'98 Subaru head gaskets

[MacGyver]

I just bought a ’98 Subaru Legacy Outback 2 days ago with 147989 miles on the clock. To make a long story short air is getting into the cooling system from combustion. Suspect head gasket need replaced. I bought the car with this disclosed at the used car lot. It has been 7 years since my last Subaru head gaskets job. Any pointers from you guys on what to watch out for on this 2.5L that is outside the norm when I get this engine apart? When I pull the engine to do this repair any pointers there also? I will of course have the machine shop crack check the heads as well as do a valve job. Should I go OEM on the gaskets and parts or is felpro brand from the parts houses good enough. Last question, are the rods and main bearings worth considering at this mileage? Alldata shows splitting the engine to replace both rod and main bearings. That is deeper than I want to go but I will if I should, this car is super clean and runs great and I bought it at a very reduced price. I am KEEPING this one!
Shoot some insight my way Subaru guys, I work on these from time to time I just do not go this deep on the engine very often. They seem to run forever!

 

[Herz]

I often find that fel-pro is better than the OEM, since they often incorperate many improvements over the OEM design from common failures.

 

[Solo2driver]

Subaru updated the head gasket part numbers for the EJ25 Phase I that you have, I would just go with the new number, they have been proven to be quite good. Cometic also makes a pretty decent HG for that engine as well. I don't think that regular aftermarket offerings from Fel-Pro, etc have been that reliable, especially in the '98-'99 DOHC engines.

FWIW, I have the early "Phase II" EJ25 SOHC engine in the Legacy, and have over 200K miles on the original gaskets. If it were not for some leaky cam seals, an original clutch on it's way out, and the original timing belt about 100K overdue for a change, I not be thinking about yanking the motor for a re-seal.

 

[MrHorspwer]

Quote:
Subaru updated the head gasket part numbers for the EJ25 Phase I that you have, I would just go with the new number, they have been proven to be quite good. Cometic also makes a pretty decent HG for that engine as well.


I second this. The new Subaru head gaskets are an MLS design, just like the Cometic. The Subaru gaskets aren't all that expensive, are well constructed, and are designed to correct a very specific problem that seemed to plague an entire series of engines.

I'd go with the Subaru gasket. There are many web-based Subaru parts sites (run out of various dealer parts departments) that sell head gasket kits with the various seals, gaskets, and idlers/tensioners that are recommended when doing head gaskets and/or timing belts.

Quote:
Last question, are the rods and main bearings worth considering at this mileage? Alldata shows splitting the engine to replace both rod and main bearings.


Yes, mains and rods require splitting the engine. If you're not having a specific issue, I'd leave this alone.

 

[MacGyver]

Thanks Guys!!