methusalah Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 When did Subaru start putting the 2.5 SOHC in it's cars? Any thoughts on which ones and what MYs? For example, I know 1998 Forester has 2.5 DOHC; I want to avoid the head issues the DOHC motors seem to have when I buy a car for my med school bound daughter. Thanks folks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 http://www.cars101.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
methusalah Posted June 24, 2012 Author Share Posted June 24, 2012 Thanks - I looked online and saw different answers...some 1999 said DOHC some SOHC, grrrrr. If cars101 is correct, thet are SOHC. Good for me if the guy with the car will call back...Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porcupine73 Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 2.5L SOHC started I believe in '99 for Forester, '00 for most Legacies and Outbacks. Please note the SOHC is not without head gasket issues either, although the failure mode usually isn't as catastrophic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
methusalah Posted June 24, 2012 Author Share Posted June 24, 2012 Yup-I realize the SOHC has issues but not the leaking into the motor ones...Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricearu Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 mainly just oil leak issues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarl Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 You'll find both DOHC and SOHC Legacys made in 1999 for the US market. The change in other parts of the world began in 1998 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
987687 Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 In 99 the only SOHC legacy they made was a 2.2. And it's a phase2 2.2. 99 the impreza/forester line switched to SOHC 2.5, and in 2000, with the third gen legacy, they switched to SOHC 2.5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Injulen Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 From what I have read, if you do a headgasket job on the 2.5 with the current OEM style gasket, you don't need to worry so much. Something about upgrading the design. I've also read that doing a headgasket job on these engines is fairly straight forward and easier than a lot of other engines. Oh, and there is never a dumb question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
987687 Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 From what I have read, if you do a headgasket job on the 2.5 with the current OEM style gasket, you don't need to worry so much. Something about upgrading the design. I've also read that doing a headgasket job on these engines is fairly straight forward and easier than a lot of other engines. Oh, and there is never a dumb question. The updated MLS gaskets are said to finally have fixed the problem. I wouldn't say these are the easiest engines to do head gaskets on, though. The SOHC is fairly straight forward. The DOHC isn't. on the DOHC you have to pull the cams, and them not mix up the shims. And then get it all back together, and timed. A honda/yota/whatever i4 is a lot easier. Just because you can do it in car, and there's only one head to deal with. OH, and yes you can do a subaru head gasket job in car. Don't... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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