11 replies to this topic

[Liberty]

After diagnosing my overheating problem which seemed to have been caused by a busted valve in my radiator cap, I am now needing a new one. I have read a few topics here and there all over the Internet with advantages and disadvantages, but most have been heresay and there aren't many facts to back up what people have posted about in their statements especially when it comes to Subaru's.

 

In order for me to make a decision, and to benefit others that are in a similar situation, what exactly are the advantages and disadvantages of having the 1.3 bar radiator cap over the 1.1 bar one in my stock Liberty 3.0R SpecB?

 

Please provide as many facts as possible. I do understand that various people have opinions on STi products especially with regards to their price, but try and keep your posts neutral and without bias.

[alexGT]

do you track the car? do you have an aftermarket radiator? why do you want to raise the boiling point of your cars cooling system?

 

rest of cooling system is not designed for higher pressure and higher boiling point so don't do it.

 

keep it simple, keep it stock.

[Barbbachello]

rest of cooling system is not designed for higher pressure and higher boiling point so don't do it.

This. Ive heard they blow stock radiators as they're just plastic

[Harry88]

Buy replacement stock cap. Then add this sticker

 

http://www.ebay.com....=item2c5d26dc47

[bobbyjimmy]

Can't get an STi cap for the H6's anyways. I put a 1.3 bar ARC one on the wife's H6 - didn't do a thing and has been on a lot of 2/3/4 hour drives.

[RX25SE]

Just put the stock one on Gaz.

[Liberty]

I will take everyone's advice and go with the stock radiator cap. Thanks for your input everyone, much appreciated. I am trying to grab one off a SubyClub member as we speak, but if that doesn't go ahead, I will just go to Subaru and buy one. They shouldn't be expensive.

 

Ha ha! I saw those stickers on Facebook as well. It'd defeat the purpose of not getting the STi radiator cap to begin with Haz.

 

Cheers guys!

 

Please, anyone, feel free to use this topic for discussion about the different radiator caps available for a Subaru.

[allpaw4]

I agree. Stock is the way to go. I'm thinking quite hard about switching mine back the standard 1.1bar cap. The 1.3 STi cap has made the return coolant line on the turbo weep, loosing about a litre every 6 months. The clamp on the line is not designed for the added pressure. If you go through and change out all the squeeze clamps for normal hose clamps you can get away with it, but the squeeze clamps aren't good enough for that pressure.

[Liberty]

Thanks for the useful information mate. I bought a stock genuine radiator cap from Subaru this afternoon and will be putting it on after flushing my system tomorrow afternoon.

[Cam.]

The way I see it: An engineer has been paid good money to work out that we need 1.1bar caps and the same goes for the fancy sti's needing 1.3 bar.

I would rather the excess pressure just get put in my overflow instead of blowing up something like a heater core or hard to get to hose

If you want to be fancy, Just buy a $3 sticker from hong kong and pick up a brand new OEM replacement.

Just my opinion/knowledge.

[Liberty]

Which counts man. That's the reason I opened up the topic. Thanks for your input.