Subaru Overheating at 150k to 200k Question Answered 

The reservoir hose: It expands and loses the ability to transfer coolant to and from the reservoir and radiator, causing the radiator to lose coolant, causing overheating, causing the head gasket leaking, causing oil to enter the radiator. Symptoms are a weird loss of coolant. Replace the hose with a tighter fitting silicone hose. Observe coolant level. No loss means problem is fixed.

If I ever buy a Subaru, it will because I can always get your help to fix it. Thanks Brian for all your posts.

7.18.22. Check when the water pump was last changed. I’ve seen a worn out impeller cause just this issue! It will not circulate coolant in enough volume to cool the engine, especially when outside temperatures are high⚠️

I found where the coolant tank recovery hose go’s under the top radiator hose gets VAPOR LOCKED . Insulating this little hose from they heat affects of the top radiator hose helped immensely *

Thank you brotha. This is exactly what's been happening with my 2011 legacy 2.5L with 200k miles, drilling a few 3/16 holes in the thermostat has fixed the problem. Car ain't worth a head gasket job but it runs for now. If it helps anybody my symptom was after a water pump job, the car would flow coolant at idle okay, but when driving it would overheat badly. When I tried to burp the system, if I revved to 2500rpm, coolant would come spurting like crazy out of the cap of the radiator, well beyond typical bubbles. Probably exhaust gasses in the cooling system.

My 2010 2.5 head gaskets went again at 450 km, I was in denial and replaced everything in the cooling system. Anyway drilling the holes in the flange of the thermostat does work as short term fix. I went from only able to go a few minutes then overheat to almost able to drive the car normally. Just remember to check coolant in rad each day though.

2020 Legacy with 105,000 miles. Maintenance only except one item which Subaru repaired at no cost to me. Amazing car with great company backup……if ever needed.

My 2011 Outback 2.5L had the head gaskets replaced at 83k miles due to overheating. Overheated on 3 separate occasions and puked coolant out of the overflow tank. Combustion gasses were being pushed in the cooling system and creating air pockets that stopped coolant flow. I also had black flakes in the overflow tank. The 2010-12 models have a different head gasket design than the earlier models and are MLS, but they still fail.

Getting right to the point is a good thing....

Glad I’m not the only one who finds FB to be incredibly irritating. It’s borderline unusable, but ever since Craigslist started charging for their car ads, it’s about the only thing we’re left with. The site is trash and Meta is a terrible company.

Just changed an aftermarket water pump (with similar hot engine symptoms) after 14k miles on my 300k+ outback w/ original engine components. Pump was cavitating creating a look-a-like head gasket problem. IMO the EJ25D does not like aftermarket components.

Hi my name is Victor I have a 2011 Subaru Outback 3.6 I replaced the radiator water pump radiator cap thermostat I remove the thermostat put the car gets overheated only when I'm driving it while it's parked it's fine only when I drive it it gets overheated and it starts bubbling what can that be

A lot of thermostats do have that bleeder hole in them already, often with a tiny rivet loose in the hole. Yes bigger ones help, but here it is a prime candidate for radiator stop leak, which is what Subaru does at the 60 000km mark as part of the service. That likely also contributed to the radiator blocking, you need to run it for a few hours to get nice and hot, leave to cool down, then flush the radiator system again with water, run to warm, drain then fill up with antifreeze. Have to get the unused stuff out before it clogs up everything. Preferably bypass the heater hoses while doing this, or it will clog.

I did a coolent system pressure test and found no head gasket leakage. I am tracking it to the fans. They work when a/c is on but will not come on normal. Changed thermostat. Sensors next..

So I'm currently dealing with just this. Except I have already put two holes in thermostat which I also tested to make sure it opens. Waterpump is new and so is thermostat. It was flowing I believe when idling because bottom hose was hot. Took it a mile down the road and overheated, bottom hose is cool.....also has new head gaskets

The Bottom hose should feel just as hot as the Top one? What's the point in having a radiator then.

Help! My 2010 Outback 2.5L. Overheat light came on. Lower radiator hose was not hot. Replaced thermostat and no change. Removed, tested thermostat in pot of boiling water, which opened at about 210 degrees. Installed. Same issue. I "burped it" and the lower hose is still cold. Next step? Should I try drilling the vent holes in the thermostat? Other suggestions?

I just watched your video and am a bit confused. You said that drilling little holes in the thermostat to relieve the pressure would help, but you are showing a radiator cap while discussing this. Should the holes be drilled in the thermostaat, or in the radiator cap?

This video really saved my butt. Will NEVER get a Subaru or recomend one, and I thought they were good little cars. They are complete junk once something fails. They are literally disposable. It costs somewhere between $900 and $1800 to change a $50 water pump, because you have to disassemble the whole front of the motor, change all of the bearings, pulleys, pump, seals, tensioner, etc.... Had to pick up a $300 kit, and wasn't going to pay a mechanic $900 to install it. Fortunately, I can return it. It's the head gasket exactly as this video describes. Had all of these symptoms, and I had already tried the thermostat and cap. Fortunately, I found this video before going to the water pump. I really felt that it was not the pump. I hollowed out one of the thermostats, and problem solved, proving it's the head gasket. I am just wondering how much longer it will last now. The car is not worth the cost of the repair. for anyone else considering it, it would cost more to change a head gasket then to pick up a whole crate motor, and the gasket cannot be changed without pulling the motor. There are't traditional heads on the motor. It's a POS motor, with the head out the side. A total cluster fk of a car.

Im having the same issue with a freshly rebuilt Ej22 from a pro shop. I've been burping the system Non-Stop and could not get the thermostat to open until I drilled a few tiny holes around it. it's just past the 500-mile break-in temps will run up to 210 on the highway. its making bubbling noises when i shut it down. is it possible the new head gasket is failing?

Hi Brian, my 2011 Outback with 127k miles started to overheat. My uncle who’s a mechanic says it’s burning coolant. He thinks I need a new engine. Do you have any other things to check first before I finance a new engine? Any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated!

i had overheating prob with my 2002 leg wagon i replaced the radiator and bought a new cap...........i am glad i kept the orig subaru radiator cap that was the prob the new one i bought caused the overheating ...no probs now

I'm not an auto mechanic but if you clicked on my name, you might think differently but you would be wrong. I have a 40K mile 07 EZ30 engine in a scratch-built mid-engine car. Because of a remote radiator location at the front of the car, the pump has to move much more coolant than in the original car. With high pressure created on one side of the pump and low pressure on the other side, can that pump move a higher volume of coolant? I actually have two engines in it, and both are plumbed to the same radiator, but the second engine isn't running so there is stagnant coolant in it's lines. I always thought "A" thermostat allowed water OUT of the engine and into the radiator. Are you saying that on All the Subaru engines that the thermostat allows coolant to go INTO the engine from the radiator, which allows a flow of coolant out of the top of the engine and into the radiator? I have three high spots in the system where I can bleed air out of the hoses and radiator which is much lower than the engine but the hoses pitch down from it. When I ran the engine, it got hot, but I never felt the radiator getting warm. This engine sat around for years in an unheated garage with no coolant in it. Could the thermostat have rusted in the closed position to prevent the flow of coolant? Might there be too much coolant for the pump to move? I'm hoping it is something other than the thermostat because it is in a very hidden location with the custom exhaust in place and I have no lift. Thanks. You're confused, right?

The factory Subaru thermostats are trash and last 40k miles. Then they get stuck open or closed. Takes too long to heatup, or resavoir overflows.

Head gaskets and skipped timing belt. Easter weekend pull the engine with a come a long. Make belt tool. Do the cv joints trans and diff. Drive to work Monday morning. Ez if you take no time to pee see.

I broke my Driver Side Oil Sensor Housing on a 07 Subaru Forester 2.5 sohc. Would you please do a video on Everything about This problem????.. I wish more people knew the danger of cracking your block.

So drilling the thermostat is a fix or just a test to help diagnose the problem??

I love that truck, I have a 2003. What is that red thing wrapped in electrical tape on the left side of the battery? I'll dig through your channel for an answer when I have more time.

I have a 99 legacy outback with 161xxx miles and it drives good for 30 to 45 min then it heats up. I put coolant in about once a week but not much. My heater doesn’t work. Cold air comes out. I bought the thermostat but the 2 bolts are stripped.

Maaaaaannnnnn, I just replace my thermostat on my daughter's 2010 OBW. Still overheated.

That was good info. Thanks

Great video, thanks

Please, write me what i have to do expertly.. because my english is still bad..

Some thermostats come with holes if I'm not mistaken?

why not just replace the thermostat?

HEY THERE. I'm hoping you can give me some advice and point me in the right direction. I own a 2015 forester auto 2.5l limited model. Lately after driving it (regular trip to and from work about 40 mins one way) I've noticed it to be really warm / hot and a slight hot coolant smell. I haven't seen the fans kick on when idling in my driveway after the drive home and the top rad hose is super hot but lower hose not at all just warm (from engine I would guess). Do you think I have a thermostat issue? What would be my best bet trying to figure this out. Would greatly appreciate you input. 2 different subaru dealers have told me they rarely vs never replaced one. Makes me second guess doing the job but looks like an easy job to do and not very pricy. At least it would eliiminate one possible cause of my heat issue. Sounds like this could be my problem. Wondering about Rad itself. Seems to be in great shape by looking at it. This is my wifes vehicle and she is a stay at home mom so doesn't use it very much. Any help advice is welcome. Thanks

Smells like classic Subaru head gasket to me. :(

I miss your Subaru vids😢

I have a 2002 subaru wrx ej20 2.0 and I’m having overheating problems because it don’t overheat just idling it just overheat when you drive it is there any way you can help me

Always burp your Subaru.

I have a 2011 WRX car over heats the resivor fills up to the top. no leaks I changed the thermostat burped the system but I keep getting air into the system some how

What if it overheats at 84.000 miles???

I have a overheating problem and my upper radiator hose is warm and the lower is cold….what could be the problem?

My Subaru 2002 outback 2.5. I can drive 3-4 miles the temp gauge runs normally then suddenly jumps up into the red. I don't have any leaks. It doesn't jump up if I push the car to 3-4k revs. There's no boiling or steam. If I run the AC On hot the temp gauge eventually stabilizes and I can continue to drive normally. Any help appreciated. Thanks.

Hi i got exactly the same symptoms on my '06 2.5i outback minus the overheating. The coolant just burst through the radiator cap(I did change it twice) on city driving mostly! Can anybody help pls? Thanks in advance.

I On a H6 cooling system

First! 😁

Do not buy subaru over 2013

Whah the f***

This video @3:10 "Burp an Overheating Subaru After Service" March 11, 2015 That video @ 5:00

Best advice: Don't buy a Subaru.

atoyot😂😂😂😂