Updated posting: 96 Outback-overheating problem

R

RAJP53

I poted an earlier message that the temp. gauge on my 160k miles '96 Outback is
suddenly showing hot. There are times that cold air comes out instead of hot.
The thermostat, the radiator and the sensor were all changed. It still reads
between the middle and way beyond "H". There is no reduction in performance
but still cold air comes out. The engine does not overheat and smoke. The
mechanic showed me on a laser pointer thermometer that the engine temp is 229
degrees with the radiator as 140 degrees. He says that's all normal. The
mechanic now says it may be the gauge. Would that be the case even with the
cold air. Any ideas? Pete D. suggested that ir may be an air bubble, and that
the cooling system needs to be bled. He added that it happens because the
heater radiator (or did he mean the heater core?) is mounted so high in the
dash. The mechanic claimes that it was bled, but still the gauge goes up. (how
can I check if he did bleed it?) However no smoke, no loss in performance. The
engine and radiator are still running at temperatures noted earlier. Should I
ignore the gauge or not? Could it be something else? Thanks for the time and
ideas. Happy holidays to all! Ric
 
I'm thinking that there is air in the cooling system and since the heater
core is high you may have air in the core or it is full of crud and blocked.
I would first try to purge any air from the system. If that doesn't work
then back-flush the heater core. If that doesn't work and you want heat then
replace the heater core. eddie
 
Is the water pump working? With the radiator cap off, start the engine. When
the engine gets hot enough for the thermostat to open, you should see the
antifreeze "flowing" through the radiator via the top radiator hose. You can
rev the engine at the carb and watch it speed up with the engine speed.
Normally if the water pump isn't working you'd be overheating though.

--
Richard Sobe
I poted an earlier message that the temp. gauge on my 160k miles '96 Outback
is
suddenly showing hot. There are times that cold air comes out instead of
hot.
The thermostat, the radiator and the sensor were all changed. It still
reads
between the middle and way beyond "H". There is no reduction in performance
but still cold air comes out. The engine does not overheat and smoke. The
mechanic showed me on a laser pointer thermometer that the engine temp is
229
degrees with the radiator as 140 degrees. He says that's all normal. The
mechanic now says it may be the gauge. Would that be the case even with the
cold air. Any ideas? Pete D. suggested that ir may be an air bubble, and
that
the cooling system needs to be bled. He added that it happens because the
heater radiator (or did he mean the heater core?) is mounted so high in the
dash. The mechanic claimes that it was bled, but still the gauge goes up.
(how
can I check if he did bleed it?) However no smoke, no loss in performance.
The
engine and radiator are still running at temperatures noted earlier. Should
I
ignore the gauge or not? Could it be something else? Thanks for the time
and
ideas. Happy holidays to all! Ric
 
Is the water pump working? With the radiator cap off, start the engine. When
the engine gets hot enough for the thermostat to open, you should see the
antifreeze "flowing" through the radiator via the top radiator hose. You can
rev the engine at the carb and watch it speed up with the engine speed.
Normally if the water pump isn't working you'd be overheating though.


--
Richard Sobe
I poted an earlier message that the temp. gauge on my 160k miles '96 Outback
is
suddenly showing hot. There are times that cold air comes out instead of
hot.
The thermostat, the radiator and the sensor were all changed. It still
reads
between the middle and way beyond "H". There is no reduction in performance
but still cold air comes out. The engine does not overheat and smoke. The
mechanic showed me on a laser pointer thermometer that the engine temp is
229
degrees with the radiator as 140 degrees. He says that's all normal. The
mechanic now says it may be the gauge. Would that be the case even with the
cold air. Any ideas? Pete D. suggested that ir may be an air bubble, and
that
the cooling system needs to be bled. He added that it happens because the
heater radiator (or did he mean the heater core?) is mounted so high in the
dash. The mechanic claimes that it was bled, but still the gauge goes up.
(how
can I check if he did bleed it?) However no smoke, no loss in performance.
The
engine and radiator are still running at temperatures noted earlier. Should
I
ignore the gauge or not? Could it be something else? Thanks for the time
and
ideas. Happy holidays to all! Ric
 
Maybe I should give up. The cooling system was bled, including the heater
core. However, the gauge still runs up to beyond "H" after staying steady at
the middle. The car ran in the stuck "H" plus position for over an hour in
bumper-to-bumper traffic. When I finally shut the car off, I had some smoke
coming from the engine. Maybe its worse that I thought? I am bringing it back
to a mechanic tomorrow, but I'd like to know what to expect. Thanks for the
attention and replies.
 

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