Overheating subaru

Radiator fine because not leaking? It still could be restricted inside. How bout cooling fan does it turn on?

Did you replace the thermostat with an aftermarket or original Subaru part? It could make a difference.

Cylinder pressure and leak down tests are often false negatives for the internal high pressure leakage from the combustion chamber through the head gasket into the cooling system, eventually hopelessly overcoming the heat-sinking ability of said system. Often this failure is not measurable cold or steady-state. Repair can ONLY be accomplished by a very laborious replacement of both HGs. Success rate is relatively poor, as the overly-fragile design of this first DOHC 2.5i is such that bottom ends often fail even after a very careful HG job. Subaru learned to simplify to a more rugged SOHC 2.5i in 2000; these are still plagued with weak HGs, but since they're usually EXTERNAL breaches that don't often stress the motors, the great majority of these later HG replacements are durable longterm. I STRONGLY suggest you simply send this 20 yr old chariot to a salvage yard, as otherwise you will probably pull your hair out if you spend $1600 on HGs and then throw a connecting rod 6 months later. It's happened too many times!

if you do have 2.5 and it is head gasket related, you should search for a 2.2 swap. Seems common in that era.

Yes, it can be done, and was stock in 1995 with the manual tranny. But it was so underpowered trying to push the heavier OB that Subaru had to tighten up the gearing to get ANY acceleration out of it, resulting in a screamingly-overdriven beast on the highway. The autobox's taller gearing would be quieter, but has REALLY disastrously slow performance, so I would't try it. The 2.2 really needs a lighter load....

Error: I meant 1996, the first year of the "true" Outback, as the 1995 was just two-tone paint silliness.

Here's the history of the Subaru Outback iteration. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_Outback

How is this helpful...especially as it has errors?

All this insight and no comment from Sam0916?...lol

it's okay. new members may or may not know about subscribing with email notifications to responses. Pretty typical but no big deal ;)

Well, well, well, the Subaru Outback Wikipedia page was edited 12 days ago. If you think you have more correct information, please send your comments to them. As a point of information, here's another website noting that the Subaru Legacy Outback was first manufactured in Japan in 1995. It was called the Grand Legacy Wagon in Japan, the Legacy Outback in Australia and the Outback in Australia. And, the Wikipedia page is a direct link from the Subaru of America Wikipedia page, so, if you have any direct evidence to the contrary bring it to their attention, not mine. You opened the door with the useless phase that the 1995 was just "two tone paint silliness"... I have no idea where you came up with that. My only reason for bringing up the information was in response to your assertion that the 1996 was the first " true Outback ", I actually considered purchasing one a 1995, but, decided on a 1995 Honda Accord instead. Here's the line they use to market the Subaru Legacy Outback in 1995, "The new theme line, “Subaru. Driven By What’s Inside,” replaces “The Beauty Of All-Wheel Drive,” which was introduced in 1995" Read this website below, it states that the Outback started in 1995. http://www.autoevolution.com/cars/subaru-outback- 1998.html#aeng_subaru-outback-1998-25

In case you don't recall, Paul Hogan from Australia, advertised the Subaru Legacy Outback for several years on television, showing how rugged the car was in the Outback of Australia.

Geez, Mark, AL manufacturers start producing early in the PRECEDING model year. Where've you been? The first true raised suspension 2.5i MODEL YEAR OB in NA was the 1996, which probably started production in late spring 2005. That was preceded by a 2005 "fake Outback" that used the 2.2i and was simply a Legacy Wagon with two-tone paint. I bought, serviced, and sold a few of them. But once Hogan got on TV the raised suspension in 2006 took over, introducing the public to a slew of bad 2.5i DOHC motors. Stop opening encyclopedias and claiming to be an instant expert, Mark...or at least understand that "starting production date" and "model year" can be even more than a year apart....

Sam oh Sam where for art thou Sam...lol I gotta laugh, all this for an overheating Subaru!?