gasket blow chances

[Andy Leszczynski]

My wife's 2002 Impreza 2.5TS is affected by that head gasket problem.
When the recall was issued the car was treated immediately with a
solution pured into the radiator at IIRC 40-50k miles. Impreza is
reaching 90k miles now and drives bettent then ever.


My questions are:
-what are odds (%) it is going to happen (are there real statistics
somewhere)
-if it happens does one or two heads blow
-is that $2500 a typical fixing cost per one head or both
-when fixed, is problem solved permanently
-does Subaru cover it under warranty until 100k miles
-are there any sympthoms I could predict the blow ahead of time


I have my 2002 Outback (70k miles) which I told is not affected but it
is MT but my wife is reluctant to learn driving that (in fact she used
to drive such for a while but it was 10 years ago). We are going to
drive Chicago/Santa Fe/Chicago this winter and it will be 3000 miles at
least. Should I just take my car - besides that gasket stuff both are
in the perfect condition.

Also I consider to trade the care because heard that the cost of fixing
that is quite high - $2500. Should I panic?

I am looking forward for some insight - I really do not know what to do.

Thx, Andy

 

[Edward Hayes]

My 2000 Forester has also had the conditioner added at ~35,000 miles
and I'm now at 98,000 without a hint of a problem. Remember that while
there is a higher incident of leaking in those models there is no
widespread problem. I also just finished ( 3,600 mile) trip from
Florida to Wisconsin to Iowa and back running 70-75 mph whicle getting
averaging 27.4 mpg. Have a good trip.

 

[MN]

Should I panic?

You one of those engineering types, trying to logically
approach the issue, looking for statistics ))), asking
the group in an effort to at least collect a sample of
opinions to analyze )))) I like that, its really very funny.

Can't tell you either way, cause its a bet, just like life,
nothing is certain. In principle, its not a good idea/bet
to get rid of a good car! It is better to wait till you get
some good reason then dump it without hesitation.

The drive to Santa Fe isn't that long, and in cold weather
the odds are in your favor, but then if you do break-down
its going to be more unpleasant. You see another life's bets
again. If you can afford to drive only brand new cars, that
limits the risks somewhat )))

Good luck, and let us know how was the trip.
MN

 

[DG]

I have an '02 RS, 96K, leaking head gasket. When they are fixed, both are
replaced. The new gasket is different in design than the original. Watch
your coolant levels and oil level as well as for white or blue exhaust
color.

 

[Mickey]

My wife's 2002 Impreza 2.5TS is affected by that head gasket problem.
When the recall was issued the car was treated immediately with a
solution pured into the radiator at IIRC 40-50k miles. Impreza is
reaching 90k miles now and drives bettent then ever.


My questions are:
-what are odds (%) it is going to happen (are there real statistics
somewhere)
-if it happens does one or two heads blow
-is that $2500 a typical fixing cost per one head or both
-when fixed, is problem solved permanently
-does Subaru cover it under warranty until 100k miles
-are there any sympthoms I could predict the blow ahead of time


I have my 2002 Outback (70k miles) which I told is not affected but it
is MT but my wife is reluctant to learn driving that (in fact she used
to drive such for a while but it was 10 years ago). We are going to
drive Chicago/Santa Fe/Chicago this winter and it will be 3000 miles at
least. Should I just take my car - besides that gasket stuff both are
in the perfect condition.

Also I consider to trade the care because heard that the cost of fixing
that is quite high - $2500. Should I panic?

I am looking forward for some insight - I really do not know what to do.

Thx, Andy

The magic stuff for the radiator is nothing more than a "stop leak"
product. If your gasket was leaking at the time, there is a good
chance if will fail at some point. Just my opinion.

Have been told 125k miles is about the limit for the HG IF it's going
to fail. Mine lasted 123k miles. Right rear head is typ leak
location I've been told and that is where mine was leaking.

Subaru is on the third or fourth design and was told the latest was a
winner. Shop where I had mine replaced said they not seen a failure
on the latest design gasket if all was done correctly.

I used a indie shop that is Subie only and only uses OEM parts. Typ
when the HG's are replaced the job includes both HG's, water pump,
front oil seal and timming belt. The shop I went with pulls the
engine and has the heads resurfaced and ALL new seals in addition to
the above. I had replaced the timing belt and water pump a couple
months prior so didn't have them done again. My cost was $1350. If
they had done their normal repair with the TB anf WP typ cost is
$1600-1800.

Local dealer wanted $2k and didn't say what all they did for the price.

Mickey

 

[Edward Hayes]

My understanding is that the 2.5L engine from 1996 through 1999 had
some catastrophic HG failures i.e. blow-out between combustion
chamber and water jacket. Later 2.5L engines 2000-2003 had some
external weeping type leaks which the "Subaru" cooling system
conditioner is suppose to minimize.

 

[Rick Courtright]

winner. Shop where I had mine replaced said they not seen a failure
on the latest design gasket if all was done correctly. ....
engine and has the heads resurfaced and ALL new seals in addition to
the above. I had replaced the timing belt and water pump a couple

Hi,

Judging by what a friend who owns an automotive machine shop tells me,
you've hit the nail on the head w/ four words: "done correctly" and
"heads resurfaced."

He's not a Subie guy, but does a lot of head work on alloy heads, both
domestic (US) and import. He told me when I blew the HG on a Toyota
pickup (22-R, usually considered a fairly bulletproof engine) at 69k
miles that such experience is really quite common. His analysis is that
many alloy heads are made so "light," with minimal amounts of metal for
lots of coolant flow to keep them from overheating cuz of emissions
technology, that they warp easily, especially if they aren't (or can't
be--think single use "stretch" bolts) retorqued at regular intervals (my
VW Rabbits called for 15k mi retorquing intervals, and I never had HG
problems in over 220k miles between two of 'em--maybe he was onto
something?)

But he said once the head's "warped into place" as it were, it can be
resurfaced and generally won't warp further, so the new HG usually lasts
"forever" (his words.) In the case of my Toy truck, he was right.
Applying this info to Subie engines seems to hold true, too: I haven't
heard of anyone who had a second HG failure with a new HG and resurfaced
head. Anyone have different experience?

Rick

 

[Andy Leszczynski]

Later 2.5L engines 2000-2003 had some
external weeping type leaks which the "Subaru" cooling system
conditioner is suppose to minimize.

Interesting, I have both Outback and Impreza 2.5TS built in 2002. Dealer
based of VIN told me that my Outback is not affected but Impreza is.

A.

 

[Mickey]

Interesting, I have both Outback and Impreza 2.5TS built in 2002. Dealer
based of VIN told me that my Outback is not affected but Impreza is.

A.

If I remember correctly, it was model yr 02 that the latest HG design
was introduced. Could have been introduced at slightly different
times for various models.

Mickey

 

[Andy Leszczynski]

You one of those engineering types, trying to logically
approach the issue, looking for statistics ))), asking
the group in an effort to at least collect a sample of
opinions to analyze )))) I like that, its really very funny.

Can't tell you either way, cause its a bet, just like life,
nothing is certain. In principle, its not a good idea/bet
to get rid of a good car! It is better to wait till you get
some good reason then dump it without hesitation.

The drive to Santa Fe isn't that long, and in cold weather
the odds are in your favor, but then if you do break-down
its going to be more unpleasant. You see another life's bets
again. If you can afford to drive only brand new cars, that
limits the risks somewhat )))

Good luck, and let us know how was the trip.
MN

Returned safely and without troubles. Impreza beats Outback in the long
trips (provided you have enough room for all the stuff).

I decided to keep (at least for now) the car. But still I am curious
what those statistics are

A.