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speedygeorge Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2009 Posts: 235 Location: Victoria, BC
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Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 9:12 pm Post subject: How to add Subaru Conditioner to Expansion Tank |
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I understand that there is a correct procedure to follow when adding
fluid to expansion tank. I was planning on adding the conditioner and wanted to make sure I did it properly, can someone pls confirm this procedure. I have 2 little blue bottles, should I add one or 2, I have a very small leak somewhere.
Thanks |
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funagon Samba Member
Joined: March 09, 2006 Posts: 1308 Location: SLC, UT
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Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 3:05 am Post subject: |
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Don't add it to the tank behind the license plate. You won't get much (if any) of the conditioner into your coolant that way. Wait until the engine is cool then add it to the main coolant tank, which is under the engine hatch, on the driver's side.
Do you know where your leak is coming from? I would think it's worth finding out. There might be a simple and effective fix such as tightening a clamp or replacing a hose. _________________ 1990 GL 7-passenger
2.2 liter WBX |
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motelvw Samba Member
Joined: July 19, 2005 Posts: 465
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Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 3:09 am Post subject: |
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Suck some coolant out of the pressure tank (what he said) and add BOTH bottles. |
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speedygeorge Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2009 Posts: 235 Location: Victoria, BC
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Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 7:02 am Post subject: |
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funagon wrote: |
Don't add it to the tank behind the license plate. You won't get much (if any) of the conditioner into your coolant that way. Wait until the engine is cool then add it to the main coolant tank, which is under the engine hatch, on the driver's side.
Do you know where your leak is coming from? I would think it's worth finding out. There might be a simple and effective fix such as tightening a clamp or replacing a hose. |
I believe leak is from head gasket. I was told I would have to rev engine
while replacing expansion cap? |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16474 Location: Brookeville, MD
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50261
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Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 8:08 am Post subject: |
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Revving the engine will draw down the coolant and may make room for the additional volume of the conditioner if the system is totally full. If you have air space in the pressure (expansion) tank when cold, you can just pour it in. It should get there eventually if you just pour it into the overflow tank which is all I do for routine maintenance, but for a leak pouring it into the pressure tank would be better. |
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RadioRental Samba Member
Joined: June 30, 2009 Posts: 555 Location: stow, ma
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Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 8:33 am Post subject: |
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Having been in the same situation (small leak) I used one container of Subaru juice. If that doesn't fix it after a couple of hours runtime then by all means add the second. I see no advantage to adding both at the same time... and you runt the risk of making a poor radiator worse.
anyone with half a clue is welcome to chime in on why I'm wrong (o; _________________ __________________________________
'87 2.1. 125K 4spd Not rebuilt "Red Dwarf" |
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Ahwahnee Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010 Posts: 9776 Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 1:51 pm Post subject: |
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motelvw wrote: |
Suck some coolant out of the pressure tank (what he said) and add BOTH bottles. |
You may have a hard time sucking out enough to make room for 2 bottles since, as you remove coolant from the expansion tank coolant will flow in from elsewhere in the system.
You may need to add 1 bottle, then run a bit, then add the other (though I agree with the notion that one bottle may be enough and more isn't necessarily better).
Yes, I think revving the engine will aid in getting the expansion tank to take more but your eye-hand coordination needs to be good. Back off from the rev before the cap is back on the expansion and it will puke. |
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funagon Samba Member
Joined: March 09, 2006 Posts: 1308 Location: SLC, UT
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Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 2:03 pm Post subject: |
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speedygeorge wrote: |
I believe leak is from head gasket. I was told I would have to rev engine
while replacing expansion cap? |
I asked where the leak is coming from because a drip that appears to come from a headgasket will sometimes be dripping from a coolant hose, running down the engine, then dripping off the gasket surface. This creates the illusion of a headgasket leak. One common source for leaks is the two small hoses connected to the oil/coolant interchange. That's the square-ish looking box that the oil filter screws onto. It has two small rubber hoses attached to it, and they can leak, and the coolant usually runs down the heads and drips off the headgasket. If that's the case you'd gain peace of mind by just replacing those two little hoses one day while the engine's cool.
With so many coolant hoses in the engine compartment I would recommend taking a careful look in and under the engine compartment while the engine's dripping, to see where the coolant's coming from. You may need to remove the metal "rock guards" or whatever those tin shields are called, from the bottom of the engine and sides of the engine compartment, if you want to get a good look.
The subaru conditioner should help with the headgasket leak. It can usually fix a small leak. A big leak (such as a gasket blowing out and dumping lots of coolant) is too much for a bottle of magic stuff to fix.
When engine is cool, and not running, siphon some coolant out of the main coolant tank, pour in one bottle of subaru stuff, drive van. Later you can add a second bottle the same way if you need or want to. _________________ 1990 GL 7-passenger
2.2 liter WBX |
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7thing3 Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2003 Posts: 473 Location: Cleveland, OH
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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I tried to buy some at my local Subaru dealer today and the gearhead behind the counter said they don't sell it any more since "if you put too much in it can blow the engine". That statement is probably true about most fluids you can put in your vehicle. _________________ '73 Thing--Ted
'77 Super Beetle Convertible
'87 Vanagon GL Syncro
'84 Mercedes 280 CE |
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speedygeorge Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2009 Posts: 235 Location: Victoria, BC
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 2:25 pm Post subject: |
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7thing3 wrote: |
I tried to buy some at my local Subaru dealer today and the gearhead behind the counter said they don't sell it any more since "if you put too much in it can blow the engine". That statement is probably true about most fluids you can put in your vehicle. |
I bought 2 yesterday for $5 each, put one in already. |
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SteveVanB Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2008 Posts: 1645 Location: This side of Daytona
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 4:52 pm Post subject: |
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I just got 3 bottles from my bro for $4......for all 3. I too have developed a small leak, but I think it's coming from the H2O pump...... _________________ 91 CARAT |
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motelvw Samba Member
Joined: July 19, 2005 Posts: 465
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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Ahwahnee wrote: |
motelvw wrote: |
Suck some coolant out of the pressure tank (what he said) and add BOTH bottles. |
You may have a hard time sucking out enough to make room for 2 bottles since, as you remove coolant from the expansion tank coolant will flow in from elsewhere in the system.
You may need to add 1 bottle, then run a bit, then add the other (though I agree with the notion that one bottle may be enough and more isn't necessarily better).
Yes, I think revving the engine will aid in getting the expansion tank to take more but your eye-hand coordination needs to be good. Back off from the rev before the cap is back on the expansion and it will puke. |
I've done it twice and have never had a problem. I wouldn't have said that if I thought I had my head up my dupa. |
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