Overheating issue [updated: pictures]

[bass_straitener]

Now that there have been a few cases of HGs going, does this seem to be only occurring a lot in the factory fitted HGs?

Nothing wrong with the factory fitted head gaskets, or the factory head studs, if you're running the factory boost and fueling and timing etc.

But you're running a tuned car with 40%more boost, on average, slightly leaner fuel mixtures for added temps, more timing for most likely more cylinder pressure. These condition are not ideal for the factory parts.

[BlackSTI]

Nothing wrong with the factory fitted head gaskets, or the factory head studs, if you're running the factory boost and fueling and timing etc.

But you're running a tuned car with 40%more boost, on average, slightly leaner fuel mixtures for added temps, more timing for most likely more cylinder pressure. These condition are not ideal for the factory parts.

Unfortunately I got the stock HGs / studs put in, my mechanic didn't suggest otherwise and it was too late to change after seeing the suggestions on here.

I guess if it happens again (Lets hope not), I will try aftermarket alternatives...

[bigBADbenny]

I've already begun research good value rebuilds for 2.5T's so I thought I'd start a thread on the subject.
If I have to do it I want to DIY as much as possible and absolutely maximize bang for buck.

[TomTom]

I hope it's an easy and cheap fix Daniel. Sounds like a recent curse has been hitting these ones... Dropping mine off tomorrow, I'll be having a good chat to the mechanic and will report back in with whats going on. Funny thing is my reservoir went back down to normal levels today, although I didn't drive it for long it was looking ok. Reading some other forums and all around the intewebz talking about a design flaw in the Subaru head gaskets (probably already known by most here), definitely will be considering something like Cosworth/Cometic.

Here are some pics of my dirty ass overflow & bubbling
http://imgur.com/gYGRJJ3,eegXexp#0

Crap those pics looks very similar to mine...!! Fuck I don't want a head gasket ATM ..... Wanna buy a bigger house and this was not supposed to happen for another 3 years..!!! Mine will be ok, it's just a hose, it's just a hose.

Where are you taking your car to Tom??

I took it back to the same place at Blacktown (don't kill me people). Got a call, spent a good 20 minutes on the phone going over everything and discussing different things essentially everything that people have mentioned here I made sure to ask about. To cut it short he believes there are no direct signs leading to the head-gasket, he replaced the radiator caps (I know I'm going to hear about it after typing this) with new ones after he got a reading of 80kpa (I think that's the measurement he mentioned /kpa) to ones at 100kpa. He called Subaru to discuss the rating that should be used and ended up getting 130kpa from them. Thermostat is functioning normally.

Just wondering what the stock caps read at?

(some of this may of been lost in translation, thanks to my lack of knowledge and head working overtime)

I'm satisfied with all the answers I got from him, he said he want's to eliminate all the potential smaller causes before going deeper especially considering there isn't a sign leading directly to the headgasket. Car's staying overnight and he will re-do diagnostics again once the new cap comes over from Subaru.

Also my subie doesn't have any performance mods.

It may sound stupid buying a performance vehicle with not much knowledge overall with cars BUT I did so with the intent to learn as much as possible and make it a real project (which i've been doing, having this issue has made me kick it into overdrive and do hours of late night reading and research) appreciate all the comments.

[dr20t]

Not your fault at all mate

Sounds like your mechanic is a decent guy with good intentions but not enough knowledge about the "performance" subies to get things done right

Thus why you should take it to a specialist

[jaydece]

Not your fault at all mate

Sounds like your mechanic is a decent guy with good intentions but not enough knowledge about the "performance" subies to get things done right

Thus why you should take it to a specialist

HERE HERE....

[Boostaddict]

I hope it's an easy and cheap fix Daniel. Sounds like a recent curse has been hitting these ones... Dropping mine off tomorrow, I'll be having a good chat to the mechanic and will report back in with whats going on. Funny thing is my reservoir went back down to normal levels today, although I didn't drive it for long it was looking ok. Reading some other forums and all around the intewebz talking about a design flaw in the Subaru head gaskets (probably already known by most here), definitely will be considering something like Cosworth/Cometic.

Here are some pics of my dirty ass overflow & bubbling
http://imgur.com/gYGRJJ3,eegXexp#0

Crap those pics looks very similar to mine...!! Fuck I don't want a head gasket ATM ..... Wanna buy a bigger house and this was not supposed to happen for another 3 years..!!! Mine will be ok, it's just a hose, it's just a hose.

Where are you taking your car to Tom??

I took it back to the same place at Blacktown (don't kill me people). Got a call, spent a good 20 minutes on the phone going over everything and discussing different things essentially everything that people have mentioned here I made sure to ask about. To cut it short he believes there are no direct signs leading to the head-gasket, he replaced the radiator caps (I know I'm going to hear about it after typing this) with new ones after he got a reading of 80kpa (I think that's the measurement he mentioned /kpa) to ones at 100kpa. He called Subaru to discuss the rating that should be used and ended up getting 130kpa from them. Thermostat is functioning normally.

Just wondering what the stock caps read at?

(some of this may of been lost in translation, thanks to my lack of knowledge and head working overtime)

I'm satisfied with all the answers I got from him, he said he want's to eliminate all the potential smaller causes before going deeper especially considering there isn't a sign leading directly to the headgasket. Car's staying overnight and he will re-do diagnostics again once the new cap comes over from Subaru.

Also my subie doesn't have any performance mods.

It may sound stupid buying a performance vehicle with not much knowledge overall with cars BUT I did so with the intent to learn as much as possible and make it a real project (which i've been doing, having this issue has made me kick it into overdrive and do hours of late night reading and research) appreciate all the comments.

Mate no stupid comments here all good, we are all here for learning that's what it's all about.

I would take it down to NRG in Rydalmere. That's where I'm taking my car on Thursday to get my problems looked at.

Nick has been my mechanic for 10yrs and he is a soobie specialist for the past 20+ years!! He is BRUTALLY honest tho!!

Let me know if u want his details.!

Dan

[TomTom]

Mate no stupid comments here all good, we are all here for learning that's what it's all about.

I would take it down to NRG in Rydalmere. That's where I'm taking my car on Thursday to get my problems looked at.

Nick has been my mechanic for 10yrs and he is a soobie specialist for the past 20+ years!! He is BRUTALLY honest tho!!

Let me know if u want his details.!

Dan

Yeah may as well PM me the details, Ill be picking my car back up tomorrow. Was told he isn't 100% positive but the build up doesn't look like oil, it's something else. Mentioned that sometimes there's a metallic paint on head gaskets which may of caused the buildup in the reservoir. I mean well see how it goes, ill drive in to work tomorrow and probably organize a time at NRG.

[Manaz]

Yeah may as well PM me the details, Ill be picking my car back up tomorrow. Was told he isn't 100% positive but the build up doesn't look like oil, it's something else. Mentioned thy sometimes there's a metallic paint on head gaskets which may of caused the buildup in the reservoir. I mean well see how it goes, ill drive in to work tomorrow and probably organise a time at NRG.

Oil isn't the only thing that gets into the coolant if you have a head gasket failure. You'll get unburned fuel (the pressure of compression will push fuel through the gasket into the coolant) as well as waste products from the combustion process.

If you're Sydney based, NRG are in Rydalmere (relatively close to Homebush): https://www.nrgauto.com.au/. Their address and phone number are on there.

Another option for in Sydney (further west, they're at Eastern Creek): Garage 88: http://www.garage88.com.au

If you're closer to the central coast, MSR: http://www.msengineering.com.au/

[Boostaddict]

Yeah may as well PM me the details, Ill be picking my car back up tomorrow. Was told he isn't 100% positive but the build up doesn't look like oil, it's something else. Mentioned thy sometimes there's a metallic paint on head gaskets which may of caused the buildup in the reservoir. I mean well see how it goes, ill drive in to work tomorrow and probably organise a time at NRG.

Oil isn't the only thing that gets into the coolant if you have a head gasket failure. You'll get unburned fuel (the pressure of compression will push fuel through the gasket into the coolant) as well as waste products from the combustion process.

If you're Sydney based, NRG are in Rydalmere (relatively close to Homebush): https://www.nrgauto.com.au/. Their address and phone number are on there.

Another option for in Sydney (further west, they're at Eastern Creek): Garage 88: http://www.garage88.com.au

If you're closer to the central coast, MSR: http://www.msengineering.com.au/

+1...^^^ Manaz..... Nice work!!

[TomTom]

Yeah may as well PM me the details, Ill be picking my car back up tomorrow. Was told he isn't 100% positive but the build up doesn't look like oil, it's something else. Mentioned thy sometimes there's a metallic paint on head gaskets which may of caused the buildup in the reservoir. I mean well see how it goes, ill drive in to work tomorrow and probably organise a time at NRG.

Oil isn't the only thing that gets into the coolant if you have a head gasket failure. You'll get unburned fuel (the pressure of compression will push fuel through the gasket into the coolant) as well as waste products from the combustion process.

If you're Sydney based, NRG are in Rydalmere (relatively close to Homebush): https://www.nrgauto.com.au/. Their address and phone number are on there.

Another option for in Sydney (further west, they're at Eastern Creek): Garage 88: http://www.garage88.com.au

If you're closer to the central coast, MSR: http://www.msengineering.com.au/

Thanks, just picked my car up. They tried clearing a lot of the gunk in the reservoir and replaced the radiator cap to a higher 1.2bar, the gunk made it's way into the radiator and created a build up on the previous cap. Anyway... I drove it for a solid hour and noticed the smell again, sure enough same issue still happening. Just called NRG and I'll be dropping it off this afternoon. At least my mechanic didn't charge me for the latest visit, he was certain it wasn't an engine/head gasket problem.

Let us know how you end up with yours Dan.

[Boostaddict]

Yeah may as well PM me the details, Ill be picking my car back up tomorrow. Was told he isn't 100% positive but the build up doesn't look like oil, it's something else. Mentioned thy sometimes there's a metallic paint on head gaskets which may of caused the buildup in the reservoir. I mean well see how it goes, ill drive in to work tomorrow and probably organise a time at NRG.

Oil isn't the only thing that gets into the coolant if you have a head gasket failure. You'll get unburned fuel (the pressure of compression will push fuel through the gasket into the coolant) as well as waste products from the combustion process.

If you're Sydney based, NRG are in Rydalmere (relatively close to Homebush): https://www.nrgauto.com.au/. Their address and phone number are on there.

Another option for in Sydney (further west, they're at Eastern Creek): Garage 88: http://www.garage88.com.au

If you're closer to the central coast, MSR: http://www.msengineering.com.au/

Thanks, just picked my car up. They tried clearing a lot of the gunk in the reservoir and replaced the radiator cap to a higher 1.2bar, the gunk made it's way into the radiator and created a build up on the previous cap. Anyway... I drove it for a solid hour and noticed the smell again, sure enough same issue still happening. Just called NRG and I'll be dropping it off this afternoon. At least my mechanic didn't charge me for the latest visit, he was certain it wasn't an engine/head gasket problem.

Let us know how you end up with yours Dan.

Well have a read of my update.!!!

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=22537&start=15

[TomTom]

That's just a little shit Dan.

Dropped mine off at NRG around 5, spent a good 30min chatting to Nick. His pretty sure it's a head gasket but will get back to me tomorrow. I figured ill get the major service done while they've got it all apart, can anyone source a cheap and fast supplier of the Cosworth head gasket .78mm and ARP studs? I'd love to save some mula as he mentioned his happy for me todo this if Subaru quote a higher price.

Assuming I'm safe with Cosworth and ARP, I've done some reading and will a bit more but suggestions are welcome!

Also Are timing belts pretty standard?

[Boostaddict]

That's just a little shit Dan.

Dropped mine off at NRG around 5, spent a good 30min chatting to Nick. His pretty sure it's a head gasket but will get back to me tomorrow. I figured ill get the major service done while they've got it all apart, can anyone source a cheap and fast supplier of the Cosworth head gasket .78mm and ARP studs? I'd love to save some mula as he mentioned his happy for me todo this if Subaru quote a higher price.

Assuming I'm safe with Cosworth and ARP, I've done some reading and will a bit more but suggestions are welcome!

Also Are timing belts pretty standard?

Yeh i thought you would be happy with him. He is very much no bullshit tho, thats why i like him. And after seeing him today it reninds me why i trust what he does. Its also reassuring that when u rock up there is subaru's everywhere.!!

I think you can get the gaskets from celtic motorsport or carmods australia.

[jaydece]

That's just a little shit Dan.

Dropped mine off at NRG around 5, spent a good 30min chatting to Nick. His pretty sure it's a head gasket but will get back to me tomorrow. I figured ill get the major service done while they've got it all apart, can anyone source a cheap and fast supplier of the Cosworth head gasket .78mm and ARP studs? I'd love to save some mula as he mentioned his happy for me todo this if Subaru quote a higher price.

Assuming I'm safe with Cosworth and ARP, I've done some reading and will a bit more but suggestions are welcome!

Also Are timing belts pretty standard?

Subaru Timing Belt Kit
Subaru Gasket / Seal Kit
ARP - pretty easy to source

Sources that come to mind
Car Mods
Tuspeed
G88
Celtic
Local store
Subaru Spares
NRG should be able to source the parts for you...