Outbacks and 2.5 head gasket issues

LTurbo · Post by **LTurbo** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 12:30 pm

I have been looking at getting a early model outback and the most concerning issue with them is their head gaskets all seem to end up leaking. Is there a year model that had a better design and less issues? From what I have read the 1996-1998 2.5's would leak internally and the 1999-2002 2.5's leaked externally. Were either of these engines more or less reliable than the other?

Also I found this forum post very interesting -->
http://www.varioustopics.com/subaru/772 ... -info.html
Does this seem possible? for air bubbles in the cooling system to cause the heads to warp? I doubt it is the only thing causing the head gasket issues though.

Cheers

ScubyRoo · Post by **ScubyRoo** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 1:19 pm

I like the idea of taping into the top crossover pipe. What is this 'swirlpot' they speak of?

Venom · Post by **Venom** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 1:33 pm

Headgasket issue is just due to a poor gasket design. They are generally replaced with a 3 design gasket which i haven't heard of anyone having problems with. I would recommend buying an Outback that has already had the headgasket replaced, then you don't need to worry about. I was looking at outbacks myself, and personally i couldn't justify the risk of a headgasket failure and paying up to $800 or so dollar to replace it. I was also wary of cars nearing the 100,000km service interval that hadn't had the timing belts replaced.

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 2:01 pm

air bubbles, when get big enough, form a cavern like bubble that the produces steam within and creates a hot spot and pop goes ya head gasket

FROG · Post by **FROG** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 7:28 pm

just take into account the cost of "possibly required repairs" and talk to the seller about taking the cost off buy price as they are all well known I've had reasonable success with this in the past

LTurbo · Post by **LTurbo** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 10:47 pm

ScubyRoo wrote:I like the idea of taping into the top crossover pipe. What is this 'swirlpot' they speak of?

Fairly sure its the same things as a surge tank

LTurbo · Post by **LTurbo** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 10:49 pm

Venom wrote:I was looking at outbacks myself, and personally i couldn't justify the risk of a headgasket failure and paying up to $800 or so dollar to replace it. I was also wary of cars nearing the 100,000km service interval that hadn't had the timing belts replaced.

But you ended up putting a 2.5 in your wagon, what was that engine originally out of?
Cheers

tex · Post by **tex** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 2:17 pm

I wonder about this too I have a 96 outback that has over 200 K kms on it and never had the head gaskets done (although country K's) but i've left it idling for a half hour before and doesn't get hot! my biggest issue is now with the lift kit the heater core is two inches higher than it used to be in relation to the engine! and now i can hear air bubbles going through the heater core, so decided the system needs bleeding somewhere!