Two weeks ago our 2002 outback blew a head gasket at 38,000 miles. It was
an INTERNAL leak. Thankfully, it was covered under the regular warranty
and so we didn't have to pay for the repairs. But this does raise many
questiions and concerns. Since Subaru has been doing all the maintenance
on our car including summerizing an winterizing, how come they did not see
fit to put in the special coolant before this happened? (Or maybe they
did)They did after the head gasket job.

There is that 100,000 mile warranty but it is only available for outbacks
with specific VIN #'s. Ours did not meet that criteria. Also this
warranty only covers external leaks, not internal which our was. I am
incredulous with the coolant additive as a cure for this problem. We will
certainly be SOL if this happens again between 60-100,000. Why did Subaru
build such an engine. Is there any recourse? Did my trade-in value just
drop considerably because of this?

 

[Edward Hayes]

The coolant system conditioner is used to protect against EXTERNAL weepage
from headgaskets and NOT for internal leakage. I think ALL 2.5L SOHC engines
received the conditioner notice.

 

[villager]

So why wouldn't the coolant work for internal leaks as well as external
leaks? What would cause an internal leak that would require Subaru to
make such a distinction? As far as we know we did not put undo wear and
tear on this vehicle. As a matter of fact, this past year we parked the
car from mid-Aug till mid May because of where we live during those
months, there are no roads in town and no roads to town. We have to fly
in. We did drive it around during christmas break and once or twice
during the fall and in February when we were in the city. We do use it
during the summer for travel and taking care of business. That should not
have caused an "internally" blown head gasket.

 

[villager]

By the way, we never did receive notice about the conditioner.

 

[Edward Hayes]

Internally blown HG are caused by high combustion pressures of many hundreds
of pounds per square inch of pressure. External seepage is caused by coolant
pressure of on 15 lbs/sq inch

 

[Subbies Two]

x-no-archive: yes

By the way, we never did receive notice about the conditioner.

Are located in the USA? If so, make sure that you are listed as the
owner of record on the Subaru USA computer. If you have moved, they may
not have your correct address.

Does anyone know if this "service advisory" was sent out in other countries?

Ed: I was told by my service writer that this letter went to all owners
of 1999-2001 SOHC vehicles. And yes, it only covers external head gasket
leaks.

He also told me that this sealer is the "treatment of first resort" when
a customer comes in with an external coolant leak on all SOHC vehicles,
including those under warranty. If the sealer fails to cure the leak,
then they tear down the engine and replace the head gasket. However,
(under warranty) they only replace the gasket on the side that is
leaking......... leaving the owner to constantly wonder when the gasket
on the other side will fail, too.

 

[Nicolas Dore]

Does anyone know if this "service advisory" was sent out in other

countries?

It is not sent out in Canada. Had to call Subaru Canada to confirm it was
available and we don't get an extended warranty (yet)...

Nicolas

 

[Henry Paul]

Another thing you can do is let your car warm up for a minute or two in
those cold temps before you go roaring off. That will give the engine a
chance to adjust without a lot of stress on it.

 

[Rick Courtright]

in. We did drive it around during christmas break and once or twice
during the fall and in February when we were in the city. We do use it
during the summer for travel and taking care of business. That should not
have caused an "internally" blown head gasket.

Hi,

I had a long talk with my friend who owns a machine shop when I blew a
Toyota head gasket. In one of our cooler Februaries (SoCal, so it
doesn't get THAT cold!) He said the kind of use you describe is exactly
what causes a LOT of blown headgaskets, regardless of make.

His explanation was that colder weather causes much more
expansion/contraction of the heads, gaskets, etc., and what happens is
you go out one cold morning, fire up the engine when things are
contracted, therefore "looser" than usual, and probably blow the gasket
within a few blocks. He pretty much had my situation described
perfectly.

On the bright side, he also said if you surface the heads the first time
you blow a gasket, the chances of another blown gasket go WAY down. He
said that's cuz the metal has pretty much done its shape distorting
expansions and contractions--"cured" for lack of a better term--and now
will hold a flat surface better. Again, he described perfectly what I
experienced once the engine was buttoned back up.

Since the Subie engine has more aluminum than most, it stands to reason
perhaps there will be more "motion" of the metal in that engine,
especially in widely varying temps. It's anecdotal, of course, but my
Subie needs coolant about once a week during the winter, once every
coupla months once it gets warm and thru the summer.

Hope yours treats you well now that it's been fixed!

Rick

 

[John O]

I've been missing a few messages the last couple weeks, so I apologize if
this has been answered already...My '99 2.5l Outback wagon is well out of
warranty, and replacing a head gasket is the last friggin thing I need right
now. Should I get some of this additive as a precaution?

BTW, I just got this car in February. Looking at the engine closely, it's
been steam cleaned but there's some oil mess in places I wouldn't expect
from normal use and refill spillage. Almost like the gasket blew once and
it's been repaired already. Is that likely?

-John O

 

[Rick Courtright]

been steam cleaned but there's some oil mess in places I wouldn't expect

Hi,

Previously replaced gasket's a possibility, but considering the car's
five+ yrs old now, I'd also add valve cover gaskets, camshaft and front
main seals to the list of suspects. A lot of people don't do it, but
it's a good idea to replace these at each timing belt change.

A sluggish or clogged PCV valve may also cause some oil leakage at the
hose junctions. Take a quick look at the oil pressure sending unit, too.

Rick