Help with engine cooling burping

[mekohler]

I assume I have an air pocket that is causing the below.

I cannot seem to get the water/antifreeze to flow, I assume I have an air pocket somewhere. I filled the radiator and tank near engine. I also tapped the pipe under the intake and routed it back to the tank in the engine area. I run the engine and it warms up to the point the radiator fans turn on, but the radiator is still cold etc. Let it cool down try again, it still does not seem to flow. Any help on how best to burp/bleed the coolant system would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance for any help and suggestions.
-Matthew

[Rasmus]

EDIT: The following steps don't work for an EJ2xx in a 818. Ignore my ignorance.

* Take cap off of turbo coolant reservoir

* Fill with coolant until full, then squeeze the upper radiator hose a few times until it goes down, it will be "burping" air when you do this

* Repeat above process until you can no longer fit any more coolant in the tank

* Climb into the car, set the heater controls to full hot and set the blower speed to its highest setting, if you've deleted the heater you can skip this step.

* Start the car and let it idle for about 30 seconds, adding coolant if the level goes down. Shut the car off, and now squeeze the upper radiator hose repeatedly, allowing any trapped air to dissipate, allowing more room for coolant

* Restart the car and let the car get close to operating temperature, the thermostat will open, and the coolant will circulate, keep burping the upper hose if you wish, just be careful not to touch the moving belts or power steering pulley. Keep the coolant topped off until it is almost warmed up

* Shut off the car when you can no longer get it to accept any more coolant when the engine is warm, replace the cap on the reservoir, and fill the coolant overflow tank located on the radiator to the full when HOT mark

Do NOT open the radiator's cap during any of this or after. You'll just let air in. Top the system off at the Turbo Coolant Res only.

[Rasmus]

You essentially have to fill the cooling system and let out the air from the highest point when trying to get the last of the air out. Which for 99% of guys is the turbo coolant reservoir. Not the radiator.

[metalmaker12]

While cold and engine off lol. You have to lift the radiator up with it full and it's cap closed and tank cap open till coolant comes out the top of the tank and coolant flow down to drivers side coolant tube. If coolant does not come out of tank add more into the tank and repeat till it comes out. It worked for me the first time. If you still can't get it pm me and I will send a more detailed list of what to do.

[mekohler]

Thank you, I will give it a shot. Now that Baseball for the kid is in full swing I do not get enough time.....

[JeromeS13]

If you have Mechie's relocation bracket, you can use one of these.

26941

Then just fill it halfway and let the car run until you don't see anymore bubbles. Running the engine through the rev range also helps push it through the system.

[metalmaker12]

If you have Mechie's relocation bracket, you can use one of these.

26941

Then just fill it halfway and let the car run until you don't see anymore bubbles. Running the engine through the rev range also helps push it through the system.

Ditto, this system works well, I did not have it handy at the time so I had to do it the old fashioned way.

[Wayne Presley]

I do a mod to bleed all the air the first time you fill it. what happens is there is an air pocket that gets trapped in the motor that would normally go uphill to the radiator in the WRX. In the 818 the water outlet goes down and traps the air. You put in a barb nipple in the water outlet and run it up to the degas tank. If you face the motor from the seating compartment, you drill and tap a 1/8 NPT hole at about 2 O'clock position in the water outlet. Run a line from there to the degas tank and fill as usual. All the air moves up to the degas tank and your overheating problems will be gone.

Brass barb fitting
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc175/vcpinjectionpb/P1020732_zpsb2367c3b.jpg (http://s213.photobucket.com/user/vcpinjectionpb/media/P1020732_zpsb2367c3b.jpg.html)

Hook to the left nipple on the degas tank
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc175/vcpinjectionpb/P1020733_zps242bf98a.jpg (http://s213.photobucket.com/user/vcpinjectionpb/media/P1020733_zps242bf98a.jpg.html)

[Bob_n_Cincy]

* Do NOT open the radiator's cap during any of this or after. You'll just let air in. Top the system off at the Turbo Coolant Res only.

Ramus,
I believe when there is a filler tank (burp tank) the radiator doesn't have a pressure release cap.

If you have an aftermarket radiator,it's cap should be one that totally seals both in and out.

With the way both radiator hoses are mounted down low in the 818, I don't understand how you can ever get the air out of the front radiator. Maybe stand the car on it's nose or have a bleeder valve on the radiator.

Even if you did get the air out, the first boil would fill it back up with air.
Please help me understand.
Bob

Edit: I wrote this before reading Wayne's response. But I still don't understand how to get the air out of the radiator.

[Wayne Presley]

Ramus,
I believe when there is a filler tank (burp tank) the radiator doesn't have a pressure release cap.

If you have an aftermarket radiator,it's cap should be one that totally seals both in and out.

With the way both radiator hose are mounted down low in the 818, I don't understand how you can ever get the air out of the front radiator. Maybe stand the car on it's nose or have a bleeder valve on the radiator.

Even if you did get the air out, the first boil would fill it back up with air.
Please help me understand.
Bob

Edit: I wrote this before reading Wayne's response. But I still don't understand how to get the air out of the radiator.

You un bolt the radiator and hold it up while the hoses are connected.re fill the radiator while holding it up

[Bob_n_Cincy]

you un bolt the radiator and hold it up while the hoses are connected.re fill the radiator while holding it up
really!!!!!!!???????

[wallace18]

Or you can do what I did in my build thread.

[Wayne Presley]

really!!!!!!!???????

The mod I did gets all the air out of the motor, lifting the radiator gets all of the air out the the lines and radiator. Doing both will give you near zero air on the first fill.

[Rasmus]

Reads like I've got a more to learn, clearing air-pockets from the cooling system of an EJ2xx in a 818.

[Rasmus]

Or you can do what I did in my build thread.
For the lazy: How wallace did it (http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?9031-Wallace18-quot-s-818-Build&p=124567&viewfull=1#post124567). Hint: how high can you lift the front of your 818?

[Wayne Presley]

Reads like I've got a more to learn, clearing air-pockets from the cooling system of an EJ2xx in a 818.

Do the mod and lift the radiator, no additional reading required :-)

[Bob_n_Cincy]

I like Wayne's mod of adding a small hose from the top coolant pipe to the coolant fill tank. (degas tank or burp tank)
I will add a bleed valve to the top of the radiator to facilitate getting air out of radiator.

What I don't like about the system is:
In that case fluid boiling causing gas (air) to form in the system. The radiator will not recover from this like standard automotive systems where the fluid is sucked back in from the overflow tank.
Bob

[Wayne Presley]

My mod will continuously degas the engine and the coolant recovery bottle at the front will do it for the radiator.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

My mod will continuously degas the engine and the coolant recovery bottle at the front will do it for the radiator.
Do you have a pressure relief cap at the radiator and another one the degas tank?
if so, are they the same PSI rating?
Bob

[Wayne Presley]

Do you have a pressure relief cap at the radiator and another one the degas tank?
if so, are they the same PSI rating?
Bob

I use the same ones the factory uses, each with their own recovery bottle.

[Erik W. Treves]

x2 on the Wayne mod.. Works AWESOME

[Bob_n_Cincy]

On my o4 forester XT there is no cap on the radiator.

26982

On the 06 WRX there is 2 different kinds of caps.

26984


26983

If your system works well, that's what I'll do.
Bob

[mekohler]

I was able to get it cooling correctly finally. Thank you all for the suggestions and help. I had already done what Wayne suggested mod of tapping the top pipe, etc, I just took the overflow tank and temporarily mounted it off the top roll bar and used it to burp/back fill. I was able to back the car out of the garage and drive onto my sloped driveway and it cleared out some more air (pint of water maybe). Now on to the next part... I was using spare tires (donuts) to drive and I think my front left wheel bearing is not working well or the brake pads are not releasing cleanly because the wheel does not spin freely..... Thank you again.

[TouchStone]

Sorry for bringing up an old thread, I have another question. There is a hose that runs from the radiator to the filler tank where Wayne suggets connecting the new port from the crossover pipe. Can I add a T connection and connect these hoses together?

39740

[Wayne Presley]

You can

[nkw8181]

When putting the barb in do you put it at 2 o'clock on the completely circular area where the tube goes? The area behind it doesn't seam to have a good spot.

[Wayne Presley]

Yes you do, there is just enough material to support the threads

[nkw8181]

So just behind the circular area and do I need to tap the hole or can I just drill a hole and use the barb to thread it in? I ask because I don't have npt taps.

[Wayne Presley]

YOu have to go to Lowes or Home Depot and pick up an NPT tap

[Goldwing]

I tee'd the line there as well. Rather than tapping the water port, I used a fitting from a VW VR6 that had a small y offshoot. My engine was already in and firewall installed, so tapping was going to be a pain. I would have preferred tapping, and if I have to pull my engine in the future will do it then. Here's what I used instead: http://www.ecstuning.com/ES307174/?gclid=COClsY3gvsQCFSgF7AodmF0AOg

[Goldwing]

There are stainless versions available for $50-$60. 42 draft designs has one.

[coloskydiver]

I use the same ones the factory uses, each with their own recovery bottle.

I am running "Wayne's" mod and have a degas tank in the rear for the engine tank and another in the front for the radiator/intercooler. My issues is all the coolant gets push to front bottle and not the rear. I feel that all the air is out of the system and need to figure away to balance this out. Please let me know you thoughts.

[Mechie3]

Tamra mentioned in her thread something about the cap on the radiator is a overflow only and won't suck back in. In the OEM config the overflow on the engine cap is T'd into the line feeding the bottle on the radiator. It sucks the coolant back in. Since they're no long t'd the radiator can push water but not pull it in and the rear cap has no reservoir to pull from.

[coloskydiver]

Whats the solution than? Should the overflow off the radiator be capped and rely 100% on the rear degas bottle for the coolant system?

[Goldwing]

Yes, that's what I did, just one overflow bottle in the rear. I capped the line off the radiator neck, and ran a burp line off the top right of the radiator back to the coolant reservoir, as is stock wrx, by the turbo (with an extra tee as it passes the water outlet burp line added via Wayne's mod) to help get any trapped air sent to the back where it can get purged.

[Goldwing]

I confirmed the burp lines, both Wayne's and the radiator, are working by feeling the lines get hot as the respective areas get hot. Wayne's burp line got hot as soon as the thermostat opened and started circulating. The long radiator burp line got hot once the radiator warmed up. I first followed Wayne's recommendation of filling the system with the radiator raised, but other than doing that, the burp lines took care of all air purging. Worked like a charm.

[Sean.keehn@gmail.com]

I've spent the last couple days reading thought all this, as I didn't know about the vent issues before I didn't install Wayne's cotinuous vent.

I did have success elevating the radiator. Is usually uses ratchet straps and hooks in my celing to hoist the radiator up and keep it level. Doing this makes the radiator cap the highest point in the system again. Next I removed the air intake to get access to the radiator return line. I loosened the hose clamp and pinched the side of the hose by the end to let the air out, keep filling from the radiator it works great now. Temp gets up to about 190 idling then drops back to 178 and the highest temp I saw while hard driving was 207. Way better than the 248 I saw while idling before.

[Goldwing]

I think it helps to have the whole front of the car lifted as well to help the coolant flow down the coolant pipes along the sides of the car. I left both caps off while filling until the rear level hit the degas tank. Capped the rear, then continued topping off the front in its raised position, capped the front, lowered the front, topped the rear. I felt leaving both open during the initial part of the fill would allow trapped air an easy way out, especially in those low areas along the sides. Seemed to work.

[John H]

Hi All-
40159
Zero clearance for burp tank! Hope I installed the 06 WRX motor correctly.
Any suggestions when I get to burping will be appreciated.
Thx

[Hindsight]

Buy one of these: http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?12393-Zero-Decibel-Motorsports-Coolant-Bracket-Relocation-Kit

[Goldwing]

Yep, just needs moved over a bit. Fashion a bracket or buy the one listed above.

[dougkirkbride]

Yes, that's what I did, just one overflow bottle in the rear. I capped the line off the radiator neck, and ran a burp line off the top right of the radiator back to the coolant reservoir, as is stock wrx, by the turbo (with an extra tee as it passes the water outlet burp line added via Wayne's mod) to help get any trapped air sent to the back where it can get purged.

Hi Rich,
so I see this topic has been revisited again........ I saw in the FFR manual update they added a burp line. did you basically end up with the schematics below?

4032240323

[Hindsight]

That's basically what most people are doing now. It's what I'm doing.

[TouchStone]

Rather than drilling and tapping the coolant pipe. I'm going to tie the currently unused heater core pipe to the burp line/filler tank. I feel that this is safer, easier and accomplishes the same thing.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8803/16450826694_4ce6086161_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r4GMD1)

[Goldwing]

Hi Rich,
so I see this topic has been revisited again........ I saw in the FFR manual update they added a burp line. did you basically end up with the schematics below?

4032240323
Yep.

[mquam99]

Can the mod be done with coolant in the system or should I drain first? I cannot get the cooling to work so this mod is my last shot.

thanks

Mike

[Buzz Skyline]

If you're talking about adding the barbed connector, I did it with coolant in the system. Works great.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Instead of drilling and taping, I added a temp sensor coupler to the top hose,

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?12534-MRG-MotorSports-818S-Build&p=228056&viewfull=1#post228056

http://www.ebay.com/itm/36-MM-OR1-7-16-INCH-ALUMINUM-WATER-TEMPERATURE-TEMP-SENSOR-HOUSING-HOLDER-BLUE-/331465179998?hash=item4d2cdd435e:g:qJ0AAOxydyxSTFU c&vxp=mtr

[mquam99]

If you're talking about adding the barbed connector, I did it with coolant in the system. Works great.

I am talking about the barbed connector. How far back on the tube did you drill?

[Hindsight]

I am talking about the barbed connector. How far back on the tube did you drill?

Here you go:
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?18090-VCP-Cooling-System-Mod

[ssssly]

There are stainless versions available for $50-$60. 42 draft designs has one.

The 42DD "stainless" y pipe is a standard $10 aluminum in line water temp sensor adapter with a $0.50 bass 45deg NPT barb screwed into it. It should be a suitable replacement to drilling the crossover pipe if you have already installed the engine.

https://www.amazon.com/Dewhel-Aluminum-Temperature-Radiator-Adaptor/dp/B018FY0XMM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467432320&sr=8-1&keywords=32mm+radiator+water+temp

[mquam99]

thanks for the help everyone. I ended up getting that barbed connector installed and the system is now cooling correctly. what a great mod. Thanks!!!

[Wayne Presley]

thanks for the help everyone. I ended up getting that barbed connector installed and the system is now cooling correctly. what a great mod. Thanks!!!

Your welcome :cool:

[iblackwe]

hi all, after reading this I think I have a good understanding of the vent system but just to clarify I have Wayne's mod which is teed into the vent line from the top passengers side of the radiator running all the way back to the degas tank for the turbo. I now have a solid cap for the front radiator and plugged the original overflow line from it.

I have Bought an expansion tank for the rear turbo degas tank which has a port on the bottom to allow fluid to be pushed in and drawn out through the cap and has a tiny little hole to allow the vacuum procedure. Does that overflow tank/inlet need to be mounted higher than the degas tank for it to work? Or since its on vacuum with the degas tank radiator cap it doesn't matter the height differential? It is currently mounted about level with the degas tank.

What style of radiator cap are you guys using for the rear degas tank? Are most radiator caps a draw and vent style? Or do I need to find a special style. Is the standard pressure 0.6 bar?

Thanks for the advice!

[Jim Haar]

I did Waynes mod and jacked up the front as high as I could and then raised the radiator
even higher, then added coolant into the radiator until it came out of the reservoir.
Now have flow thru the heater core and the top radiator hose is hot and the bottom
is cooler, ran engine for 30 minutes and after fans came temp only got to halfway.
I think all the air is out now.

[mrbiglar]

Read all of the above. Have done Wayne's mod. I tee'd off of the Radiator line from the NPT fitting, so both go to an expansion tank in the rear. I have an expansion tank in the front as well, that is connected to the radiator and AWIC radiator. For some reason I never see expansion into the rear tank. Even if it is super hot. Only in the front, off the radiator. Radiator Cap is 1.1 BAR and Mishimoto Degas tank cap is 1.3. Thoughts?

Also, how can I tell if both allow return of coolant vs. just expansion?

Thanks

[Wayne Presley]

I plug the overflow outlet from the radiator. Put the 1.3 cap on the radiator and the 1.1 on the degas tank. Use the front tank for the AWIC.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Read all of the above. Have done Wayne's mod. I tee'd off of the Radiator line from the NPT fitting, so both go to an expansion tank in the rear. I have an expansion tank in the front as well, that is connected to the radiator and AWIC radiator. For some reason I never see expansion into the rear tank. Even if it is super hot. Only in the front, off the radiator. Radiator Cap is 1.1 BAR and Mishimoto Degas tank cap is 1.3. Thoughts?

Also, how can I tell if both allow return of coolant vs. just expansion?

Thanks

Mrbiglar,
It sounds like you are on the right track.
You have 2 expansion tanks attached to your engine coolant. I don't think this is a good idea. As you could discharge into one thank and the suck back out of the other tank. After a couple cycles you could be sucking air into the system.

I believe the line you have coming off the bleed port (top right corner of the radiator) is the one going to the rear expansion tank.

The only change I think you need to make, is to change you radiator cap to a totally sealed one. (or just seal the port on the side of the cap)

My oem radiator did not have a cap.
72271
Bob

[mrbiglar]

Makes sense. Thanks Wayne and Bob.

[gearnoob]

Resurrecting this old thread -

I have Wayne's mod done, but the engine is still heating up a ton. I unbolted the expansion tank and moved it over to try and let it burp but it kept burping and eventually overflowed (:( ), when I turned the car off hot radiator fluid burped all over the place (which was fun). Do I have to burp the expansion tank or is the procedure for this to top off the expansion tank cold, lift the front of the car and fill/burp the radiator? Went through a lot of coolant tonight but at least I got the car to idle long enough to get this hot :D

[Ajzride]

I fought this for weeks. Finally gave up and got the right tool Money well spent:

https://www.harborfreight.com/Cooling-System-Test-and-Refill-Kit-64985.html

Perhaps you can find one to borrow. Filled with no air in under 10 minutes.

[NevaLift2Shift]

I fought this for weeks. Finally gave up and got the right tool Money well spent:

https://www.harborfreight.com/Cooling-System-Test-and-Refill-Kit-64985.html

Perhaps you can find one to borrow. Filled with no air in under 10 minutes.

This is definitely the way to go. I also elevated the front of the car and filled from the radiator cap area. It might be overkill, but I had no overheating issues after using the vacuum fill and elevating the front end.

[gearnoob]

So I'm thinking it might be something more interesting than air being present in the system (but I'm totally guessing).

I started by jacking up the front to make the radiator the highest point in the system (the rear was still up but the front was higher).

My ECU is reading ~200 degrees coolant; however, the first time I burped it today the coolant was pretty much cool to the touch (had to constantly scoop coolant out with a cup since it was completely filling the no-spill funnel thing). Each time I turned off the car, the coolant would go back out of the funnel into the system (+maybe a little bit more? was hard to tell since I had to funnel it out and then put it back each time)... All through this process I was able to squeeze the top radiator hose easily and air would come out; however, it *NEVER* got harder to squeeze and constantly had air bubbles?

Each time the coolant would get warmer; however, never too hot to handle (nor would it have made for good hot chocolate, not even close to that warm!). I'm thinking that there's a water flow restriction somewhere in the route from the expansion tank -> radiator since it was getting to the 3rd tick on the dash but the coolant was just "warm" and I was able to constantly squeeze the upper hose.


My hose route is the following:
126891

Purple = Wayne's mod + long line to radiator
Red = coolant overflow
yellow = turbo

On the radiator side the place where the overflow is supposed to be (under the cap) is plugged and not routed to a T.
The "long line to radiator" is the same as this picture's "Hose H" - 126892


EDIT: I tried to burp the system ~10-15 times today before giving up...


EDIT2: I guess I'm a bit confused why so much coolant starts to get into the no-spill funnel instead of a constant flow, does it mean that the inlet isn't pumping the water fast enough and the flow egress of the engine is too much?

[Ajzride]

It sounds like you are fighting the same thing I am. For some reason I'm not getting enough hot water circulated back to the thermostat and it never opens, so the pump never circulates, i just get some conductive heat transfer from the block into the coolant lines. I tested this by removing my thermostat and the entire system circulates and the water in the radiator gets up to 200 degrees like you would expect. However I have verified twice that the thermostat works by testing it on a stove with a thermometer.

Wish I could tell you what the answer is because i've still not solved it, my next step is to install a few inches of clear hose at the thermostat housing so I can visually watch the water circulating and see how much I get.

[STiPWRD]

My hose route is the following:
126891

Purple = Wayne's mod + long line to radiator
Red = coolant overflow
yellow = radiator

In your photo, the yellow hose needs to go to the turbo, not the radiator. This hose takes the hot coolant from the turbo. The purple and red hoses are hooked up properly. Once the engine starts warming up and you see the coolant get close to the top of the expansion tank, close the cap.

It may take a few cycles to get all the air out of the cooling system. I used a similar tool to the one Ajzride recommended. It is well worth the money. The one from HF probably works just as good.
https://www.amazon.com/UView-550000-Airlift-Cooling-Checker/dp/B0002SRH5G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443050002&sr=8-1&keywords=airlift

If this doesn't work, make sure your thermostat is working properly.

[idf]

It sounds like you are fighting the same thing I am. For some reason I'm not getting enough hot water circulated back to the thermostat and it never opens, so the pump never circulates, i just get some conductive heat transfer from the block into the coolant lines. I tested this by removing my thermostat and the entire system circulates and the water in the radiator gets up to 200 degrees like you would expect. However I have verified twice that the thermostat works by testing it on a stove with a thermometer.

Wish I could tell you what the answer is because i've still not solved it, my next step is to install a few inches of clear hose at the thermostat housing so I can visually watch the water circulating and see how much I get.

I don't recall how it came up, but somewhere in my build process one of the FF techs suggested eliminating the thermostat. Given that I have used this approach in various race cars, and that I did not plan to drive the 818 in the Winter I left the thermostat out. I did include a flow restrictor (thermostat flange with the guts removed) in it's place. I won't claim to have had no trouble burping, but with the yellow funnel and Wayne's mod I was successful. The car does not seem to take an inordinate time to warm up even on cool days and does not overheat on hot days.

[DSR-3]

Buy or borrow the tool. I fought the first fill on my 818, and I have a very simple, high-point bleed, non-turbo system. I also added a couple weep holes in the thermostat plate, as that has helped on previous cars. It still took too much effort.
It's not unique to this car/engines. I recently fought a G35 for a day of fills, burps, drains, raise/lower etc, and never could get it purged. I (we) gave up and took it to a friend with "the tool" and instant success!

[Ajzride]

I don't recall how it came up, but somewhere in my build process one of the FF techs suggested eliminating the thermostat. Given that I have used this approach in various race cars, and that I did not plan to drive the 818 in the Winter I left the thermostat out. I did include a flow restrictor (thermostat flange with the guts removed) in it's place. I won't claim to have had no trouble burping, but with the yellow funnel and Wayne's mod I was successful. The car does not seem to take an inordinate time to warm up even on cool days and does not overheat on hot days.

Since the gasket mounts to the thermostat, this is the only way to do it. I didn't hack up a thermostat but did make a plate the same size with a hole the size of a quarter in it to hold the seal for testing. I would prefer to have the thermostat though, even if not driving int he winter, because temperature under 185 affects the idle circuit logic. At idle it takes about 12 minutes to reach 185 for mine.

[gearnoob]

It sounds like you are fighting the same thing I am. For some reason I'm not getting enough hot water circulated back to the thermostat and it never opens, so the pump never circulates, i just get some conductive heat transfer from the block into the coolant lines. I tested this by removing my thermostat and the entire system circulates and the water in the radiator gets up to 200 degrees like you would expect. However I have verified twice that the thermostat works by testing it on a stove with a thermometer.

Wish I could tell you what the answer is because i've still not solved it, my next step is to install a few inches of clear hose at the thermostat housing so I can visually watch the water circulating and see how much I get.

Have you tried to measure the temperature of the coolant at the thermostat? Maybe tapping in and seeing the temperature would show that the distance the coolant is traveling is inadvertently cooling it down somehow and therefore not opening the thermostat all the way? (again, complete guess)

[gearnoob]

In your photo, the yellow hose needs to go to the turbo, not the radiator. This hose takes the hot coolant from the turbo. The purple and red hoses are hooked up properly. Once the engine starts warming up and you see the coolant get close to the top of the expansion tank, close the cap.

It may take a few cycles to get all the air out of the cooling system. I used a similar tool to the one Ajzride recommended. It is well worth the money. The one from HF probably works just as good.
https://www.amazon.com/UView-550000-Airlift-Cooling-Checker/dp/B0002SRH5G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443050002&sr=8-1&keywords=airlift

If this doesn't work, make sure your thermostat is working properly.

Oops, I meant Turbo. Edited!!

[gearnoob]

It sounds like you are fighting the same thing I am. For some reason I'm not getting enough hot water circulated back to the thermostat and it never opens, so the pump never circulates, i just get some conductive heat transfer from the block into the coolant lines. I tested this by removing my thermostat and the entire system circulates and the water in the radiator gets up to 200 degrees like you would expect. However I have verified twice that the thermostat works by testing it on a stove with a thermometer.

Wish I could tell you what the answer is because i've still not solved it, my next step is to install a few inches of clear hose at the thermostat housing so I can visually watch the water circulating and see how much I get.

Well damn, looks like I am in the same boat as you...
Took the thermostat off and burped it with no problem (I think!), gotta confirm tomorrow.

[Ajzride]

I drilled six holes in the thermostat today and it allowed plenty of flow, in fact I probably should have only done 3 or 4 holes. It took 16 minutes at idle for the fan to come on.

127593

[tommytt]

Have had the same struggles the past week, i also drained the system and drilled 3 holes in the thermostat. Works so far but time will tell.

[AZPete]

Call me boring and old school, but I've bled my cooling system successfully many times without a special funnel and without lifting the front end. I just followed the Subaru FSM:

FILLING OF ENGINE COOLANT
1) Pour cooling system conditioner through the filter neck. Cooling system protective agent: COOLING SYSTEM CONDITIONER (Part No.SOA635071)
2) Fill engine coolant into the coolant filler tank up to filler neck position. Coolant capacity (fill up to “FULL” level):
AT model Approx. 7.6 2(8.0 US qt, 6.7 Imp qt) MT model Approx. 7.7 2(8.1 US qt, 6.8 Imp qt)
CAUTION: Do not mix up the coolant filler tank side cap with radiator side cap.
NOTE: • Do not remove the radiator side cap when filling engine coolant.
• The SUBARU Genuine Coolant containing antifreeze and anti-rust agents is especially made for SUBARU engine, which has an aluminum crankcase.
Always use SUBARU Genuine Coolant, since other coolant may cause corrosion.
3) Fill engine coolant into the reservoir tank up to “FULL” level.
4) Close the coolant filler tank cap, start the engine and race 5 to 6 times at less than 3,000 rpm, then stop the engine. (Complete this operation within 40 seconds.)
5) Wait for one minute after the engine stops, open the coolant filler tank cap. If the engine coolant level drops, add engine coolant to the filler neck position of radiator.
6) Perform the procedures 4) and 5) again.
7) Attach the coolant filler tank cap and reservoir tank cap properly.
8) Start the engine and operate the heater at maximum hot position and the blower speed setting to “LO”.
9) Run the engine at 2,000 rpm or less until radiator fan starts and stops.
NOTE:
• Be careful with the engine coolant temperature gauge to prevent overheating.
• If the radiator hose becomes to harden by the pressure of engine coolant, air bleeding operation seems to be almost completed.
10) Stop the engine and wait until engine coolant temperature lowers to 30°C (86°F) or less.
11) Open the coolant filler tank cap. If the engine coolant level drops, add engine coolant into the coolant filler tank up to the filler neck position and
the reservoir tank to “FULL” level.
12) Attach the coolant filler tank cap and reservoir tank cap properly.
13) Operate the heater at maximum hot position and the blower speed setting to “LO” and start the engine. Race at less than 3,000 rpm. If the flowing
sound is heard from heater core, repeat the procedures from step 9).
14) Install the collector cover.

[Ajzride]

I made my modifications today, will try to fill tomorrow.

[Ajzride]

Call me boring and old school, but I've bled my cooling system successfully many times without a special funnel and without lifting the front end. I just followed the Subaru FSM:

FILLING OF ENGINE COOLANT
...
14) Install the collector cover.

Pete

I appreciate the information, this is not something I have seen before and I'll be sure to try it out when I fill my system tonight, but burping the system only seems be half the problem at times.. Some of our cars, even when burped properly fail to generate enough flow to heat up the thermostat and allow it open. I don't know if it is certain years, Turbo vs NA, aftermarket water pumps, etc that causes the issue. But I'm 100% positive my system was properly burped (with no heater core hooked up), and still would not open the thermostat. The block was getting hot but nothing was circulating back to the thermostat to cause it to open. I know that is not the topic of this thread, which is burping, but the two issues can be hard to diagnose from each other initially, so the information being placed here can be useful.

[iblackwe]

Hi Guys,

I just want to double check with everyone having issues with their thermostat opening that they have looped back the coolant lines after removing the heater core? If you have just plugged off these lines without looping them back together then you have lost a vital circulation loop that will help open the thermostat. Please see the picture I have marked up below to see what I mean by that as it circulates the hot water back from the coolant cross over pipe to the back side of the thermo stat again.128792

[Ajzride]

Hi Guys,

I just want to double check with everyone having issues with their thermostat opening that they have looped back the coolant lines after removing the heater core? If you have just plugged off these lines without looping them back together then you have lost a vital circulation loop that will help open the thermostat. Please see the picture I have marked up below to see what I mean by that as it circulates the hot water back from the coolant cross over pipe to the back side of the thermo stat again.128792

I have had it looped back at times, and connected to the heater core at times, never plugged off. The water pump still wouldn't generate any flow through that line until I drilled holes in the thermostat.

[Ajzride]

Well, I made my modifications yesterday and filled the system today, and while I think my modifications helped, I have incomplete data. The primary issue I was trying to solve with my modifications was getting a good fill of the heater core and the block at the same time, but it turns out that some time in the last 6 weeks, my heater valve has stopped moving, so that is what was causing the heater core to stay cold, not an issue with filling the system.