Hi, my Liberty needs a head gasket done. It is at 180K km. Naturally I'd get both gaskets done but given kms I'd also look at the timing chain/belt. Subaru are saying min $5K and min two weeks as they'd send head off for checking blah blah blah.
I'm just wondering that if they're pulling the motor out would it be cheaper (or close) to put in a new/reco motor? (And, surely, it would be faster.)
I did have a very reliable mechanic but he's now retired so I don't really have anyone trustworthy to give me an answer. Subaru might(?) be more reliable than some new/untested mechanic but I'm sure I'll pay for it.
Plus can I be guaranteed Subaru will do the job 100% anyway?
Suggestions?
PS: in the SE suburbs of Melbourne.
Cheers.
2007 Liberty wagon 2.0 - new motor?
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El_Freddo
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Re: 2007 Liberty wagon 2.0 - new motor?
G’day Grahame,
Try Subawreck in Clayton. I’m not sure if they do mechanical work but it would be worth asking as they’d know their stuff if they do. I’ve not been to them or any mechanic other than for RWCs or tyres...
Do a google search for Subaru specialists around Melbourne. They’ll be creative with their names as they’re not licences to use “Subaru” in their title!
Dealer will have you paying more typically. That said, 5k seems reasonable for a head gasket job if it includes other bits along the way (I bet it doesn’t!), what else does that include - cam belt, idlers and water pump? Rear main seal and rear plate reseal? It would be best to get everything itemised on the quote.
Two weeks could be about right depending on what’s happening with the engine machine shop, that time could blow out with Covid isolations etc so factor that possibility in too.
180,000km! Still a baby. 300,000 they’re just worn in
How do you know the head gaskets need to be replaced?
Cheers
Bennie
Try Subawreck in Clayton. I’m not sure if they do mechanical work but it would be worth asking as they’d know their stuff if they do. I’ve not been to them or any mechanic other than for RWCs or tyres...
Do a google search for Subaru specialists around Melbourne. They’ll be creative with their names as they’re not licences to use “Subaru” in their title!
Dealer will have you paying more typically. That said, 5k seems reasonable for a head gasket job if it includes other bits along the way (I bet it doesn’t!), what else does that include - cam belt, idlers and water pump? Rear main seal and rear plate reseal? It would be best to get everything itemised on the quote.
Two weeks could be about right depending on what’s happening with the engine machine shop, that time could blow out with Covid isolations etc so factor that possibility in too.
180,000km! Still a baby. 300,000 they’re just worn in
How do you know the head gaskets need to be replaced?
Cheers
Bennie
Re: 2007 Liberty wagon 2.0 - new motor?
Thanks El Freddo.
Oh I'm mightily embarrassed. I later realised it is the rocker gasket leaking not head gasket. Phew!
But let me backtrack. Subaru said to replace the head gaskets would be a minimum of $5K and two weeks. Which I hear as a blank cheque and unlimited time. A truckload for a 15yr old car that cost $5K. So I start looking at a new/reco motor because if they are going to take it out it'd definitely be quicker (labour saving) and maybe just as expensive but I'd have a new/reco motor.
Okay, after my mistake I went back to Subaru and gave them a list of items (timing belt, rocker gasket x2, replace two frozen plugs etc). I really wanted to stress to the guy on the desk that the two frozen plugs could be a problem. A big problem. He said they might be. But said nothing else. I had to ask happens if they snap or the thread gets stripped. He mentioned it'd mean dropping the engine. No mention that this'd cost a truckload (which I knew from my earlier discussion about the head gasket).
So worst case, if a RS mechanic gets to work on my car he doesn't have to give a stuff because if he screws up, just drop the motor blah blah blah and the customer pays ... no car etc etc.
I was pretty reluctant going to Subaru. Maybe the dealerships are not all the same but in this case I felt like I was talking to someone who had zero care factor. Didn't seem to matter a crap that it could be several grand and a few weeks.
So now I won't worry about the two plugs for the time being (or until it is misfiring).
Anyone know a reliable mechanic around Dandenong?
Cheers.
Oh I'm mightily embarrassed. I later realised it is the rocker gasket leaking not head gasket. Phew!
But let me backtrack. Subaru said to replace the head gaskets would be a minimum of $5K and two weeks. Which I hear as a blank cheque and unlimited time. A truckload for a 15yr old car that cost $5K. So I start looking at a new/reco motor because if they are going to take it out it'd definitely be quicker (labour saving) and maybe just as expensive but I'd have a new/reco motor.
Okay, after my mistake I went back to Subaru and gave them a list of items (timing belt, rocker gasket x2, replace two frozen plugs etc). I really wanted to stress to the guy on the desk that the two frozen plugs could be a problem. A big problem. He said they might be. But said nothing else. I had to ask happens if they snap or the thread gets stripped. He mentioned it'd mean dropping the engine. No mention that this'd cost a truckload (which I knew from my earlier discussion about the head gasket).
So worst case, if a RS mechanic gets to work on my car he doesn't have to give a stuff because if he screws up, just drop the motor blah blah blah and the customer pays ... no car etc etc.
I was pretty reluctant going to Subaru. Maybe the dealerships are not all the same but in this case I felt like I was talking to someone who had zero care factor. Didn't seem to matter a crap that it could be several grand and a few weeks.
So now I won't worry about the two plugs for the time being (or until it is misfiring).
Anyone know a reliable mechanic around Dandenong?
Cheers.
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El_Freddo
- Master Member
- Posts: 12499
- Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:00 am
- Location: Bridgewater Vic
- Contact:
Re: 2007 Liberty wagon 2.0 - new motor?
Well that’s good news! Cam gaskets can be done is situ, small hands are good for this but it’s doable if you have big hands.
The frozen plugs, I assume you mean spark plugs? These need a good solid fitting socket, six point is much better than a twelve for this. Get a decent breaker bar and hold some tension on the bar to remove slop, then give it a really good quick whack with your palm on the end of the breaker bar, similar to giving someone a forceful shove.
What’s needed is to break the hold the ally head has on the spark plugs. Don’t lean on them, just snap that tension and wind the plugs out. If they don’t come out easily, you might need to do the wiggle dance in and out with some sort of penetrant lubricant to help the threads slide on each other. Not a difficult job, just one that can be gut wrenching when you’ve not done this trick before.
Cheers
Bennie
The frozen plugs, I assume you mean spark plugs? These need a good solid fitting socket, six point is much better than a twelve for this. Get a decent breaker bar and hold some tension on the bar to remove slop, then give it a really good quick whack with your palm on the end of the breaker bar, similar to giving someone a forceful shove.
What’s needed is to break the hold the ally head has on the spark plugs. Don’t lean on them, just snap that tension and wind the plugs out. If they don’t come out easily, you might need to do the wiggle dance in and out with some sort of penetrant lubricant to help the threads slide on each other. Not a difficult job, just one that can be gut wrenching when you’ve not done this trick before.
Cheers
Bennie