# Radiator dumping coolant into reservoir, overheating **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** overheating, coolant, subaru, leaks, radiators\ **Created:** [November 24, 2020, 1:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radiator-dumping-coolant-into-reservoir-overheating/172619 "2020-11-24T01:00:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cameron-24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3da27b/32.png) [@Cameron-24](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cameron-24)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 1:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radiator-dumping-coolant-into-reservoir-overheating/172619/1 "2020-11-24T01:00:00Z")
2005 Subaru Forester, 175k miles. New radiator, thermostat, radiator cap, and water pump. Radiator is filling with air, reservoir flowing over with the coolant from the radiator, motor runs hot after about 20miles. What’s causing this and how do I fix it? ---
**Author:** ![SteveCBT](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevecbt/32/3192_2.png) [@SteveCBT](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveCBT)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 1:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radiator-dumping-coolant-into-reservoir-overheating/172619/2 "2020-11-24T01:18:22Z")
Take a look at your oil fill cap. If it looks like a chocolate shake was spilled on it you have a bad head gasket. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 1:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radiator-dumping-coolant-into-reservoir-overheating/172619/3 "2020-11-24T01:20:12Z")
Your Subaru has a blown head gasket. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/1/116a8051d1069b47d747848695d504fc8d44718c.jpeg) Tester ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 1:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radiator-dumping-coolant-into-reservoir-overheating/172619/4 "2020-11-24T01:48:43Z")
Go to your local Subaru dealer and get a bottle of cooling system conditioner. This works pretty good if the system isn’t too far gone, I suspect yours is but it isn’t very expensive so why not. While you are there, get a quote for new head gaskets. The dealer techs are well versed on replacing these. Might get a new timing belt while you are at it along with any other parts recommended, I.e water pump, tensioner, oil seals etc. Cheaper to replace these while everything is apart. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 2:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radiator-dumping-coolant-into-reservoir-overheating/172619/5 "2020-11-24T02:49:14Z")
Agree with the others, Head gasket failure. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 5:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radiator-dumping-coolant-into-reservoir-overheating/172619/6 "2020-11-24T05:55:10Z")
Whose Idea was it to replace all those parts on an overheating Subaru with 175 thousand miles on it without first checking for a bad head gasket? ---
**Author:** ![Cameron-24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3da27b/32.png) [@Cameron-24](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cameron-24)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 11:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radiator-dumping-coolant-into-reservoir-overheating/172619/7 "2021-01-29T11:43:28Z")
> [@oldtimer-11](#): > > with Previous owner. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 1:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radiator-dumping-coolant-into-reservoir-overheating/172619/8 "2021-01-29T13:00:49Z")
So, OP, how is car behaving, now? I assume you bought it recently, did you sell it? ---
**Author:** ![Cameron-24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3da27b/32.png) [@Cameron-24](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cameron-24)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 1:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radiator-dumping-coolant-into-reservoir-overheating/172619/9 "2021-01-29T13:23:05Z")
I received the car in a trade for some work I did with original owner’s horses. Vehicle still inoperable, but head gasket set should be delivered soon. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 2:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radiator-dumping-coolant-into-reservoir-overheating/172619/10 "2021-01-29T14:30:18Z")
Did your friend tell you it was overheating? I assume so since it has new radiator. So, he said it wasn’t worth much, as is?