Another Head Gasket

[Clutchbob]

It looks like my first post is going to be about the infamous head gasket issue.

Less than a week ago, I bought a one owner '98 Outback with 88k miles. It runs beautifully, apart from the coolant puke- overheat- bubbling overflow stuff that's typical of an engine with a blown head gasket.

As I write this, I'm waiting on a call from the local Subaru repair shop, who is firming things up with my after market service contract people. I don't always purchase these kinds of warranties, but after having seen this head gasket problem show up on this and other message boards, I needed some peace of mind. Thank Buddha for message boards! This online dialogue is such a great tool.

I'm guessing that head gaskets can just leak at first, then steadily worsen, or suddenly fail catastrophically, and that there are symptoms that can appear alone or in combination with others. I suppose it depends on where the breech is and how long it's been problematic. I seem to have oil in the coolant, a black gooey residue the texture of peanut butter collecting on the inside surface of my overflow tank, and the overheating episodes with the bubbling . The oil looks fine, however, and I'm not blowing steam out of the exhaust.

The head service guy told me he had to repair his '99 Outback, too. This is not coincidental, too many post's with more than one incident are being reported ( "my father and my uncle", "blew gasket, installed rebuilt, blew again" etc.) Perhaps the likelyhood of a second failure was greater before the introduction of the 4 layer gasket, I don't know. I feel so bad for the people who have lost out, I'm gonna sign the "head gasket guest book", hopefully something good may come of this.

[cookie]

so it is easy to find. The killer is all those that pass every test and then overheat on the road.

When they puke brown stuff and bubble its pretty hard for people to do the Monty Python "no it's not to you."

[Clutchbob]

I wonder, since complaining to Subaru of America hasn't been successful, if we should be addressing Fuji Heavy Industries of Japan. A company from a country that holds honor in such high regard, surely would not want to lose face.

[frag]

I wonder, since complaining to Subaru of America hasn't been successful, if we should be addressing Fuji Heavy Industries of Japan. A company from a country that holds honor in such high regard, surely would not want to lose face.

No offense to anyone, but I think japanese companies are not run by Samuraïs anymore. The code of profit has dislodged the code of honor.

[cookie]

would have to commit Hari-kari over the design of the phase 1 2.5 head gaskets.

[old97]

Just curious. I'm also the victim of head gasket failure. Seen a good many posts about the problem. Is there a petition or any sort of other action that has been taken or is underway from victims of the problem? If so, could ya'll point me in the right direction. Thanks.

[johnj]

It looks like my first post is going to be about the infamous head gasket issue.

Less than a week ago, I bought a one owner '98 Outback with 88k miles. It runs beautifully, apart from the coolant puke- overheat- bubbling overflow stuff that's typical of an engine with a blown head gasket.

As I write this, I'm waiting on a call from the local Subaru repair shop, who is firming things up with my after market service contract people. I don't always purchase these kinds of warranties, but after having seen this head gasket problem show up on this and other message boards, I needed some peace of mind. Thank Buddha for message boards! This online dialogue is such a great tool.

I'm guessing that head gaskets can just leak at first, then steadily worsen, or suddenly fail catastrophically, and that there are symptoms that can appear alone or in combination with others. I suppose it depends on where the breech is and how long it's been problematic. I seem to have oil in the coolant, a black gooey residue the texture of peanut butter collecting on the inside surface of my overflow tank, and the overheating episodes with the bubbling . The oil looks fine, however, and I'm not blowing steam out of the exhaust.

The head service guy told me he had to repair his '99 Outback, too. This is not coincidental, too many post's with more than one incident are being reported ( "my father and my uncle", "blew gasket, installed rebuilt, blew again" etc.) Perhaps the likelyhood of a second failure was greater before the introduction of the 4 layer gasket, I don't know. I feel so bad for the people who have lost out, I'm gonna sign the "head gasket guest book", hopefully something good may come of this.

My first post as well. I've just purchased a 98 GT , 106k, with head gaskets just done. A friend from work has a 97 Outback - started over heating this week. I used to work on Saabs and for a while Saab had mucho head gasket problems. One fix that really worked was annual retorquing cylinder head bolts to factory specs. No small task, on my 2.5, from what I can see. But the engine design and mix of materials subjected to thermocycling several times a day requires regular retorquing to maintain the clamping force that holds it all together.

[cookie]

Or adding studs instead of head bolts. The layout of the engine makes most common fixes a real hassle. Maybe this is why the phase 1 is on it's third head gasket revision.

[Setright]

................................................

[Setright]

ok

[Clutchbob]

Just curious. I'm also the victim of head gasket failure. Seen a good many posts about the problem. Is there a petition or any sort of other action that has been taken or is underway from victims of the problem? If so, could ya'll point me in the right direction. Thanks.

Here's the page:

 

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze730qe/guestbook.html

 

More info:

 

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze730qe/Head_gasket_replacement.html

 

There may be other avenues as well.

[frag]

ok

Not when you do it with a connecting rod.

[cookie]

this also reinforces my belief that the cold forces Canadians to have a sense of humor.