cooling issues..., fine when driving, spikes when stopped. Options

[malaga_red75]

subaru JDM EJ25 DOHC

So, got my conversion finally road worthy and have noticed that while I am driving around, the car stays at around 200 F. when i stop, or let it idle in my garage... the temp slowly climbs and doesnt stop (i shut it off around 230 F). I am assuming this is an issue with my fans.

I am running a front mounted radiator, using 2 push-style fans. A few things that i think may be wrong...

-There is no shroud around the fans... just the shroud that seals the radiator to the front (since they are push fans, they are mounted on the front side of the radiator, in between the radiator and the nose of the car)

- there is about a 1 1/2" gap between the fans and the radiator (this was just the way that ended up working for mounting the fans)

anyways, i am pretty sure that the cooling system is working (no kinked lines, thermostat working, fans do turn on) as indicated by driving and the temp staying cool, there is just something not working when i stop moving. let me know what you guys think.

-Peter

[malaga_red75]

budman-

First, when i did the tstat test, the new thermostat opened much quicker than the old. However, once both were open, they looked like they had opened the same amount. so, despite realizing that the thermostat was fine, I installed the new one anyways.

re: recirculation lines
I guess my answer is that no, I do not have any return lines to the engine while the Tstat is closed. My expansion tank is connected to the heater return line (just on the inside of the thermostat) and then there is the incoming radiator line on the outside of the thermostat.

Basically, I fill the system via gravity through the expansion tank into the heater return line... then the fluid goes through the engine, out to the radiator, then back to the thermostat.

So, how would I setup the system to have a recirculation line? If I used the heater return line, say connected to a port at the top of the crossover pipe, where would I run my expansion tank?

I only know of 1 recirculation line, which is just on the inside of the heater return, which is where my expansion tank is currently hooked up. where is the second?

Thanks budman, I know you know your subaru stuff. especially cooling, living in AZ.

-Peter

[budman5201]

budman-

First, when i did the tstat test, the new thermostat opened much quicker than the old. However, once both were open, they looked like they had opened the same amount. so, despite realizing that the thermostat was fine, I installed the new one anyways.

re: recirculation lines
I guess my answer is that no, I do not have any return lines to the engine while the Tstat is closed. My expansion tank is connected to the heater return line (just on the inside of the thermostat) and then there is the incoming radiator line on the outside of the thermostat.

Basically, I fill the system via gravity through the expansion tank into the heater return line... then the fluid goes through the engine, out to the radiator, then back to the thermostat.

So, how would I setup the system to have a recirculation line? If I used the heater return line, say connected to a port at the top of the crossover pipe, where would I run my expansion tank?

I only know of 1 recirculation line, which is just on the inside of the heater return, which is where my expansion tank is currently hooked up. where is the second?

Thanks budman, I know you know your subaru stuff. especially cooling, living in AZ.

-Peter

Peter YOU NAILED IT! congrats! Get that recirculation line back and your problems will be SOLVED!!

There should of been two tubes that go to the stock subaru heater core when it was in the stock subaru car. These are at the rear drivers side of the engine when you have the subie in the 914. Just put those back, put a loop so basically you loop the coolant back to the thermostat. Whatever way you get the top manifold on the engine (hot water) to loop back and feel to the inside engine side of the thermostat is the route. You can T into this line for your expansion tank. When flowing it will just run past your T in the line and back to the water pump. The T in the line will be good for filling and expansion to the overflow etc.