***UPDATED*** READ POST 12


Need help with this problem...

The oil temperature guage spikes to hot after driving car for about 10 mins.

Oil temperature is normal when driving on highway (maintaining a good airflow) and even AC can be used; however it spikes when driving in the city, normally goes to red after 15 mins of driving city.

No signs of overheating when guage reads hot. No steam emmitting from motor. No sign radiator cap isn't keeping pressure.

**SMALL Leak found (less tha 2mm in diameter). Leak patched.**

Coolant in reservoir low (both main and turbo reservoir); However, COOLANT LEVEL in Plastic container is above full????

[MY ANALYSIS]:
Possible air pockets and low pressure in Radiator due to small leak going unchecked. Leak patched and recommend replacing coolant and making sure there are no air pockets.

PROBLEM: Why does COOLANT LEVEL show FULL????? Both reservoirs (Main and Turbo) are not topped off....

Any suggestions? Could this possibly be a faulty thermostat? The car is an 04 WRX. Dont know if they have had any problems.

 

Could be a bad thermostat...if it failed closed.

Let's do the basics first.

1. Flush out your radiator. Burp the system properly.
2. Make sure all your lines are going to the correct spot.
3. Make sure you do not have any additional leaks in lines.

How exactly did you patch the radiator? I would look into replacing the radiator shortly. Those have a good history of not working in the long run.

When are you checking the level of the coolant? Hot or Cold?

 

Also, I trust your fans are kicking on like they're supposed to?

 

So the Oil temp spikes when stationary??

 

I have checked levels when the car was cold.

I'm pretty sure the fans are kicking in when they have too... I can hear them, but how do you go about checking it?

 

Yes, correct. After engine is warmed up (10-15 mins), Oil temp will spike from normal (just below 1/2 guage) to completely Hot

 

The coolant in the plastic container showing full means nothing, that's the overflow reservoir, if it bothers you just dump it all out, it does nothing but catch overflowing coolant when your car overheats.

Have you tried flushing your system? Might want to try that, and then refill with a good mix and some water wetter. Then, make absolutely sure that you burp it correctly.

 

do you have a pokemon hanging from your rearview? car might get angry if it don't like pokemon

 

seriously you can check the fans by starting the car and letting it idle for a while. once it's warm the fans should kick on.

 

I chuckled

 

Heh?!? Do you have an after market Oil Temp gauge installed? cause usually a oil temp gauge will indicate some sort of numeric value read out and not just "hot" as you indicated. Did you mean coolant temp on the stock gauge cluster being in the red?

Do you have an after market radiator or is this still the OEM one?

Do you have a filler neck on the radiator?

Is the hose that goes into the plastic over flow tank at the front of the car clogged? (check by removing and have running water flow through it)

Any recent modifications dealing with your coolant (i.e. FMIC install...etc.)?

Are you sure you didn't install the coolant return lines that go from the manifold fill area to the radiator backwards?

what's your mileage?

Have you replaced your thermostat before?

If you replaced it before did you install it correctly? Did you replace the gasket for it if you did replace it?

Jon

 

What is the mileage?
Timing belt maybe skipped?

 

UPDATE:

Found out the radiator has a hairline crack and therefore is leaking. Also damaged is the thermostat.

Went to SEARS Ala Moana and they quoted $720+ for New Radiator, some hoses, a new thermostat and a full coolant flush.

Is this a good deal? Anyone can fix um for cheaper???? Let me know.

[Thanks for everyone's input.]

 

Hrm,

Well, Samco hoses are like 120 bucks, Koyo Performance Radiators are like 400, thermo is like 80. That's only 600 bucks before labor.

 

$180 - OEM replacement radiator
$120-$150 - Samco radiator hoses
$40 - 2 gallons of 50/50 mix green coolant

is way less than what was quoted. host an install day and labor is practically free after feeding people

if you go with OEM hoses it's even cheaper