"I have a very nice 96 outback:grinno: . except it is overheating:disappoin . Starts and runs great for 6 or 7 miles. Then the temp spikes. There is no knocking or pinging during acceleration. The coolant appears to be solid green (no brown from exaust like my last bad head) How can i tell if it is a water pump, clogged cooling system, radiator, or the expensive head gaskets. Any advice as to where to start? I can't afford a mechanic to do a series of tests. I can do the preliminary tests. Where to start?


Any advice would be welcome

check to see if there are any bubbles in the coolant reservoir with the car running. If there are the h/g are going bad. May not show any residue of oil just yet. When were the gaskets replaced before?

check to see if there are any bubbles in the coolant reservoir with the car running. If there are the h/g are going bad. May not show any residue of oil just yet. When were the gaskets replaced before?


Actually, this car has not had any other head work done, that was a previous car....There are no bubbles in the reservoir, it just overflows when it gets too hot. What would be the easiest way to check the head gaskets? Compression test?

Blown head gasket.Make sure you get the updated gasket set.

Yep, sounds like a toasted headgasket. Get it fixed before you warp a head! :(

You could try the old oxalic acid radiator flush, although I don't know where to get it any more. It cured several of my older-car problems that the now-current detergent flushes wouldn't. Could also be kinked heater hose, if your heater system has the heater core always hot (no heater cutoff valve).--ls1369

The 1996 came with a non-metal gasket, so get it replaced asap if it hasn't been updated to a newer gasket style yet.