Overheating & Head Gasket (confirmed head gasket)

[MH3.0R]

Guys,

Appreciate the feedback. I do not think the problem is sorted just yet as last Wednesday (one day after the work done by Subaru) I decided to take the route back over Mt Dandenong from Ringwood instead of straight down Eastlink (hills vs flat) and I did notice the temp rising on the climbs to 100 and falling away to low 80s during the descents. It appears to me that there is insufficient flow to prevent the heat building up but eventually under low engine loads it comes back into the normal range.

I am wondering if the water pump needs to be looked at? Already done the Radiator and changed the Therostat. Going to rule out all the easier items before taking the heads off.

Anyway, I am going on the Baw Baw Bash on Monday and will get some good logs from the ECUdatascan

Mark.

[MH3.0R]

Update.

Been driving a while now after the flush and restoration of the standard coolant. Seems to be going ok, but then again, we are in the cooler months and just yesterday I did notice a slight rise in temp after a normal cruise at 100 kph, then a brief stop at the shops and then a short burst of quick acceleration saw the old problem again. Either there is still some residual junk in the system (maybe another flush will do it) or there is another problem.

Will a 10W40 engine oil (Also Redline) contribute to engine temperature issues? Also have a high quality particle oil filter from Trasco? Any observations or feedback?

Kind Regards,

Mark.

[Blaeven]

hey mate...
i haven't read all the posts in this thread, but i think i have the exact same problem...
find a long hill and drive up it in top gear with some constant load on the motor, that should make the temp guage go up... then put the clutch in, or put it in N and rev it past 4,000rpm and the temp guage should drop all the way back to normal...

if this happens to you, then i believe i have the same problem as you... constant load on the freeway etc causes it too...

i am under the impression that it's either a grounding issue (i'm going to make a grounding kit for my motor) or an issue with some kind of temparature sensor...

but i can tell you that while the guage is showing in the red, the engine isn't actually running that hot... (i have an aftermarket computer and have plugged a laptop in and check the ECT being sent to the ECU and it's within normal range (90-100 degrees))

if this is the same as your issue... please let me know and i'll keep you posted on any solutions i may find...

[MH3.0R]

Guys,

A confirmed diagnosis from STi@Docklands today, head gasket is blown on the drivers side, between teh cooling system and an exhaust valve.

They estimate between 3-4 K for the repairs and one week off the road.

Anyone got a good reference for Subaru head work in Melbourne area?

Kind Regards,

Mark.

[THERB3]

Far out Mark unlucky mate.

The only two third party places I know if you want to get prices would be on the western or northern side of town.

These two specialise in Subaru's only and have a reputation. If your keen give them a call and obtain a quote

Gotitrex
Aleck used to work at Subaru Docklands
P: 03 93180550
F: 03 93180770
E: sales@gotitrex.com.au
A: 79 Enterprise Way, Sunshine West. Vic Australia

or

Volks & Subaru Repairs
11 Earl St, AIRPORT WEST, VIC, 3042
Phone: (03) 9330 3455
Fax: (03) 9338 3373

[MH3.0R]

Harry,

Thanks for the leads. I will ask them for quotes.

Kind Regards,

Mark.

[3rspecb]

Mark,
Cromwood Auto Service (Burwood) & URD Automotive (wantirna) get great reports from Subaru WRX club members, they have been around for a long time servicing Subaru's.

You could also try AVO (Cheltenham), HPF (Dandenong).

Most of these workshops will outsource head work.

The below are a few places that get used regularly by WRX club members.

Subaru docklands & URD use Top Torque.

Top Torque Cylinder Heads & Engines
12 Beech St
Nunawading VIC 3131
(03) 9873 3800

Knight Engines
tony@knightengines.com
Unit 4/4 Byre Ave
Somerton Park SA 5044
Ph 08 8376 9540

BULLET CYLINDER HEADS
14-16 DUNDEE AVENUE
HOLDEN HILL SA 5088
AUSTRALIA
PHONE (+ 61 82618813
FAX (+ 61 82618813
EMAIL info@bulletcylinderheads.com.au

[MH3.0R]

Gents,

Thanks for your responses. Gives me a good lead in.

Finally got a replacement 3.0R radiator cap. They are unique, not like the WRX or any other Subaru. Had to order it in from Docklands and fitted late last week. It was not holding pressure and was borderline, so for $20, worth replacing just to see if it made any difference.

Well, it didn't! Looks like them heads got to come off.

Confirmed again the same symptoms. Outside air temp was 14 C, IAT was 17 C, run was done up the Leongatha road from Yarragon, nice twisty, 2nd - 3rd gear, revving between 3000 to 6000, temp started at 94 just out of Yarragon and then climbed to 105 C by half way up the hill and peaked a 111 C. Once on top of the hills, temp came back to 89-92 C and remaiined that way while cruising back to Leongatha and then Melbourne.

Hit the auto brushless carwash at Dandenong and while idling, the temp again peaked at 110 C. Soon as I got out of the carwash and up to 80 again, dropped back to 90 C. Stopped at the lights waiting, hit 110 C, as soon as I got going, dropped back to 89 C.

I am beginning to think there is a latent heat build up that the car just cannot dissapate. Could it be related to the auto oil cooler? I went looking for the auto transmission cooler the other day and could not spot it. Is it integrated into the radiator? I would think not as it was supposed to be fitted as part of the tow pack. Where should I be looking for this item?

Also noticed today, on auto upshift, that the temp drops very quickly, almost instantaneously (too quickly for coolant/engine). Could this be a flow related problem? Water pump not so good at high revs? Air pocket in the water pump? Could it be a temp sensor problem?

Anyway, I am frustrated with the problem now and will have the heads ripped off, head gaskets changed and look to doing water pump, seals and all hoses and clamps while it is off the road. Hope this will rid me of the problem. Car is booked in to STi@Docklands from 5th July for a week (all going well).

I will give you an update after that.

Kind Regards,

Mark.

[Blaeven]

uphill my temparature rises too... mine is a manual though, and it never seems to overheat if i get up it, so i didn't think it could be a head gasket issue with mine...
when you say "on auto upshift" you mean going from 2-3 or 3-2? because (mine being a manual) if i rev my car hard (past 5k) when the temp guage is up, it will drop again...

i've had my radiator replaced, and my coolant flushed twice, to no avail...
i was hoping that it was just an issue with a temp sensor and that it wasn't going to be something serious like a head gasket...

if i have to do my head gaskets, i'm going to be putting cometic ones on and doing my valve springs and retainers while the heads are off and the motor is out of the car...

[MH3.0R]

Blaeven,

When I said upshift, I meant from 2-3. Mine is a confirmed blown head gasket as I have identified the exhaust gas residue in the coolant. Car has the heads off as we speak and are currently undergoing crack testing and assessment for other works.

What is the adv and disadv of the cometic head gasket that you mentioned? Also, the springs and retainers, what is the value in doing such a mod for a NA H6?

Kind Regards,

Mark.

[Blaeven]

valve springs and retainers mean that the head will hold higher revs, i would like to see 8,000rpm from the ez30, seen as it's a short-stroke motor, and it seems to want to make power past 7000 (from dyno runs), i don't see it as being an issue... the only thing is that the stock valve springs are quite soft (on the exhaust side, the supertech replacements are 3x stiffer than factory)...

as far as the cometic gaskets are concerned, i wouldn't worry about them unless you're planning to boost your ez... like i am at some point...

(cometic is a brand that makes after market head gaskets... the ones for the ez30 are ~US$85 each +shipping...)

[MH3.0R]

Ok, so if your blowing the H6, then I can understand the need for the higher spring pressures if you are going to push into higher rev territory, and also understand the Cometic head gaskets. Good luck with the blow job!

[jdm rsk]

Any updates???

[MH3.0R]

They got the heads off on Monday and there was a blown head gasket confirmed between the exhaust port and the water jacket. Heads are in the process of crack testing (should be tomorrow) and I have requested they refurbish the valves, seats and guides while it is apart. Should be all done early next week.

Kind Regards,

Mark.

[Blaeven]

bump?