OK, I'm stumped...(97 Legacy Wagon overheating)

[Scott Dorsey]

I ain't that lucky...

What it appears to be is, not only do I have a blown headgasket, but
perhaps the radiator is blocked, too...

I am surprised that nobody has pointed out that one of the side effects of
those nifty sealing powders is the occasional radiator blockage.
--scott

 

[Tim B]

I've read ALL of this thread - whew! Well, here's what happened to me years
ago. I had a 1972 Corvette that had a VERY similar problem. After checking
and double checking everything I could think of, I pulled the new waterpump
I had installed a few weeks earlier. Turned out that the pump impeller was
not tight on the shaft - the pulley was driving the pump impeller shaft as
it should, but the impeller was only turning at, who knows, half speed?
quarter speed? So especially at highway speeds or under load, it would
overheat. At low load or idle, no problem. Well, there's my two cents
worth.

I had the same water pump impeller problem with a 1965 Plymouth. To the
original poster: Have you pulled the water pump and checked it?

 

[Fred Sanford]

I am surprised that nobody has pointed out that one of the side effects of
those nifty sealing powders is the occasional radiator blockage.
--scott
--

Right on target there Scott....
"Bar's Stop-leak" is a known radiator destroyer

 

[hachiroku]

I am surprised that nobody has pointed out that one of the side effects of
those nifty sealing powders is the occasional radiator blockage.
--scott

I didn't use a powder, I used this:

http://www.barsproducts.com/1100.htm

I called them beofre I even cracked the bottle with the same concern. The
woman who asnswered the phone said get ALL the antifreeze out. Flush it,
and drain it and flush it again. It has to be absolutely clear water
coming out of the cooling system.

I used it with much success on another Subaru, but I guess this one must
be too far gone...

 

[hachiroku]

I had the same water pump impeller problem with a 1965 Plymouth. To the
original poster: Have you pulled the water pump and checked it?

Nah...

On the '89 Suby it's a good old fashioned on-the-fan pump.

I think the '97 is at the timing belt, IIRC...

One thing I think people are missing: There *IS* exhaust gas in the
radiator. When I had it inspected the guy stuck the 'sniffer' in the
radiator filler neck and when we revved the engine hydrocarbons went way
up...