Forester Head Gasket

[mark_in_edmonds]

My Forester (136,000 m) blew a radiator hose, and after replacement of that
and the radiator cap, I got 8-10 miles before it overheated again.
(Servide place was closed and I was out of town.) Now towed and home, I
spoke to a mechanic who told me this is almost certainly a head
gasket--this happens frequently in Subaru's this old, and that the parts
are hard to get, that I it's not worth fixing, that I should buy another
car. That's hard for me to believe. I called another repair place that
said it could be fixed in 3 days. I'm reading on the Net that it's
important to get a manufacturer part, and that unless it's done perfectly,
there can be problems. Any truth to all this? Any advise?

 

[Larry Van Wormer]

My Forester (136,000 m) blew a radiator hose, and after replacement of that
and the radiator cap, I got 8-10 miles before it overheated again.
(Servide place was closed and I was out of town.) Now towed and home, I
spoke to a mechanic who told me this is almost certainly a head
gasket--this happens frequently in Subaru's this old, and that the parts
are hard to get, that I it's not worth fixing, that I should buy another
car. That's hard for me to believe. I called another repair place that
said it could be fixed in 3 days. I'm reading on the Net that it's
important to get a manufacturer part, and that unless it's done perfectly,
there can be problems. Any truth to all this? Any advise?

Would help to know what year it is.

A head gasket problem is certainly possible, but other possibilities,
such as inadequate purging of the cooling system after the hose and rad cap.

 

[Edward Hayes]

I agree with Larry in that there are several possibilities. Stuck
thermostat, system not purged properly are the most likely causes.
Check the cheap possibilities before making a decision. A good
mechanic familiar with Subaru or the dealer is the best place to
start.