1999 Subaru Outback 2.5 from North America
Summary:
What to do when the gasket fails
Faults:
Don't know if you kids will get this far, there seems to be a lot of notes on Subaru Outbacks.
First, yes, both the 2.2 and 2.5 litre engines have head gasket problems, but it is more pronounced in the 2.5 litre. At around 90,000 miles, the stock head gasket on the 9n-0n model years of these cars fails. If you are buying a used Outback and the mileage is up there, you WILL have a problem.
Subaru now has a steel head gasket replacement, but it doesn't solve the problem, because the head tends to get warped. It DOES NOT require noticeable overheating for this to happen, it's just a poorly designed head and it does that. Milling the head and replacing the gasket has limited success, sometimes good, sometimes very bad.
There is a much better repair option, but you have to be careful with it. The Japanese require cars in their country to be scrapped when the reach a certain age. As a result, there are a great many 2.5L Subaru engines (also Toyota and Honda) with less than 40,000 miles on them available.
It costs around $3,200 to do a proper job of milling the head and replacing the gasket. It costs around $4,200 to put in a replacement engine that will come with a 12,000 mile warranty. Probably, done properly a replacement engine will last 60,000 miles.
The problem is finding a mechanic that will do a good job of replacement. If you have a manual transmission, do the clutch plate and bearing at the same time, and you will have a pretty reliable little car for about 4 - 5 years. Then the cycle starts over.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 30th August, 2010
30th May 2011, 07:28
Just bought a 2000 Lancaster with 70,000km on the 2.5-litre engine. Had read all the comments on head gasket problems, but needed a set of wheels quickly. At auction, paid the equivalent of US$2,440, and keep in mind the weak dollar pushes the dollar value higher. Just a thought, but has anyone any input on adding head gasket sealer prior to symptoms manifesting?
In Japan, you don't have to scrap a car at a certain age or distance on the clock. Far less replace the engine. But in the countryside, scrapping is usually FOC. So fairly common to scrap a car at 100,000km when the major service is due. And if mechanical problems kick in too, then it's heading for the great car park in the sky.
The three-litre, six-cylinder Lancaster with timing chain rather than belt sounds a better bet. Any chance of some feedback?
30th Aug 2010, 18:00
Here's the problem with your idea: If someone drives more than 12,000 miles a year (the yearly mileage required to get 5 years or 60,000 miles out of an engine based on your idea), then this will not work for you and you will be replacing the engine every 2-3 years. By the way, I have heard that Japan does not in fact require engines to be replaced every 40,000 miles. However I've also heard that they do. I've heard more evidence supporting they don't, and even a Google search turns up nothing on that subject really, which leads me to believe it's just another myth.
By the way, if your head gasket fails and it costs $4200 to replace the engine with a JDM engine, why don't you just scrap your Subaru and buy a newer car that's more reliable? $4200 can buy a very nice used car. Why waste fixing a car that will only last another 60,000 miles?