head gaster replacement

[Mickey]

Well it looks like the head gasket is failing in my 00 obw. Stopped
in a respected independent Subaru shop for cost est. $1600 for head
work and resealing the whole engine. Heads will be surfaced. Checked
in at dealer and they want $2300 and mentioned head would be pressure
checked but no detail on what that meant and no mention of replacing
any seals.

Anyone else had to do this recently and what did you pay?

Oh, did the timing belt, water pump, front oil seal earlier this yr so
that is not needed.

Have/had plans on a long trip within days of repairs and have some
concerns about hitting the road for several weeks so soon after the
repairs. Going to the independent shop, if there is a problem that
pops up while away, I don't believe I have any recourse on expenses
even if they do offer 1 yr on parts. Any comments about hitting the
road so soon?

Mickey

 

[Pete2000]

I just picked up my '00 Legacy Wagon from the dealer. The dealer replaced
the head gasket at no charge under the recall notice warranty. I believe
Subaru is extending the warranty out eight years for head gasket leaks.

I have no idea how the delaer tested the seals, but they told me the
charge would normally be $1,200-$1,400. I dropped it off last night and
picked it up this evening. At this moment I am a HUGE fan of Subaru,
that's for sure.

 

[Mickey]

I just picked up my '00 Legacy Wagon from the dealer. The dealer replaced
the head gasket at no charge under the recall notice warranty. I believe
Subaru is extending the warranty out eight years for head gasket leaks.

This is the first I've heard of 8 yrs. If universally true I would
have thought the dealer would have said something. The word I had
heard was 100k miles and I'm beyond that.

I have no idea how the delaer tested the seals, but they told me the
charge would normally be $1,200-$1,400. I dropped it off last night and
picked it up this evening. At this moment I am a HUGE fan of Subaru,
that's for sure.

Only having the car for 1 day, I suspect engine was not pulled and
possible only 1 side (usually the left) was replaced. To reseal the
engine, thinking of rear main seal, I believes it requires the engine
to be pulled to gain access to the seal. Wonder if your repair
included any work to the head(s)?

Thanks for your comment.

Mickey

 

[Edward Hayes]

Model 2.5 L engines were suseble to head gasket weeping externally. If
your Subaru was one of the Models then IF you took your car to the
dealer he would put in a " Conditioner" and increase the warranty to
80,000 miles or X years. ed

 

[Jeff]

I have an 02 Outback which was not subject to the recall. What did they
change in design that I was not affected?
From an e-mail I sent SOA. Thanks Jeff

As requested, I checked our computer system and your vehicle is not affected
by either recall. When a Manufacturer announces a Recall, not all of the
vehicles are always affected. Usually, there is a range of vehicles, and
this seems to be your case.

 

[Edward Hayes]

There was a new head gasket design.

 

[Pete2000]

Performed cylindar leakdown test: CYL 1 8%, 2 7%, 3 22%, 4 18%. Removed
cylindar heads and inspected. Found signs of headgasket leaks. Checked
block and head for warpage. All under 0.002IN OK. Replaced head gaskets.
Reassembled, refilled coolant system 1 GAL, and oil 4.5 QTS. Test drove
and rechecked.

Sounds like the work was done to me.

 

[Ed Fortmiller]

Well it looks like the head gasket is failing in my 00 obw.

Have you tried any of the Subaru Cooling System Conditioner (really
Radweld)? I believe the stuff sells for around $1.50 per bottle.

--
Ed Fortmiller | (e-mail address removed) | Hudson MA
*
* To avoid getting a lot of SPAM junk mail, I have altered my REPLY-TO
* address. PLEASE remove the leading "RUBBISH" from my REPLY address.
* Any Email sent to the address without removing "RUBBISH" will
* automatically be discarded without me even seeing it.

 

[Dr. Rastis Fafoofnik]

Have you tried any of the Subaru Cooling System Conditioner (really
Radweld)? I believe the stuff sells for around $1.50 per bottle.

Cooling system conditioner...HAHAHAHA...thats a good way to fix a head
gasket problem...A joke of a fix..for a joke of a car.

 

[Mickey]

There was a new head gasket design.

Believe they are on their 3rd. design for the head gasket. Word from
the inde and dealer says the latest design seems to be working OK.
The independent shop told me earlier this yr he has never had to
replace a head gasket on a engine that had the 3rd gen design. That
may or may not mean anything as the 1st gen design was good for 100k
miles. I would think after replacing the first gasket it would be
hard to find cars that have an additional 100k on them. It is
possible that a new design could perform worse than the design it was
replacing. May be reason they are on 3rd design.

Mickey

 

[Mickey]

Performed cylindar leakdown test: CYL 1 8%, 2 7%, 3 22%, 4 18%. Removed
cylindar heads and inspected. Found signs of headgasket leaks. Checked
block and head for warpage. All under 0.002IN OK. Replaced head gaskets.
Reassembled, refilled coolant system 1 GAL, and oil 4.5 QTS. Test drove
and rechecked.

Sounds like the work was done to me.

The 2.5 phase I engines tended to leak internally, between water
jacket and cyl. Phase II engines tended to leak externally thus no
leakage between water jacket and cyl. At least that is what I've read
about this problem.

If you have one of the phase II engines, overheating and loss of
compression may never be seen.

Mickey

 

[ismlv]

I'm just reading some of these posts now but don't have all the history because my newsgroup server rolls them off pretty quickly.

I have a 99 SUS Ltd with almost 96K miles on it... should I be asking the dealer something about a warranty fix?

I was going to ask at my next oil change anyway.... the last 3Kor so when I stop after a long drive (2 hours highway speeds), I smell a bit
of oil burning but I'm not losing it in any noticeable amount between changes (every 3 - 3.5K miles).

 

[Jim Stewart]

I'm just reading some of these posts now but don't have all the history because my newsgroup server rolls them off pretty quickly.

I have a 99 SUS Ltd with almost 96K miles on it... should I be asking the dealer something about a warranty fix?

I was going to ask at my next oil change anyway.... the last 3Kor so when I stop after a long drive (2 hours highway speeds), I smell a bit
of oil burning but I'm not losing it in any noticeable amount between changes (every 3 - 3.5K miles).

What you smell is most likely oil from the
front oil seal. The good news is that you
are almost due to change the timing belt and
when you do, everything will be out in the
open and it will be cheap to fix.

 

[Mickey]

Well it looks like the head gasket is failing in my 00 obw. Stopped in
a respected independent Subaru shop for cost est. $1600 for head work
and resealing the whole engine. Heads will be surfaced. Checked in at
dealer and they want $2300 and mentioned head would be pressure checked
but no detail on what that meant and no mention of replacing any seals.

Anyone else had to do this recently and what did you pay?
.....

Mickey

Just received word today that repairs are complete. Will pick up
first of week. The good news is final bill just a little over $1300.
How often do you find the final bill coming in under the quote?
They always find something else to charge extra for, or so it seems.

Mickey

 

[r]

Jeff,

I have a 01 legacy GT Ltd; can you check if my engine is affected?
What can I do to prevent a Head Gasket Failure?

Thanks for your assistance.

RM

 

[Jeff]

I am pretty sure 01's are affected. I went to the Subaru website and
e-mailed SOA. They responded with the answer. You have to register on the
website with you VIN# and they will check. Jeff