Overheating while moving only VERY strange

[mikescar]

Recently I had to clean up an oil leak on my Hybrid EJ22T/2.0 Dohc Motor. Everything went very smoothly and the car pulls harder than ever and runs great, EXCEPT its now over heating. Here's the symptoms

Water pump/Thermostat/Radiator Cap = 13k Miles on them
DOES NOT over heat when sitting still
DOES NOT have any problems cooling down once I stop
DOES NOT have a fan/relay problem they turn on right at 204
DOES NOT have a history of running hot (Ej22) in Vegas weather
DOES NOT have a leaking/weaping water pump

When I reinstalled the Thermostat from the Oil pump leak fix, I did not position the weep hole, or position it as I've seen a few threads. Could this cause my creep overheating problem?

The upper hose is very hot/firm to the touch when the car is running or off
The lower hose is only hot/firm to the touch when running, when off its cooler (Not cold, but cooler to the touch)

Temps Creep up from 195 to 220 and 240 with just normal driving and cruising around (In Vaccum). AFRs are lean at 16.5-18.0 when > 30% throttle. As soon as throttle is applied AFR's drop to 12.5-11.5 when the boost comes on. This has NO effect on my cooling, as the temps just creep up. Even when coasting down a long grade, out of gear, the car does not cool down, it heats up slowly.

I have tried to "Burp" the system many many times. I have been filling and messing with the cooling for 4 days now. Each time I think I've got it figured out, it still heats up. When burping some coolant over flows, some air comes out, but it never takes a substantial amount of coolant, maybe 1/2 a cup.

I am using a mix of Distiled water, Green coolant, and Water Wetter. Im running a PWR Alum Radiator, STI Radiator Cap, and Stock EJ22 Water Pump with Stock Thermostat. There is an STI coolant tank relocated with NO radiator cap on the radiator, and an overflow that is separate from the radiator, but is connected via the rubber hose that runs to the TOP Passenger side of the Radiator. There is also a Coolant line that runs to the turbo.

The temp gauge in the car sits in the middle of the 4 marks. On my PSI3 data sheet it shows the temps around 200, then they creep up to 210, then 220, and after that I shut it down and let it cool off.

Does this seem like a bad water pump? Im wondering about it, because ive had this issue before, on a few other types of motor's but this is the first subaru I've had problems with. The symptoms have me stumped.



MY questions;

Can installing the thermostat in the wrong clocking position cause this problem?

Can a water pump fail with out leaking/weeping ?

If I do have to do the water pump, is there any high flow EJ22 water pump/thermostat/radiator cap?

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[raw17050]

Originally Posted by mikescar

Recently I had to clean up an oil leak on my Hybrid EJ22T/2.0 Dohc Motor. Everything went very smoothly and the car pulls harder than ever and runs great, EXCEPT its now over heating. Here's the symptoms

Water pump/Thermostat/Radiator Cap = 13k Miles on them
DOES NOT over heat when sitting still
DOES NOT have any problems cooling down once I stop
DOES NOT have a fan/relay problem they turn on right at 204
DOES NOT have a history of running hot (Ej22) in Vegas weather
DOES NOT have a leaking/weaping water pump

When I reinstalled the Thermostat from the Oil pump leak fix, I did not position the weep hole, or position it as I've seen a few threads. Could this cause my creep overheating problem?

The upper hose is very hot/firm to the touch when the car is running or off
The lower hose is only hot/firm to the touch when running, when off its cooler (Not cold, but cooler to the touch)

Temps Creep up from 195 to 220 and 240 with just normal driving and cruising around (In Vaccum). AFRs are lean at 16.5-18.0 when > 30% throttle. As soon as throttle is applied AFR's drop to 12.5-11.5 when the boost comes on. This has NO effect on my cooling, as the temps just creep up. Even when coasting down a long grade, out of gear, the car does not cool down, it heats up slowly.

I have tried to "Burp" the system many many times. I have been filling and messing with the cooling for 4 days now. Each time I think I've got it figured out, it still heats up. When burping some coolant over flows, some air comes out, but it never takes a substantial amount of coolant, maybe 1/2 a cup.

I am using a mix of Distiled water, Green coolant, and Water Wetter. Im running a PWR Alum Radiator, STI Radiator Cap, and Stock EJ22 Water Pump with Stock Thermostat. There is an STI coolant tank relocated with NO radiator cap on the radiator, and an overflow that is separate from the radiator, but is connected via the rubber hose that runs to the TOP Passenger side of the Radiator. There is also a Coolant line that runs to the turbo.

The temp gauge in the car sits in the middle of the 4 marks. On my PSI3 data sheet it shows the temps around 200, then they creep up to 210, then 220, and after that I shut it down and let it cool off.

Does this seem like a bad water pump? Im wondering about it, because ive had this issue before, on a few other types of motor's but this is the first subaru I've had problems with. The symptoms have me stumped.



MY questions;

Can installing the thermostat in the wrong clocking position cause this problem? Not sure on this but I would say, if they say to ensure it is placed a certain way, then it could cause a problem.

Can a water pump fail with out leaking/weeping ? Yes. The shaft can break off inside but if that happened. I would overheat all the time.

If I do have to do the water pump, is there any high flow EJ22 water pump/thermostat/radiator cap?

No sure on this? Why would you need high flow? I would start by ensuring all the air is out of the system. I had major issues with this on my car. Hope this helps

[DCales]

Does the OEM water pump have a plastic impeller or is it an all metal unit? Ive had many with the plastic impellers that have split and eventually came apart creating an overheating situation, normally on euro cars. Im thinking that you may be able to remove the thermostat and use a mirror to inspect the impeller but im not 100% sure on that. Also make sure nothing is blocking airflow across the rad. such as a piece of trash or other debri. You could also try driving with the A/c on activating the cooling fans to see if that changes anything. If you know that you have good airflow across the rad and its still over heating there is a good possibility that there is a flow issue.

[mikescar]

Thanks for the help guys. There is no ac in the car. I'm really thinking the cooling system has air in it. I found a how to by djbizzle on how to fill the cooling system that I'm going to try when I get a chance.

Has anyone ran WITHOUT a thermostat? I may try that or even a water restrictor. I'm in Vegas so i'm sure the cad will warm up.

Thanks again

[Charlie-III]

All the OEM Subaru water pumps I have seen (as well as aftermarket ones) use a metal impeller, not a plastic one.

Also, once moving more than ~30MPH, there is little reason to have a fan, the airflow from moving is greater than the fans running.

Where was the oil leak you fixed?
Does the engine overheat when sitting still BUT HAVING THE REVS UP? Idle is one thing, higher RPM's is another.

[munkis]

it sounds like you have a circulation issue, bad water pump, restriction etc.

[mikescar]

Originally Posted by Charlie-III

All the OEM Subaru water pumps I have seen (as well as aftermarket ones) use a metal impeller, not a plastic one.

Also, once moving more than ~30MPH, there is little reason to have a fan, the airflow from moving is greater than the fans running.

Where was the oil leak you fixed?
Does the engine overheat when sitting still BUT HAVING THE REVS UP? Idle is one thing, higher RPM's is another.

Oil leak was right at the oil pump base at the block. Having the revs up at a stand still still causes it to over heat..

[mikescar]

Turns out the problem was in fact the thermostat. It was not installed with the weep hole to the top. After fixing, then filling slowly, then following SUBARUS instructions on how to fill, it worked great the first try. Thanks !