98 Outback

[hippyatheart]

I'm seriously thinking about purchasing an Outback wagon. I'm new to the subie world, and was wondering what anyone has to say about the 2.5 engine, that's what's in this one. The original was replaced with a 75,000 mile engine that now has around 100,000. Thanks for any info

[EVOthis]

i only have two things to say about the 2.5.....

 

1) take the car for a good long drive and make sure it is up to operating temperature and doesnt overheat...the 2.5's were known for bad head gaskets

2) again make sure the car is warmed up and take it to parking lot and do figure 8's and sharp turns and make sure there is no binding/noise.......

 

how many miles are on the car itself?

 

is this a 5 speed or an automatic?

 

im sure others will chime in later.....

[Rooster2]

I have both a 98 and 99 Subie OB wagons. Both with the 2.5 engines. I bought both used. One has 112K miles, the other 161K miles. I haven't had any head gasket issues, but I have made it a point of changing the antifreeze every 2 years, and running new radiator caps. Telling you this will prolly put the HG hex on both of my cars.

 

Someone who is in the know can look at your head gasket corner/edges, and tell you if they have been replaced, and not the originals. Replacement head gaskets are made better and more dependable then originals.

[chadwick35/04]

well other points would be oil leaks, such as the rear sperator plate leaking onto the exhaust, the rear plates have been plastic and they have switched them to metal, one way to tell is the leak starts in back of the oil pan then onto the exhaust, the engine or trasmission would have to be removed in order to replace the plate and also do the rear main seal to while you are there. One last thing is the front crankseal and the camseals, and also the oil pump o ring and reseal to, and also check the valve cover gaskets to as they leak to man. I had a 1999 outback and all this happened to me and is all common in these. good luck!

[screwbaru2]

I'm seriously thinking about purchasing an Outback wagon. I'm new to the subie world, and was wondering what anyone has to say about the 2.5 engine, that's what's in this one. The original was replaced with a 75,000 mile engine that now has around 100,000. Thanks for any info

If you keep the car long enough you will encounter the hg issue. What's long enough? Hard to say, anything over a year with a 100,000 on the motor already. Or 2 weeks after you buy it a hg could go. Most of these cars are way over priced IMO because of this hg issue. Having had my turn with hgs on these cars I would replace the hgs on any 2003 or earlier 2.5 if there was no proof it was done already, before I put it on the road.

[msmithmmx]

i only have two things to say about the 2.5.....

 

1) take the car for a good long drive and make sure it is up to operating temperature and doesnt overheat...the 2.5's were known for bad head gaskets

 

I second that. Take it for a good 30-40 minute drive. Ask him if it ever overheated and watch his reaction could tell you alot. Open the radiator cap and look for any sludge and or oil droplets, you are checing to see if he added any HG fix. Open the Radiator fill cap and see if you see any droplets of oil or smell exhaust.

[davebugs]

A new radiator cap is a sign they are chasing an overheating problem that is usually HG's. Also I'm amazed at how many folks are too lazy to remove and clean the overflow bottle. Make sure you look in it for residue.

 

Some folks here have stated that there is a 'kit' to test if hydrocarbons are in the coolant. I don't know where to get it or what it costs but I'd think it may be more reliable and easier than getting to do a long drive.

 

But yea, HG's, torque bind, and leaking baffle plates (annoying but not necessarily harmful) are the main issues.

 

Dave

[idosubaru]

make the decision based on knowing that you might have head gasket problems that run about $1,500 to repair at a shop. if in a year or three that kind of repair and getting stranded somewhere is going to sour you, then move along or come up with another game plan. if you're okay with that, then buy it.

 

the people i feel for, and hope to protect, are those that pay as much as they can afford for a vehicle then have this kind of bill shortly afterward, that is no fun for them.

 

Some folks here have stated that there is a 'kit' to test if hydrocarbons are in the coolant. I don't know where to get it or what it costs but I'd think it may be more reliable and easier than getting to do a long drive.

HC test is a good one to do, but there's no 100% accurate test for head gasket failure on EJ25's. all of the tests work 'sometimes'. i've been asked by local mechanics to check out an EJ25 they were puzzled with. passed the HC and compression tests but was still overheating with new radiators, thermostat, etc.

[OB99W]

Beside the HG issue, the 2.5 is prone to piston slap when cold, which some find annoying. Also, unless you know that the timing belt was replaced recently, be prepared to have that done -- you don't want to find out what can happen if it breaks.

[michaelbteam]

I bought a 99 outback with the most sublime HG problem...would only overheat, that is--lose coolant into the overflow bottle, after a hard drive up the canyon. A vigorous 30 minute test in the radiator shop could not duplicate the problem! I'm sure the seller knew of this and of course did not tell me. It was so maddening I sold it at a loss, divulging the issue to the buyer who found some "super" stop leak that he claimed cured it! HAH, probably sold it to another sucker. I'll never buy another early 2.5 unless HG's have been fixed.