mrk610 Posted January 4, 2004 Share Posted January 4, 2004 I think I have been hit with the head gasket demon. I was doing my o/f change yesterday and I always check the underside of the engine while I'm down there . Well I noticed some weeping liquid coming from the driverside head gasket .Around the # 4 cylinder .It is mostly on the back side and bottom of the block by the firewall. It is a very little amount not enough to run down the block and drip on the ground . I can't tell what it is because it is black in color and feels gritty probable from picking up road dirt and sand from the beaches here . It almost looks like when you drop some oil while filling up you car and you don't clean it up ,it attracts the dirt and grime from the road . I then checked all the other areas and found no other weeping. I don't have to add any oil between changes . I am not losing any coolant and I don't have any overheating problems .I have checked the coolant tank after driving it appears normal . Is this normal for them to weep alittle or is it the start of head gasket problems . I have a 02 outback 2.5l 4eat with 37k miles on it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted January 4, 2004 Share Posted January 4, 2004 Maybe some 'goop' just flew up there. Clean it off real well and monitor the area. I have read of external coolant leaks on the phaseII engine, but most folks say it is at a much reduced rate from the earlier engine's failurs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrk610 Posted January 6, 2004 Author Share Posted January 6, 2004 I was able to stop by my dealer today on my way home from work to have them look at my heads (lol).Well the mechanic and I are becoming quite friendly these past couple of months . I was able to finally have them change my timing belt tensioner last month . Any way back to my heads . The mechanic put the car on the lift and I showed him were i saw the leak . ON my car you can see better from the top of the engine .Mine were leaking from the back and bottom of the block around the # 4 cylinder. When I showed him it said ohh well whats another one when I do about 2 a week .He said that I caught mine early because the gasket didn't fail around the coolant jacket . Mine was only leaking oil. He is going to call SOA and see if he can autherize to have both of my heads done , since he has to pull the engine anyway.He said that there seems to be a problem with the late 01 model builds and the early 02 model builds . Mine 02 outback was built in 6/01.I'm dropping the car off next Monday and he said it will only take 1 day which seems kinda short to me . How long did it take to have your head gaskets done . For the people on here that have had this problem . Thanks Mike k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2Outbacks Posted January 6, 2004 Share Posted January 6, 2004 Mine took a day (01 OB Ltd sedan with 42K miles), so they let me have a loaner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4FOR4 Posted January 6, 2004 Share Posted January 6, 2004 Mine was done in 2 days, but I think it was in conjunction with working on a couple other vehicles. Tell him to tke his time and do a good job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted January 6, 2004 Share Posted January 6, 2004 but it got a clutch, an oil slinger, and the heads went out for inspection. Not to mention oil pump seal, water pump, tensioner, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brus brother Posted January 6, 2004 Share Posted January 6, 2004 This "head gasket problem"? would it affect 2000 LegacyGT? What were the years and models for this problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted January 6, 2004 Share Posted January 6, 2004 in late 2002, but someone correct me if I am wrong. The early phase 1s blew them into the cooling water, and the later phase 2s blow them more as a leak to the exterior of the head. My 99 Forester leaked externally a small amount and I would not have noticed it if people on the board had not pointed out the problem. I think I might have assumed a small leak from a hose or water pump until it got much worse. This is a classic phase 2 leak. On a phase 1 the car will overheat after a hard run and into the coolant overflow tank. I believe our Northern neighbors have a tougher time with the phase 2 as they tend to leak more when very cold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glee29 Posted January 7, 2004 Share Posted January 7, 2004 My 02 OB Wagon (manufactured in 06/01) had the driver side head gasket leakage at around 20K in early 2003. It took the dealer three days to fix the problem and all that time I was driving a loaner Taurus. That particular week we had more than a foot of snow in Ohio. Guess what? I got stuck in snow:mad: I don't know if that is a hardware problem (i.e. gasket design or warp head) or poor workmanship (i.e. Friday afternoon syndrome). But I was totally surprised by such early failure. Good news is, my OBW is running fine and no more burnt smell Gordon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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