TLDR
I drove my 2006 2.5 Outback (non-turbo) From Seattle to Sunriver/Bend Oregon and notice a potential issue that might be a head gasket issue. Will I be able to make it back? If I can make it back any tips (ie I’ll be keeping RPMs low, keeping 3 gallons of water with me)
A little back history:
1. The head gaskets replaced about 7 years ago at 100K miles. It is now at 140K miles.
2. The top of the radiator pipe had a catastrophic break and the engine overheated and the car shut down last a month ago
3. Mechanic fixed everything (new radiator), did a pressure test, test drove it, etc
4. I’ve driven the car a few hundred miles with the longest trip being about 55 miles (Seattle to Snoqualmie pass. Here is a link to the map and elevation gain: Elevation from Seattle to Snoqualmie Pass). Was gone for 12 hours and then drove back.
5. I checked the coolant and everything looked great
On Saturday (Aug 5) I drove from Seattle to Sunriver/Bend (I5-US26-US97) 6.5 hour drive with about a 1/2 hour break after 5 hours of driving. At this point, I looked at the radiator and the overflow tank was full and there was a little bit of radiator fluid outside of the overflow tank as if someone took a drip baster and put 3-4 drops around the radiator. Temperature gauge during the entire trip never budged from it’s standard reading (a little less than 9 o’clock) and outside temperature was about 80.
When the car was fully cooled on Sunday morning, the overflow tank was completely full and I opened the radiator cap and could see the top of the radiator.
I detached the overflow tank and haphazardly poured it back into the radiator and spilled some. I also added about 1 cup of water to fill it up.
Since I’ve been in Sun River the longest trip I took was to Smith Rock (about 50 miles). We climbed and when I got back to the car the overflow tank was about where it was when we left and I added about a cup of water.
On the way back to Sun River we stopped by the grocery store after 25 miles for about 1/2 an hour and then drove back to Sun River. The next day, the coolant in the radiator and overflow tank look good.
Thoughts on driving back from Sun River to Seattle? Here is a elevation map of Sun River to Vancouver, WA (just outside of Portland). He re’s an elevation profile: Elevation from Sunriver to Vancouver (Washington). The drive from Vancouver/Portland to Seattle is pretty flat.
Thanks for all your help!
