It could be as simple as a radiator cap. Obviously check the oil and coolant when you get there. If the coolant is full (or close to it), I'd start with replacing the cap, which is... $15?

The odds are it will be low, so... uhhh... look for obvious leaks, I guess.

Oh, and if your oil dipstick looks frothy, just say "Fuuuuuuuuck...."



On another topic, do we want to plan something food-based?

Personally, I enjoyed the hell out of the BBQ sammiches. I'm OK if we want to do something else, though.

That's fine with me.

Baldy, I don't recall the year of your Outback but the symptoms are consistent with my old '97. I will assume yours has the 2.5 engine. Check the coolant. If you see bubbles or little spots of oil in there, it will be the head gasket.

Yep. Could be as simple as a bad radiator cap, or a broken coolant line. The ones that run to the throttle body are known to do this FWIW...

But if you have oil in your coolant, that is not good news. Unfortunately HG issues are well known on the 2.5 NA cars.

Best of luck, and what ever you do, don't put stop leak in your cooling system.

Don't add any of the Subaru coolant conditioner either.

My plan SO FAR is:

While still at the airport, open the engine, take off the radiator cap. Put in a bunch of radiator fluid (is there a way to see how much I need?), and then put a NEW cap on.

Check oil, see if milky (contaminated from broken head gasket). Oil will be somehow fucked up, I'm sure, but hopefully not that.

Start engine, pray?

I drove mine for quite some time after the gasket blew. I expect you can at least make the trip home.

Remember to do about half coolant and half distilled water. It doesn't need to be exact. You can buy pre-mixed coolant/water. You'll want a funnel.

Uhhh... the radiator should be full, and there should be a bit in the overflow tank as well. If it's very low, you will need to massage the upper radiator hose a bit. You know, blow the bubbles out so it can suck in more coolant.

And yes... prayer.


You can give me a call when you're there. Maybe send pictures and stuff.

Zem's advice to put the coolant in the correct hole, followed by his expert advice on how to massage the vas deferens of the car, allowed me to drive home successfully! As to how the radiator lost its coolant, that is a challenge for another day.

It might be a little early, since everyone is focused on the holiday right now, but I figured we could throw out some dates that people could comment upon.

The following all work for me:

Saturday, December 29 (might be too early for John)
Saturday, January 5
Saturday, January 12
Saturday, January 19

I'd also be willing to do something between Christmas and New Year, since I'm off of work, but that may not work for anyone else. I know Zem is gone for part of that anyway.

I won't be back until Friday the 28th. And... honestly, the 29th would be virtually impossible. We need to clean our house and convert it into party mode that day. Sunday we'll be in Fort Collins.

I am free all January.

I know we are gone for one of the weekends in January, but I think the 5th works.

Wait, are we seriously all gonna be good for the 5th?

That's pretty sexy if so.

If we can get others to check in some fine day.

Sorry, I'm out for the 5th. We are having a team building meeting at Unser Racing that night...

I should know more soon. Don't have the schedule for January figured out yet.

Maybe the 12th?

I think the 12th works for me. I may have a training that day, but it's very close to Mike's house, so I could just swing by when I'm done.

"Hey guys, what's up?"

"We already started. Mark's been running Morgrim, take a seat. Oh, now that you're here, gimme a Con check. You don't have any skill in horsefucking right? Mark couldn't find it, but he swears you are an experienced horsefucker."

I am pretty sure the 12th will work.

Ok, waiting on Zem.

I know I have some travel next month, but normally it doesn't break a saturday.

The 12th sounds great!

Yeeeaaaahhhhhhhh, I think I'll just go ahead and take my character sheet with me....

In the absence of other information, I will assume the 12th will work. I know Partykins has something until later in the day, but it sure would be nice if the rest of us could show up a little earlier and talk as men do.

OK.

I'm almost out of Man Talk, but I'll try to be early...

So uhm, Bronco game: I plan to be at gaming by 4:30pm. I am pretty sure my character sheet is already over at the Sweets so you guys can start on time.

I love you all dearly but... IT's PFM!

You should come over and watch the game at the Sweethouse. It will be merry, it will be joyful, it will be sanspants. The Broncos will be victorious as they were in days of yore and when the career of Ray Lewis comes to question, quoth the Manning "Nevermore" .

It seems all things are conspiring to prevent me from watching the game today. Phobes is not doing well as of this morning. We just made a 4 o'clock appointment with the vet and I will need to go since it will be me to "make the call" should it come to that.

Sorry guys.

Sorry to hear your kitty is sick. Has your character sheet been updated off of your iPad?