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hey guys i suspect a leak in the head gasket or something along those lines.

while i was away my girlfriend said SportySu was getting hot on her trips to work. when i got back and had a look i found that the radiator fan fuse had blown (clutch fan has been removed) so i replaced the fuse and she went back to normal.

except the last couple weeks on longer trips 30 mins or so sometimes shorter the engine gets really warm and coolant will boil. its around 35-40 degrees most days up here in karratha WA

i am just wondering if its just a combination of 25.5" tyres and 35+ degrees heat that is putting to much stress on the engine.

or has the misses cooked it or a radiator problem?

any input will be apreciated cheers guys

Very hard to tell over the net but I'd recommend you have the radiator flushed out and put fresh (high quality) coolant back in there.

I'd also put the standard viscous fan back on or get a second small electric one that runs all the time, especially now you're coming into summer.

easiest to remove the thermostat to see if it is the cause by not opening enough. A stuck thermostat usually causes temps to ramp up real quick - within a km or so though.

steptoe wrote:easiest to remove the thermostat to see if it is the cause by not opening enough. A stuck thermostat usually causes temps to ramp up real quick - within a km or so though.

Good point Jonno

RSR 555 wrote:Very hard to tell over the net but I'd recommend you have the radiator flushed out and put fresh (high quality) coolant back in there.

I'd also put the standard viscous fan back on or get a second small electric one that runs all the time, especially now you're coming into summer.

I have an electric fan that runs all the time might need to get a more powerfull one. I'll also take out the thermostat it's never cold enough up here to use one anyway.

I did flush the radiator a. Couple months back when I swapped it from my old subi I probably didn't do it right tho.

I put high quality coolant in it didn't change much. I'll do the above and see how she goes!

Thanks guys

Maybe just look at putting a second fan in place?

I too work up here (usually off Karratha) and know warm it gets I think by removing the thermostat, you acually have the opposite effect. I find you end up running the engine hotter as the water is flowing too fast through the radiator and not having enough time to take the heat out of it. If you feel the need to not have a thermostat, the best thing to do is just cut the guts out of it but I really only do this if I know the radiator needs cleaning out.

Another thing to check is your heater core, as these get blocked very easily and don't allow the correct flow around the engine, so it may pay to have this flushed out too. I just run a hose flat out between the 2 hoses that go to the firewall and keep alternating back and forth until the water comes out clear.

Yeah I wouldnt remove the thermostat for exactly the reason Paul mentioned. Once its wide open it will have the optimum cooling as designed by Subaru. Take it out & test it in hot water to make sure it opens fully. Does anyone know the opening temp?

I'd give the radiator, engine & heater core a thorough flush in reverse directions until the water runs clear, then use Subaru coolant. (remember the water flows down the radiator & up the engine so flush the opposite)

You may need a larger fan, which will be more effective then 2 smaller ones, but do the flush 1st.