daniw1

We should be getting the car back next week and Ill have more info. When I started to bring it to the garage it had no power at all it sputtered at intersections and of course at red lights which this was the only time I hit every red light LOL. We only made it about 13 miles before having to refill the radiator, and the next day the Subaru garage couldn't even start it. They had to roll it into the garage and put it on the diagnostic machine.

well it wasn't the headgaskets it was the engine. the head cracked and everything in the lower end let loose. the Subaru mechanics said there was antifreeze and oil leaking from everywhere. We decided for $2,500 it was worth them putting a new engine with a warranty in it. We needed another vehicle for my other son anyway. I want to thank everybody for responding. I still have a subaru so we can all still talk.

we brought the car to the subaru dealer last night well find out soon. Ill keep you posted

well sorry to say the stuff didnt work. its still burning antifreeze but the temp guage isnt going up. made an appointment at the subaru garage to have them look at it. I figure if it needs a new engine and we can get it done for under $4,000 why not you cant find much for that price, the body is in nice shape so why not. The Boy ended up buying a new truck on friday. what the hell interest rates are low on vehicles.

so far so good its been 1 week . I did talk to the mechanic and had it checked by another they seem to think its something in the lower end. the car is burning tiny amounts of antifreeze but not getting hot. I told the boy to monitor it and fill if needed and in the spring we will put it up for sale. He only paid $1300 and if we can get $750 well at least he will have money for a down payment on something newer.

I tried the steel seal only because he needs the car and can't afford any more repaires. So far 3 days of running the temp hasn't gone up and is not burning antifreeze. Hopefully this stuff is good but I do know one thing he is driving his car and I get my truck back.

thanks I appreciate it Ill see the mechanic during the week. Are you sure the stuff wont work if it is a cracked head. a head gasket shouldn't fail in a week should it.

he only needs to get by until may when his hours at work pick up. go look at the web site and watch the video it says its not a band aid its a permanent fix. Who knows Ill try it and let you know how it works. That mainely subarus site is really cool there are people there that I have talked to before and didnt even know. like one guy Diablo I have talked to at work when he came in to service a machine.

ever heard of a product called steel seal it is designed for blown headgaskets, warped heads and cracked heads. I went to the web site and watched a video it comes with a lifetime warranty. I figured what the hell im going to try it for $80.00 and if it works great if not I get my money back and were back to this point.

its sounding more and more like that.

the clamp was not loose, I don't know why it wouldn't start but it sputtered and I had to put the gas peddle all the way to the floor while turning it over it sputtered then there was a popping noise then it started. last night I filled the coolant and after talking with you this morning I went and checked it and the level was down, without even running the car the level dropped. Like I said no signs in the snow on the driveway.

ok new developments I bought a new radiator cap put it on then the car wouldn't start. I took it off and tried to start it when it finally kicked in fluid shot up unto the hood. Then I shut it off put the cap back on and started it this time the top hose came off. I put the hose back on filled the fluids and started again this time everything went well, I drove for about 8 miles with no problem the temp gauge never went near hot. Later i went to try it again but first I checked the fluid I was down quite a bit. but none was on the driveway where did it go? The car started up with no problem.

thank you very much. what part of maine are you from. I will check out the web site

your right I found the stamp so all the paperwork is wrong I will try a new cap but let me ask you if it was you would you drive it if the temp gauge didnt go to hot.

thats what it looks like i looked for a plate that said the engine size but was unable to.

the paper work that came with the car had the original sales receipts it has a 2.2l listed.

as far as I know the car has the original motor its a 1996 subaru legacy outback. I dont know alot about cars so im not sure about the cams.

I forgot to mention its a 2.2l theres no discoloration a no bubbles. theres no smell of antifreeze. The mechanic is a friend who I have dealt with for 20 years.

its an automatic like i said there is no leaks at this time. I will try a new cap. and the gaskets were OEM he just cant afford to put alot of money in the car. we want to know if its drivable for short runs.

My son recently purchased a 1996 outback about 4 months ago. about 2 months later the head gasket failed and the car had to be towed home. I then towed it to my mechanic who installed a new head gasket thermostat and belts.. everything went fine for a month then he was driving and the temp gauge went to hot he pulled over to the side of the road and called me. I went to look and the antifreeze level was low we filled it and started to drive home. After about 2 miles the temp went back up to hot, we parked it and had it towed home.the next day I filled the antifreeze up and noticed he had no heat. after talking to mechanics they said it may be an air bubble we ran the car without the radiator cap on and kept filling when the level dropped then he had heat. I thought everything was good I took the car to work and back roughly 14 miles and the temp went to hot again but this time it went back down. I called my mechanic and he looked at it again this time the water pump was replaced and the thermostat checked.the next day before I picked up the car he called and said it may be something else. when I talked to him he said the car kept overpressurizing and that it may be the head. He is a very good mechanic but this one has him stumped he didnt charge for the waterpump and labor saying if he cant fix it he wont charge. the Problem is my son is now broke and with us footing the bill for college next year we cant afford a new head. I drove the car home from the garage and it never went to hot approximately 9 miles. If he keeps his eye on the fluids everyday can he drive back and forth to school approximately 4 miles round trip untill he can earn enough money to fix it. He loves the car and cannot afford a new one.