
When pressure cycling occurs, coolant is forced by the radiator into the reservoir. Over time, pressure cycling can wear down the components of a cooling system.
#Subaru coolant reservoir full#
The old fashioned solution for cases like these would consist of soap and hosed water at low pressure, but today it’s wiser to visit a technician for debris removal, or perform a full radiator flush using a proven solution. When any kind of dirt or debris gets lodged between the radiator and A/C condenser, it hampers air flow. Despite the fact that most original equipment (OE) coolants are formulated to last beyond the 100k mileage mark, the anti–electrolytic additives can degrade and cause corrosion within the radiator. As with other vehicles manufactured overseas, clogs can easily form in the cooling tubes of Subaru radiators due to very thin cross-sections. If your Subaru overheats out on freeways and while driving up hills, it’s likely due to a lack of coolant flow to the radiator.
#Subaru coolant reservoir code#
If the car has ‘thrown a code,’ then it means the ECU has detected something awry and has logged a code so that techs can begin diagnosis. The codes give a very accurate, high-level picture of the engine’s condition. Today’s cars are basically rolling computers, and the ECU will ‘throw a code’ if it detects something is wrong with the engine. A code reader is essentially an embedded computer (called the ECU, or Electonic Control Unit) module that a dealership uses to scan the engine for ‘diagnostic’ codes so they can see what’s wrong at a glance. Either way, a fan can be diagnosed with the use of a code reader. By way of contrast, in domestically made applications, fan speeds are activated by the powertrain control module. With applications made abroad - including parts made by the Japanese automaker - the speed of the cooling fan is controlled by a pulse–modulated fan motor. Cooling Problems Due to Fan FailureĪs with most vehicles, if a Subaru overheats while being driven at slow speeds, it’s likely a failure of the cooling fan to power up completely.

Fortunately, it’s possible to keep your Subaru in good driving condition as long as you have the proper information, perform the needed maintenance and keep reputable stop–leak products on hand should the need arise. Such has been the case with Subaru 2.5L models, which are known for cooling system issues. Unfortunately, such problems are hard to identify, they’re costly to repair. Sometimes, however, things go awry, and a car experiences cooling problems that make it difficult - if not outright dangerous or impossible - to continue driving. Transmission Stop Leak Concentrate (1420).

Power Steering Stop Leak Concentrate (1630).Oil Seal Engine Oil Burning & Leak Repair (OS-1).Heavy Duty Rear Main Seal Repair (1040).Engine Oil Stop Leak Concentrate (1010).Pelletized Heavy Duty Stop Leak (PLT11).Radiator Stop Leak 2X Concentrate (1194).Check the radiator cap valve opening pressure using a radiator cap tester to ensure the cap is within specification (refer to the applicable Subaru service manual).Using clean water and a brush, thoroughly clean the valve (inner and outer surface) and the valve seal surface.Manually open the negative pressure valve.Note: A used toothbrush that has been cleaned works great. Using clean water and a brush, thoroughly clean the cap seal surface.Note: If replacing the cap, skip to Step 2. If there is an excessive amount of debris or the sealing rubber on the cap appears to be pitted or damaged, replace the cap. If this is not done completely, remaining debris may result in a repeat issue.

The important part is the thorough cleaning of the negative pressure valve. Radiator Cap Cleaning: Many caps can be successfully cleaned. The shorter coolant reservoir tank hose was used in production as shown in Chart 1.ġ. In order to correct the condition you need to clean (and test) or replace the radiator cap, clean out the reservoir tank, and slightly shorten the hose, following the below repair procedure. If this condition continues over time, there will not be enough coolant in the system to maintain proper engine temperature. This causes the radiator cap not to seal, allowing excessive amount of coolant to escape overflowing the reservoir tank. If there is debris that settles to the bottom of the reservoir tank, the hose is low enough to also suck debris back into radiator.
