Subaru Question, 2.5l motor and head gasket?

[Martinjmpr]

Question for the Subaru knowledgeable:

What is the consensus on the "problem years" for the 2.5l engine's head gaskets?

I know the early (1995-99) Outbacks were known for blowing HGs in the 2.5 motors. I owned a 1999 OBW from 2003 - 2007 (42k miles to 120k) and never had any problems, although after I found out about the HG issue I would get nervous at every little sound or feel from the engine.

(Actually, here's a funny story about head gaskets: In early 2005, at about 90k, I took the car to a local Subaru dealer to have some work done. I had them do the 90k service and they called me and said "we have bad news, looks like you have a small head gasket leak. We recommend a full head gasket job" (at ~$3000. ) I told them I'd think about it and otherwise to just finish what they were doing. Drove it for 20,000 more miles completely incident free. At 110k I had the timing belt done along with the water pump and a few pulleys. This was at an independent Subie shop. They never said a word about the HG. When I traded the car for my Taco in 2007, the engine and HG were fine.)

Anyway, I know that on the internet things like this tend to get magnified (because those who have problems will post messges, but those who don't have problems won't.) But I'm trying to get a "feel" for which years were more prone to HG problems and which were less.

My impression is that the HG problem was pretty much resolved by about 2000, maybe 2001. This is significant to me because I am casually shopping for another DD, and I really want a wagon (my little Mazda Protege is nice but it's getting a little old and I don't like the sedan setup.) I've noticed there are lots of Legacy Wagons and Foresters in my price range ($2k to $6k) but I'm leery of getting something too old because of possible HG problems.

So my question is for those who own or have owned ~2001 - 2003 Subies (Legacy, Impreza, Forester) with the 2.5: Have any of you had any HG issues? Known of any (outside of the norm - of course you're always going to get some problems on any older vehicle.)

One big plus for Subaru is that they seem to be one of the last companies selling cars in the US to offer a lot of manual trannys. I like the roominess of the Forester, and even though I think the 1st gen Forester (98 - 02) is a little bit awkward looking, it seems like it would be a pretty capable DD that could also give me 25+ MPG (I'm getting 35+ with my Mazda but I'm willing to give up some MPG in exchange for AWD and a wagon.)

Anyway, I'd appreciate hearing real world experience on these older 2.5's and their head gaskets. My previous experience with my '99 OBW was positive but I also feel like I kind of dodged a bullet.

 

[Pedro]

The only 2001+ Subarus that I have seen with head gasket issues are those that have been way way overheated. I have a 2.5l turbo in my WRX. It is a different build configuration than the N/A 2.5's, but I haven't heard of any of these with issues.

 

[elmo_4_vt]

I can only comment on my own experience, but I had an '03 Forester with a manual and put 60k on it in 2 years with now issues what so ever. Very good car in my opinion.

Don

=

 

[squirl]

2002 Impreza 2.5RS. Bought new, blew the head gasket year before last while on a trip to Wy. @ 132k mi. As I understand it the 2.5's blow HG religiously no matter the year.

 

[someday]

2002 Impreza 2.5RS. Bought new, blew the head gasket year before last while on a trip to Wy. @ 132k mi. As I understand it the 2.5's blow HG religiously no matter the year.

I have had three subies, and LOVE/ED them all.
'97 legacy - had for 4 years, HG blew at 118,XXX miles and they were HARD driven miles (bought with 21,000 miles). It would see the redline almost daily. traded in for a....
'04 WRX - bought new, sold it at 90,000 miles. Mildly modified and still driven hard. NEVER a problem, just sold it 3 months ago.
'02 Forester - this is my wifes. We have had it for 4 years (maybe 5). Had preventative HG replaced at 125,000 miles. Starting to smell antifreeze, and there was a small leak. Same symptoms at my '97 legacy. She plans on driving it until it dies. She loves it!

I know ALOT of '02-present subaru owners with over 100,000 miles. I dont know of any that have needed replaced from '04-present and it seems like the 02-04 crowd are hit or miss. WHEN I buy another car it will be a subaru, the only reason I sold my WRX was because I just didnt drive it that much anymore. I ride a bike most places and when I need to drive it usually requires my truck (i.e.- dogs, mt bikes, camping, kayaking etc).

take this with grain of salt, its just what I have experienced.

 

[Mrknowitall]

I feel its an exagerated problem. Subaru wouldn't have the reliability reputation they have, if they "religously" popped HG's between 100 and 150k. Read through here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_EJ_engine#EJ25
If you're handy, swapping in a new set of HGs while you're doing the 2nd timing belt is not that big a deal. I definitely wouldn't let it keep me from buying the right subie at hand whether an outback, impreza or foz.

 

[TeufelHunden]

I have a 98 Forester with 205k on it. When I bought it at 160k I didn't know it had a blown head gasket. It would only overheat after coming out of really heavy traffic for a quick sprint then back into traffic, or climbing long steep grades into the mountains here in California. I drove it like that for about 30,000 miles with those being the only incidents of overheating. I did change the gaskets before my next big trip though. Guys have done it with the engine still in the car but I took mine out. Don't let the possibility of a blown head gasket keep you from buying a great car. I love my Subaru and this is number 2 for me. The 2.5 DOHC engines had a reputation for blowing them on the passenger side head, with no visible indication from teh outside and no real issue with burning coolant. Simply when it gets hot enough, the crack opens up and exhaust gas is pumped into the coolant jacket and causes a boil over. It's about $300 for a full Fel Pro gasket set from O'Reilly.

http://www.subaruforester.org/vbull...5-head-gaskets-without-removing-engine-57335/

 

[Tinker]

Well, the 04 WRX still had the 2.0L in it, which is why you never had a problem. I have an 02 WRX with 150,000 miles on it and still daily drive it. No head gasket problems, just preventive maintenance and a replacement radiator from the plastic/metal bond failure issue.

For the 2.5L, anything 2004 - current will be free of the notorious head gasket issues. That's not saying that there can't be a failure, but it's not a pandemic like it was on the early Fozzies and Leggies.

 

[Applejack]

From my Subaru mechanic who does not work @ a dealership, he just specializes in Suby's: All engines can blow a HG (no surprise there) but he says that it is mostly the 2.5's but feels the years '05+ Subaru had the issues worked out. 2.0 run 2nd place, usually driven hard and or modified, and the 2.2's were pretty bullet proof.

I have my "Wendy Wagon" 2.2 in there right now getting the HG's done, and he says he hardly ever sees those go, but mine have gone now, but @ 210k she's done well!
Our '07 WRX has the 2.5T and has never had any issue to date.

 

[Corvus]

'96 to '99 2.5l (the DOHC) had issues with the factory headgaskets failing. Subaru redesigned the headgaskets (including current replacement gaskets for these years) and problems have been on the level of any other vehicle. '99.5 to '02 had headgasket issues too. The later ones leak externally, the earlier ones internally (and more catastrophically). I have a '97 2.5 that I just rebuilt and I am completely confident the HG will last longer than the rest of the car at this point. With an engine hoist its pretty straighforward for a hobbyist to have the engine out in 4 hours and back in another 4. This makes head gaskets pretty easy to tend to. One mechanic in town claims an hour to completely remove a Subaru engine. For the right price, I wouldn't sweat a '96 to '02 2.5l engine at all if you are willing to do some work yourself. If you take your vehicles to a shop, you probably need to look at lower mileage vehicles or those that have just had the characteristic problems dealt with (and paperwork to prove it.)

 

[TacomaJack09]

I have a 2000 Subaru Outback Wagon with the 2.5 and my Cousin has a 2004 Outback and we both suffer from the HG issues in these motors. Mine is vastly different from my cousins as mine just leaks oil. My cousins on the other hand loses Antifreeze, two different outcomes but the same problem. Both cars are completely stock, I have 203k on my motor, but the HG blew a while back, not sure when. My cousins 04 has 140k and his blew with 120k.

 

[Jrally]

And yet, you can keep driving on them, or you both had to have the HGs changed?

-Jon

 

[TacomaJack09]

Yup still driving on them both! Its still a great motor, just a little inconvenient now. I wouldn't hesitate to drive across the country and back! The real downfall is in the winter time, the cabin tends to fill up with fumes from the leaking oil if I stop too long with the air on. If I put it on re-circulation it helps a little lol.

 

[E.J.]

Drove my '99 Forester around 15k miles with bad hg's. Had them replaced at 160k miles, pretty much had the motor rebuilt at that time. Runs like a top. About to buy a second Subaru for my wife, the issue will be in the back of my head but certainly not a deal breaker. The maintenance on these cars is relatively cheep compared to other technologically equivalent cars.

 

[Abel Villesca]

I've got a 2004 STi that has been modified and driven hard for 141K miles and haven't had any HG problems nor any indications that failure is imminent.