Overheating, what makes a Subaru a Subaru!

[mt23]

Did you test the air in the cooling system with an exhaust gas tester? Ive seen air that mimicked head gaskets be from the coolant crossover pipe o rings. No external leak but allowing fresh air in. Worth testing for some $7 o rings

 

[Coolant Kid]

Yeah, not worth it. If the car can last another month without any more problems than it already has, then I'll be happy.

The head gasket set alone is $200, plus the cost of machining, the time to drop the engine, no way! The cost of all that is enough to buy a real car with a real engine

That's not true at all. Take a look at used car prices nowdays, they're really high for anything decent. Not that far from buying a new car.

Even if you spend $1000 on parts, it's totally worth it. Just tell yourself it's going to take about 2 weeks to do at home, watch some Youtube videos, take it slow. It can be done. I did my 2001 Legacy's head gaskets TWICE in the 16 years I owned that car, changed them at home both times.

My daily driver is a 20 year old Honda Civic and just a few months ago, I spent over $700 in parts - new lower control arms, new lower ball joints, new loaded steering knuckles, new sway bar end links. I think about how many folks spend about that on a monthly car loan payment. It's worth keeping these older cars running.

 

[Lawnman23]

I'm pretty sure there is a YouTube video where someone changes a Subaru head gasket in an auto parts store parking lot.

 

[Ranger83]

Yeah, not worth it. If the car can last another month without any more problems than it already has, then I'll be happy.

The head gasket set alone is $200, plus the cost of machining, the time to drop the engine, no way! The cost of all that is enough to buy a real car with a real engine

A whole $200!

We replaced the head gaskets preemptively on our 1998 Outback at 140,000 miles. We sold it to a relative at 189,000 miles. She traded it in, still running, with 245,000 miles. It was retired with 289,000.

Our 2006 Outback 3.0R (nothing but routine maintenance) was retired with 257,000 miles.

A tinypercentage of vehicles - mostly body-on-frame V8 trucks - last to 250,000 miles. So we’ll stick with the not real engine not real brand that has grown from a 1% niche vehicle to the largest-selling brand without a pickup in the U.S..

Many aluminum alloy block with aluminum head engines require head gaskets as a maintenance item if you are going to keep them for a long time. Inline 4’s are easier and cheaper than boxers, but the boxer layout has other advantages.