'98-'99 Subaru head gaskets

[Bob Moulder]

A couple of days ago I had the head gasket blow on my '98 Outback wagon and
after googling it I found that this is a very common (and expensive--as in
$2000!) problem with the "Phase 1" 2.5L engines. I bought the car
second-hand from a friend who was the original owner, and put about 22k
miles on it (currently 68k) before it happened. Every mechanic I talked to
said the head gasket blowing is "a matter of when, not if." Was there ever a
recall or customer service advisory for this endemic problem??

Another friend is interested in buying a used '99 Legacy GT wagon and I'm
wondering if they also have this lurking time bomb under the hood.

-- Bob

 

[Ed Fortmiller]

A couple of days ago I had the head gasket blow on my '98 Outback wagon and
after googling it I found that this is a very common (and expensive--as in
$2000!) problem with the "Phase 1" 2.5L engines. I bought the car
second-hand from a friend who was the original owner, and put about 22k
miles on it (currently 68k) before it happened. Every mechanic I talked to
said the head gasket blowing is "a matter of when, not if." Was there ever a
recall or customer service advisory for this endemic problem??

Another friend is interested in buying a used '99 Legacy GT wagon and I'm
wondering if they also have this lurking time bomb under the hood.

-- Bob

I know someone who works at a Subaru dealship and he has mentioned to me
lots of head gasket problems with the 2.5 engine and no fix from Subaru for
the problem. I also have a brother who had to have his head gaskets
replaced.

What years are the "Phase 1" engine in? Has it been superceded and if so
starting with what year?

--
Ed Fortmiller | (e-mail address removed) | Hudson MA
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[D H]

I know someone who works at a Subaru dealship and he has mentioned to me
lots of head gasket problems with the 2.5 engine and no fix from Subaru for
the problem. I also have a brother who had to have his head gaskets
replaced.

What years are the "Phase 1" engine in? Has it been superceded and if so
starting with what year?

I believe this refers to at least the 98 and some early 99 models of the
2.5 engine, (and maybe to some earlier years?) I know they changed the 2.5
engine very early in the 99 build year. The change involved going from a
dual overhead cam to a single overhead cam. I believe another change
included eliminating the platinum plugs when they went to the single
overhead cam. I cannot verify that, but read it on another forum board.

 

[Pete D]

Even the earlier 2.5 ltr DOHC motor had problems with the head gaskets. my
97OBW had a small leak but a full engine out teardown only cost me AUD$965,
thats about US$600 at my local mechanics. I have noticed that the cost of US
cars may be cheaper but you spend a lot more to keep them on the road. I
think I will stay in Oz.

 

[Jim Stewart]

Even the earlier 2.5 ltr DOHC motor had problems with the head gaskets. my
97OBW had a small leak but a full engine out teardown only cost me AUD$965,
thats about US$600 at my local mechanics. I have noticed that the cost of US
cars may be cheaper but you spend a lot more to keep them on the road. I
think I will stay in Oz.

An interesting observation and I'm not sure
why it is so. I was looking at the maintance
records for my daughter's Civic last night.
The previous owner paid $1700 for major tuneup,
timing belt, and brake job. I did all and more
on the Outback for $400 in parts. Now I can't
believe that a) the Civic is easier to work
on than the Outback, b) the Civic's parts are
more expensive than the Outback, and c) the
mechanic/shop deserved to make $1300 in labor
on a job that couldn't take more than 8 hours.

That's over $160/hr. My company only charges
$100/hr for custom electonics designs. At
some point the car repair trade decided they
should be compensated like doctors and engineers.