Having trouble burping cooling system, radiator hose "ticks". Video included

SatsuMX · 10-26-2022, 11:57 AM

https://youtube.com/shorts/Vr9AzztZ7bQ?feature=share

This a 2005 Legacy GT.

I just removed and reinstalled the turbo, and as usual, the cooling system needed to be burped.

This time around however, I am experiencing what you can see in the video. It only happens when the car is warmed up, and I'm thinking it's the thermostat trying to open but failing due to a bubble.
Any ideas on fixing this? I'm going to try again now that the car has fully cooled down, but I'd love some insight.

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SatsuMX · 10-26-2022, 05:36 PM

Tried again, no good, both large radiator hoses give a large jolt when the car is warmed up, but I don't feel the lower hose get warm enough.

Car doesn't overheat while idling but fans also don't turn off.

SatsuMX · 10-26-2022, 09:48 PM

Put in a new thermostat, the issue remains. I'm concerned mostly by the loud tick/jolt the hoses give. Water pump is less than a year old, could it be an issue?

BlackFighter · 10-27-2022, 02:42 PM

Are the coolant caps in the right place? Radiator and expansion tank caps are different PSI. Do not mix them up.

Max Capacity · 10-27-2022, 05:02 PM

The 108kPa cap is the cap for the turbo tank.
The 137kPa cap is the radiator cap.

I like to have newer caps.

In Aug this year, I had to burp the system in 2005 GT wagon.

As I have always done, put heater on full hot, I jack up the right front corner of car as high as I can get it. With both caps removed, I fill the radiator, until it's almost full, then put its cap on. Continue to fill the turbo tank until it's about half full. While you're doing this you can hear bubbles moving through the system and out the open cap.

With turbo cap open, start engine, while car is still jacked up, let the engine heat up and fans cycle. You may notice bubbles coming out in the turbo tank. When you think all air is out, shut off engine, put tank cap on. After the engine cools fully, verify coolant level is at the Cold full line on overflow tank. I carry coolant in the car for a couple of day's checking and topping off overflow bottle as needed.

I've done that same process a few times over the 18 years I owned the car.

Max Capacity · 10-27-2022, 05:03 PM

I also don't use one of those special burping funnels.

SatsuMX · 10-28-2022, 05:50 PM

Yeah it's pretty much the same process I do, from what I can see, no bubbles appear in the overflow tank and it's only when the car starts to overheat, that I see the violent throbbing of the coolant hoses, and how the water level "jolts" as in the video.

I've removed the intercooler again to see if I maybe mixed up any PCV tubing, though not sure if that could be related

SatsuMX · 10-28-2022, 05:50 PM

Yeah it's pretty much the same process I do, from what I can see, no bubbles appear in the overflow tank and it's only when the car starts to overheat, that I see the violent throbbing of the coolant hoses, and how the water level "jolts" as in the video.

I've removed the intercooler again to see if I maybe mixed up any PCV tubing, though not sure if that could be related

SatsuMX · 10-28-2022, 08:57 PM

Thanks for the info on the caps! The 137 kpa was on the turbo tank, and the radiator had a 80kpa one.

Got it replaced, followed your instructions exactly and my car is now properly running. Thank you!

BlackFighter · 10-30-2022, 10:39 AM

Your welcome, very common mistake.

Max Capacity · 10-30-2022, 03:11 PM

Yes, glad you got it figured out.

For some reason, I thought, the caps had some kind of different tabs, so you couldn't put them on wrong... ?

Max Capacity · 10-30-2022, 03:11 PM

Yes, glad you got it figured out.

For some reason, I thought, the caps had some kind of different tabs, so you couldn't put them on wrong... ?

SatsuMX · 10-30-2022, 04:38 PM

Apparently they're the same. I bought the car used so I'm not surprised they were incorrectly placed.

Bad news is the car started to do it again. Overheating, the two main hoses on the radiator and the larger of the two hoses that go from the turbo reservoir to the radiator, are doing the violent jolt.

Thermostat hose remains cold :/

SatsuMX · 10-30-2022, 04:39 PM

Apparently they're the same. I bought the car used so I'm not surprised they were incorrectly placed.

Bad news is the car started to do it again. Overheating, the two main hoses on the radiator and the larger of the two hoses that go from the turbo reservoir to the radiator, are doing the violent jolt.

Thermostat hose remains cold :/

a5m · 10-30-2022, 07:35 PM

I'm going to throw this out there since I goofily made this noob mistake, but any chance the thermostat is in backwards? The spring needs to go inside with the jiggle pin at 12 o'clock.

Max Capacity · 10-31-2022, 11:12 AM

The spring side goes towards the inside of the block. Pin at 12 o'clock. I'm sure if you ask google, you'll get a video on how to install...

You can search for the service manual too.

Jedi03 · 10-31-2022, 01:48 PM

im surprised this hasnt caught on with sharing...i found that removing one of the heater lines while engine is running until some coolant starts flowing out of it will resolve the air bubble...a prior customer shared this with me and have not had issues bleeding the system since...i did not have to do it when i added my cylinder 4 cooling mod, but also have only had the system open once to add it so far

SatsuMX · 10-31-2022, 03:39 PM

Finally fixed!

The coolant hose from the turbo reservoir to the turbo wasn't placed in correctly, so it was sucking in air apparently. I put it in all the way, tightened it and started the car again, and IMMEDIATELY I could see the small water spout inside the turbo reservoir flowing (car was already a little warm).

What a ride, but I did drive for a good while and even did a slight pull and the needle stayed put in the middle.

Thank you, everyone! Jedi03, that looks like a promising solution, I will keep it in mind if I ever need to burp the system again.

10-26-2022, 11:57 AM	#1
SatsuMX Scooby Newbie Member#: 475898 Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Mexico Vehicle: 2005 Legacy GT	Having trouble burping cooling system, radiator hose "ticks". Video included https://youtube.com/shorts/Vr9AzztZ7bQ?feature=share This a 2005 Legacy GT. I just removed and reinstalled the turbo, and as usual, the cooling system needed to be burped. This time around however, I am experiencing what you can see in the video. It only happens when the car is warmed up, and I'm thinking it's the thermostat trying to open but failing due to a bubble. Any ideas on fixing this? I'm going to try again now that the car has fully cooled down, but I'd love some insight. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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10-26-2022, 05:36 PM	#2
SatsuMX Scooby Newbie Member#: 475898 Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Mexico Vehicle: 2005 Legacy GT	Tried again, no good, both large radiator hoses give a large jolt when the car is warmed up, but I don't feel the lower hose get warm enough. Car doesn't overheat while idling but fans also don't turn off.

10-26-2022, 09:48 PM	#3
SatsuMX Scooby Newbie Member#: 475898 Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Mexico Vehicle: 2005 Legacy GT	Put in a new thermostat, the issue remains. I'm concerned mostly by the loud tick/jolt the hoses give. Water pump is less than a year old, could it be an issue?

10-27-2022, 02:42 PM	#4
BlackFighter Scooby Specialist Member#: 193940 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Philly Vehicle: 2004 WRX STI Black RalliSpec Shortblock	Are the coolant caps in the right place? Radiator and expansion tank caps are different PSI. Do not mix them up.

10-27-2022, 05:02 PM	#5
Max Capacity Scooby Specialist Member#: 149347 Join Date: May 2007 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Tolland, CT Vehicle: 05 LGT ,09 SpecB Black/silver	The 108kPa cap is the cap for the turbo tank. The 137kPa cap is the radiator cap. I like to have newer caps. In Aug this year, I had to burp the system in 2005 GT wagon. As I have always done, put heater on full hot, I jack up the right front corner of car as high as I can get it. With both caps removed, I fill the radiator, until it's almost full, then put its cap on. Continue to fill the turbo tank until it's about half full. While you're doing this you can hear bubbles moving through the system and out the open cap. With turbo cap open, start engine, while car is still jacked up, let the engine heat up and fans cycle. You may notice bubbles coming out in the turbo tank. When you think all air is out, shut off engine, put tank cap on. After the engine cools fully, verify coolant level is at the Cold full line on overflow tank. I carry coolant in the car for a couple of day's checking and topping off overflow bottle as needed. I've done that same process a few times over the 18 years I owned the car.

10-27-2022, 05:03 PM	#6
Max Capacity Scooby Specialist Member#: 149347 Join Date: May 2007 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Tolland, CT Vehicle: 05 LGT ,09 SpecB Black/silver	I also don't use one of those special burping funnels.

10-28-2022, 05:50 PM	#7
SatsuMX Scooby Newbie Member#: 475898 Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Mexico Vehicle: 2005 Legacy GT	Yeah it's pretty much the same process I do, from what I can see, no bubbles appear in the overflow tank and it's only when the car starts to overheat, that I see the violent throbbing of the coolant hoses, and how the water level "jolts" as in the video. I've removed the intercooler again to see if I maybe mixed up any PCV tubing, though not sure if that could be related

10-28-2022, 08:57 PM	#9
SatsuMX Scooby Newbie Member#: 475898 Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Mexico Vehicle: 2005 Legacy GT	Thanks for the info on the caps! The 137 kpa was on the turbo tank, and the radiator had a 80kpa one. Got it replaced, followed your instructions exactly and my car is now properly running. Thank you!

10-30-2022, 10:39 AM	#10
BlackFighter Scooby Specialist Member#: 193940 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Philly Vehicle: 2004 WRX STI Black RalliSpec Shortblock	Your welcome, very common mistake.

10-30-2022, 03:11 PM	#11
Max Capacity Scooby Specialist Member#: 149347 Join Date: May 2007 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Tolland, CT Vehicle: 05 LGT ,09 SpecB Black/silver	Yes, glad you got it figured out. For some reason, I thought, the caps had some kind of different tabs, so you couldn't put them on wrong... ?

10-30-2022, 04:38 PM	#13
SatsuMX Scooby Newbie Member#: 475898 Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Mexico Vehicle: 2005 Legacy GT	Apparently they're the same. I bought the car used so I'm not surprised they were incorrectly placed. Bad news is the car started to do it again. Overheating, the two main hoses on the radiator and the larger of the two hoses that go from the turbo reservoir to the radiator, are doing the violent jolt. Thermostat hose remains cold :/

10-30-2022, 04:39 PM	#14
SatsuMX Scooby Newbie Member#: 475898 Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Mexico Vehicle: 2005 Legacy GT	Apparently they're the same. I bought the car used so I'm not surprised they were incorrectly placed. Bad news is the car started to do it again. Overheating, the two main hoses on the radiator and the larger of the two hoses that go from the turbo reservoir to the radiator, are doing the violent jolt. Thermostat hose remains cold :/

10-30-2022, 07:35 PM	#15
a5m Scooby Specialist Member#: 519868 Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Chicago Vehicle: 2010 Impreza WRX Satin White Pearl	I'm going to throw this out there since I goofily made this noob mistake, but any chance the thermostat is in backwards? The spring needs to go inside with the jiggle pin at 12 o'clock.

10-31-2022, 11:12 AM	#16
Max Capacity Scooby Specialist Member#: 149347 Join Date: May 2007 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Tolland, CT Vehicle: 05 LGT ,09 SpecB Black/silver	The spring side goes towards the inside of the block. Pin at 12 o'clock. I'm sure if you ask google, you'll get a video on how to install... You can search for the service manual too.

10-31-2022, 01:48 PM	#17
Jedi03 Scooby Specialist Member#: 491095 Join Date: Sep 2018 Chapter/Region: SWIC Location: New Mexico Vehicle: 2009 STi Blue Blue	im surprised this hasnt caught on with sharing...i found that removing one of the heater lines while engine is running until some coolant starts flowing out of it will resolve the air bubble...a prior customer shared this with me and have not had issues bleeding the system since...i did not have to do it when i added my cylinder 4 cooling mod, but also have only had the system open once to add it so far

10-31-2022, 03:39 PM	#18
SatsuMX Scooby Newbie Member#: 475898 Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Mexico Vehicle: 2005 Legacy GT	Finally fixed! The coolant hose from the turbo reservoir to the turbo wasn't placed in correctly, so it was sucking in air apparently. I put it in all the way, tightened it and started the car again, and IMMEDIATELY I could see the small water spout inside the turbo reservoir flowing (car was already a little warm). What a ride, but I did drive for a good while and even did a slight pull and the needle stayed put in the middle. Thank you, everyone! Jedi03, that looks like a promising solution, I will keep it in mind if I ever need to burp the system again.