Originally Posted By: dvancleve
I have my Subaru head gaskets replaced and any other seals that ought to be done while the motor is out? I was all set to go with Nextgen Maxlife 5w30 but with (I sure hope) no oil leaks, is the Maxlife a better choice than regular Nextgen (or any other higher mileage vs. its regular version)? Is the main reason for higher mileage oils the seal conditioners? The mileage is about 84K and I am not having anything done that doesn't need to be done.
Thanks, Doug
High mileage oils sometimes work, sometimes don't depending on your issue, here's why. Different gaskets are made of different materials. High mileage oil works best on rubber based seals that compress and shrink over time. Head gaskets are normally made from metal, so the high mileage oil would have no effect on them. If your oil pan gasket is cork, still may leak because corks gaskets have a tendency to break apart over time leaving a hole. I would replace the valve seals while your at it.