Help New 06 Impreza Sport Wagon Owner Diagnose Problem

[No Subi Burglar]

Hey, I sought some opinions locally on Craigslists about a 2.5L Sport Wagon I bought for the past couple of days. I want to buy a WRX this summer but I figured since this one NA wagon popped up for a fair price I should go for it. Nicely modded, with a “service” done. Going to post this on a few forums for exposure. 

Im local to Wisconsin and will be calling a couple of independent shops.

 

in short the car over heats. Please read details.
 

In summary the car left a shop having a major service job done at 130k (December). The car drove 80 miles to destination, but a misfire started. I think the owner paid about 3,000 for timing, and head gasket with a couple other things. He had the car for 3 years previous. Then the car sat for Im guessing some weeks. He posts it a week ago, I want to buy it expecting some fine tuning to be done. 

The meet up wasnt far from where he drove it. Shows me its getting hot, he wasnt aware of this. Tells me the truth about the sketchy mechanic. The car cools, it wasnt completely in red. We test drive but have to stop bc steam. We pop the radiator fill and it appears to be boiling, splunks a little out. Not good. 

I negotiate quite a bit off expecting to replace engine. The mechanic did show him the parts going on, and it was through a mutual friend. They ghosted him when he contacted about the issue.

I have slightly more info but thats effectively it.

The following are some ideas I got. Please try to help in case I could be missing something.

 

Quick fixes- Cooling system flush, check thermostat

Other cooling related things

Oil Change to see if waters mixed in

Check Gaskets, its preventive work in case I keep engine

The car might have warped head, or bad spark plugs/ coils.

If head gasket is leaking, Id swap motor but at 130k miles. Wasn’t expecting that, but any advice is nice.

[1 Lucky Texan]

that engine is notorious for blown HGs. They almost all (99%) leak combustion chamber to cooling jacket. Unlikely to see chocolate 'mousse' in the oil. BUT, sending coolant and maybe oil samples to Blackstone 'may' be a good idea. However, not knowing how often or severely any past overheats were, you run the risk that repairing the gaskets on this engine, may buy you a few weeks or months until a rod bearing fails.

I think, to do this reliably; a used engine from a wreck, that you equip properly with new MLS headgasts, and, a proper timing belt system service, are required.

[nvu]

is the car in your posession?  sounds like gaskets weren't done right from your story.  you just need to confirm.  no need to flush, start the car with engine cold.  leave the radiator cap open and top off with plain water.  idle it for 15-20mins, topping off with water until it's warm and the fans kick on.  if you're seeing bubbles everytime you rev it, thats pretty much headgaskets.  if not, it might be cracked radiator or leaking hose joints, because you mentioned steam.  either way, if there's no bubbles, put the cap on and drive around, soon as the needle inches up, pull over and check if the reservoir is bubbling.  any bubbles by now is headgaskets.

[idosubaru]

*** Burp it.

1. Is it overheating and spraying out from overheating?

or

2. leaking and spraying?

determine that FIRST.  They can look the same and be hard to distinguish.

It does sound like a poor repair (or parts) was done and the headgaskets need replaced again. 

If you got a decent review, history and sense of integrity from the seller it sounds like the engine is fine and the mechanic did a poor job. 

If that’s true I’d just suggest redoing the headgaskets. The heads are unlikely to be warped or cracked. But a shop can check that. make sure they get resurfaced No matter what even if they are “in spec” or “not warped”

Except do the headgaskets correctly. 
Subaru gaskets only, resurface heads, clean surfaces, lube bolts, torque properly.