69800 Posted September 1, 2005 Share Posted September 1, 2005 Why does my 2005 owners manual state alway add subaru coolant additive when changing coolant. I know the were using stop leak in 1999 and 2000 but I thought that head gasket problem was cured. Any body know what the current subaru coolant additive is all about??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Opie Posted September 2, 2005 Share Posted September 2, 2005 The "fix" is to always use the additive which isn't a "Stop Leak" it's a conditioner for the head gaskets...and it's the same little blue bottle that was part of the 1999-2000 Recalls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Masakari Posted September 2, 2005 Share Posted September 2, 2005 Most coolant conditioners help protect cooling system against corrosion. Here is a link for a long discussion on “Subaru’s conditioner”. http://www.ultimatesubaru.net/forum/showthread.php?threadid=12410&highlight=conditioner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
69800 Posted September 2, 2005 Author Share Posted September 2, 2005 so those who say it is stopleak are wrong? How do we really know? How long have the been recommending coolant additive and is it the same part number as used in the 99-02 models with head gasket problems. If it is, how do you condition headgaskets other than stop leak? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcbaohio Posted September 2, 2005 Share Posted September 2, 2005 so those who say it is stopleak are wrong? How do we really know? How long have the been recommending coolant additive and is it the same part number as used in the 99-02 models with head gasket problems. If it is, how do you condition headgaskets other than stop leak? 1) Have you been reading the above posts? 2) Stopleak is an extreme "conditioner" that does more damage than good in the long-run. 3) In Subaru we trust, if they say to use the Subaru conditioner, then you do it without question, unless you are an engineer. - "I've worked with better, but not many." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mccorry Posted September 2, 2005 Share Posted September 2, 2005 I agree fully..... Big $$$ if you gamble wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outahere Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 I opened up a bottle of the subaru coolant conditioner today, thought it looked funky and lumpy, but added it anyway to a gallon of 50/50 coolant, mixed it well, and poured it through a filter funnel into my radiator. The filter trapped a lot of brown, slightly gritty stuff and several white gelatinous pieces. This is my 1st time using the conditioner. Is it supposed to be full of all this junk? What is the normal appearance of this stuff supposed to be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
69800 Posted May 23, 2007 Author Share Posted May 23, 2007 as you can see from the previous post many do not think it is a good idea to put stopleak in your subaru Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTGT Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 I know coolant is supposed to be replaced at 30k. But is there ever a circumstance where it looks low and needs to be refilled before 30k? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRS Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 If the level in your overflow tank is blow the LOW indicator line when the system is cool then you need to add some. I found mine to be low a few weeks ago. There wasn't any obvious signs of leaking but when I swaped out the OEM radiator hoses for Samco ones I noticed that there was residue at the top hose connection to the radiator indicating that there had be some minor leakage when hot and pressurized. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTGT Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 Thanks I will check tomorrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outahere Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 so those who say it is stopleak are wrong? How do we really know?........ More likely it is Holt's Radweld, from the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRS Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 I opened up a bottle of the subaru coolant conditioner today, thought it looked funky and lumpy, but added it anyway to a gallon of 50/50 coolant, mixed it well, and poured it through a filter funnel into my radiator. The filter trapped a lot of brown, slightly gritty stuff and several white gelatinous pieces. This is my 1st time using the conditioner. Is it supposed to be full of all this junk? What is the normal appearance of this stuff supposed to be? I drained & filled last week and my bottle of Subaru conditioner was chunky style too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bosco Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 I drained & filled last week and my bottle of Subaru conditioner was chunky style too. same here just throw it all in the pump will munch it up Opie is correct it's not a stop leak it's a conditioner, cheap insurance. bosco Stay Stock Stay Happy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outahere Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 same here just throw it all in the pump will munch it up ...........bosco The stuff looks and feels like it could munch the water pump seal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bosco Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 The stuff looks and feels like it could munch the water pump seal. Subaru knows what you need stop fighting it btw did you shake it up b4 you poured it in? bosco Stay Stock Stay Happy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bskey Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 I assume this Subaru additive is just available at the dealership? Has anyone had any experience with the RedLine Water Wetter. Is there any problem with that? http://www.redlineoil.com/products_coolant.asp?subCategoryID=4 life in spin cycle..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outahere Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 ......How long have the been recommending coolant additive ...........? On April 15, 2005 Subaru issued TSB 09-42-05, wherein it is stated that all Subaru models must use the conditioner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outahere Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 Subaru knows what you need stop fighting it btw did you shake it up b4 you poured it in? bosco I shook it up good, Elvis style, and it still came out looking like stale Ovaltine with bits of old caulking in it. I wonder if Porsche uses conditioner in their flat-six motors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwiener2 Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 Besides the fact that they are both boxer engines...there isn't too much similarity between our engines AFAIK My Mods List (Updated 8/22/17) 2005 Outback FMT Running on Electrons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzymt Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 I drained & filled last week and my bottle of Subaru conditioner was chunky style too.+1 Just did mine last weekend too - looked like a mix of sand, oatmeal & some misc crusties...I just dumped the whole thing in the radiator & crossed my fingers that Subaru knows what they're doing... [CENTER][URL="http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18504"]Subaru Plug & Play Aux-in Mod[/URL][/CENTER] [CENTER][URL="http://www.jazzyengineering.com"]www.jazzyengineering.com[/URL][/CENTER] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beanboy Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 +1 Just did mine last weekend too - looked like a mix of sand, oatmeal & some misc crusties...I just dumped the whole thing in the radiator & crossed my fingers that Subaru knows what they're doing... If Subaru knew what they were doing, brand-new cars wouldn't need any antifreeze conditioner at all! -B http://www.standardshift.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REM87O Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 If Subaru knew what they were doing, brand-new cars wouldn't need any antifreeze conditioner at all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b4wantab Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 I would recommend against the water wetter stuff. I am unsure of what is in the specific Redline stuff. What it does is modify the surface tension of the water molecules. Rual fire department use similar stuff and dish soap will also break-down the tension to an extent. The water forms smaller droplets so there is more surface area of the water to "work". Not sure how this would really help in a rad since the system is presurized. The water never really separates. Plus there are already so many chemicals between the coolant and additive who knows if there are all compatable? Peace, Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
electricsunset Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 What about using this conditioner for a 1997 Legacy 2.2 (which never had gasket issues like the 2.5)? thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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