2002 impreza sport head gasket

[runcyclexcski]

After looking at older posts I understand that this is a known issue
on 2.5L engines. My Impreza OB Sport has 150,000 on it; it has started
eating coolant (actually, with the "genuine" subaru brand the coolant
was not going as fast, this was generic coolant I added at a gas
station) and producing white smoke from the exhaust. Runs fine
otherwise. Just spoke to my mechanic on the phone. Yes, I have a
failed HG.
How much did your pay for your head gasket job, and what other repairs
would you recommend to combine it with? My clutch and timing belt are
also due. If the bill is below $1,500 I will eat it. More than $2,000
- don't know. With 150,000, can I expect another 2-3 years? Don't
wanna buy a new car yet. If I do get a new car, is there anything I
can do to make this happen not as early (or is it early?)? Subaru
recommends a special coolant additive - what's up with that?

 

[StephenH]

After looking at older posts I understand that this is a known issue
on 2.5L engines. My Impreza OB Sport has 150,000 on it; it has started
eating coolant (actually, with the "genuine" subaru brand the coolant
was not going as fast, this was generic coolant I added at a gas
station) and producing white smoke from the exhaust. Runs fine
otherwise. Just spoke to my mechanic on the phone. Yes, I have a
failed HG.
How much did your pay for your head gasket job, and what other repairs
would you recommend to combine it with? My clutch and timing belt are
also due.  If the bill is below $1,500 I will eat it. More than $2,000
- don't know.  With 150,000, can I expect another 2-3 years? Don't
wanna buy a new car yet. If I do get a new car, is there anything I
can do to make this happen not as early (or is it early?)? Subaru
recommends a special coolant additive - what's up with that?

well, I think a head gasket cost between 1500-2000 at our shop. now
with that the timing belt and seals are included.
clutch is extra. at these miles count on the timing belt idler pulleys
to be bad. Some secondary shops will do the job for about 500.

 

[runcyclexcski]

Subaru

well, I think a head gasket cost between 1500-2000 at our shop. now
with that the timing belt and seals are included.
clutch is extra. at these miles count on the timing belt idler pulleys
to be bad. Some secondary shops will do the job for about 500.

I was quoted $1,300 for the head gasket itself, but with the
resurfacing of the cylinder heads (is that necessary?) the price came
up to $2,000.

Also, the gasket looks intact, the leak seems to be mostly
"external" (traces of coolant on engine block dripping down), and the
pressure check did not find major leaks. I have decided to flush the
coolant and to replace it with Subaru's one, and see what happens.
Will replace the clutch only. If I can get 2 more years from this car
by adding coolant every couple of weeks, I am fine with that. Now, the
white smoke does come out of the tail pipe every now and then.

 

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

After looking at older posts I understand that this is a known issue on
2.5L engines. My Impreza OB Sport has 150,000 on it; it has started eating
coolant (actually, with the "genuine" subaru brand the coolant was not
going as fast, this was generic coolant I added at a gas station) and
producing white smoke from the exhaust. Runs fine otherwise. Just spoke to
my mechanic on the phone. Yes, I have a failed HG.
How much did your pay for your head gasket job, and what other repairs
would you recommend to combine it with? My clutch and timing belt are also
due. If the bill is below $1,500 I will eat it. More than $2,000 - don't
know. With 150,000, can I expect another 2-3 years? Don't wanna buy a new
car yet. If I do get a new car, is there anything I can do to make this
happen not as early (or is it early?)? Subaru recommends a special coolant
additive - what's up with that?

Shoot. I'll give you the $1500 for the car, get the gaskets, clutch and
timing belt done and drive it for another 150,000.

 

[runcyclexcski]

Shoot. I'll give you the $1500 for the car, get the gaskets, clutch and
timing belt done and drive it for another 150,000.

Careful what you wish for. Actually, turns out I did the timing
belt at 120,000.

I am getting the recommended additive and coolant from subaru and
getting the clutch replaced, fingers crossed.

 

[Tim Conway]

Careful what you wish for. Actually, turns out I did the timing
belt at 120,000.

I am getting the recommended additive and coolant from subaru and
getting the clutch replaced, fingers crossed.

Some people say this stuff works. I don't have any experience with it but
am considering it. Maybe others know?

http://www.barsproducts.com/1100.htm

 

[runcyclexcski]

Some people say this stuff works.  I don't have any experience with it but
am considering it.  Maybe others know?

http://www.barsproducts.com/1100.htm

I wonder, if there is an *internal* leak, and all those glass
particles penetrate into the engine block - whether that would be
equivalent to the method they used to kill old car in the cash for
clunkers program.

 

[Tim Conway]

Some people say this stuff works. I don't have any experience with it but
am considering it. Maybe others know?

http://www.barsproducts.com/1100.htm

I wonder, if there is an *internal* leak, and all those glass
particles penetrate into the engine block - whether that would be
equivalent to the method they used to kill old car in the cash for
clunkers program.

Wow, that's a possibility. Might be why they are so adamant about not
having it come in contact with coolant. It sounds risky.

 

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

Careful what you wish for. Actually, turns out I did the timing belt at
120,000.

I am getting the recommended additive and coolant from subaru and getting
the clutch replaced, fingers crossed.

BEFORE YOU DO THAT, if you look through this group, you'll see where I had
leaky head gaskets on an '89 GL Coupe. I used some Bar's HG in a bottle
stuff, FOLLOWED THE DIRECTIONS TO THE LETTER, and bye bye leaky gaskets!

It seems the gasket has to have a slight leak or a leak on the intake
side. I tried again on a '97 Legacy wagon with a BHG on the exhaust side
to no avail.

 

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

Some people say this stuff works. I don't have any experience with it but
am considering it. Maybe others know?

http://www.barsproducts.com/1100.htm

Yup! That's it! Worked on my '89 like a champ!

FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS!!! You cannot have a single DROP of coolant in the
system. It took me about 3 hours to flush it all out.

 

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

I wonder, if there is an *internal* leak, and all those glass particles
penetrate into the engine block - whether that would be equivalent to the
method they used to kill old car in the cash for clunkers program.

It worked for me. I had a leaky gasket on an '89 Coupe and it is still not
leaking 2 years later.

I also made up a bypass hose to get around the heater core. Since this is
a winter car the last thing I wanted was a plugged heater core!

 

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

Wow, that's a possibility. Might be why they are so adamant about not
having it come in contact with coolant. It sounds risky.

It clogs passages if it mixes with coolant. Before I even touched the
stuff I called Bar's and the girl on the phone told me to flush the
cooling system until clear water came out.