Why does my 2007 impreza 2.5i overheat when driving up mountains?

Asked by Matthew Jan 30, 2012 at 09:33 PM about the 2007 Subaru Impreza 2.5i Hatchback

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

A year ago (roughly 10k miles ago),
My car always overheats when climbing up hills at freeway speeds (65-70mph). Usually with 2 other passengers and lightweight amount of cargo.
The dealership performed tests on the entire cooling system and found no external leaks but found combustion in coolant and blown head gaskets. They ended up replacing head gaskets, thermostat, engine seal, and reassembled heads.

Yesterday is the first time I drive up the same mountainous region going to tahoe since the repair (about a year ago) and behold my engine temp begins overheating. I had 2 passengers this time as well and it happened immediately after the incline began. I turn around and drive back home not wanting to risk damaging anymore internal parts, with everything back to normal now.

I do not have any other problems or symptoms with engine overheating except when I drive up the mountain and the engine thermostat seems to rise 3/4 the way up and no further at which I immediately pull over and cool engine down. Coolant starts pouring out of reservoir.

Can anyone tell me why it is doing this? I have a little over 81,000 miles on the car.

6 Answers

45

I would definately go get the motor checked again, as last time you had the dealer do a checkup , your head gaskets were blown, which is never a good sign.

1 people found this helpful.
875

dude your timing belt is goin on your tensioner, gotta get that replaced, if the tensioner isnt tight your thermostat will stay closed and will over heat the car, it sounds really stupid but it happened to me

Headgasket was replaced- went out as a result of the overheating TIming belt was replaced when my headgasket was replaced. T-stat works fine. I drive my car under load under all conditions and the car only overheats as soon as I hit 2000+ elevation. It might be an air bubble, which I bled the cooling system again. Hopefully it won't happen again.

4,005

I'd put in a new thermostat, or take it out before climbing the hills, and see if it gets hot.

1 people found this helpful.
875

quick question, have you ever replaced your head gasket? be cause a blown gasket can over heat your car on up hill climbs... and their a known problem on subarus

2 people found this helpful.
875

http://www.rs25.com/forums/f190/t100250-head-gasket-problems- explained.html

4 people found this helpful.

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