cbrightb

I am in PA and it appears as though you are in CA so that doesn't look to be a very good option. Based on what I have seen and read on this site, I guess I just bite the bullet and get it fixed. I have found a repair shop that works on foreign cars and has done 4 of them in the last couple of months. He said having the coolant changed frequently seems to be a critical key and that the coolant breaks down and affects the gaskets over time. Hope he is giving me good info. I thought I was seeing recommendations for an coolant additive, which I think they were using on the newer engines. Just hoping it won't occur again once I get it fixed.

I have a 99 Subaru Outback Wagon with 77 K and a blown head gasket. This came as quite a surprise as I have driven Toyotas or Hondas for over 20 years to high mileage with minimal problems. What to do? Take it to my normal repair folks whom I trust but have never been down deep into a subaru engine. A mechanic there is willing to work on it and estimated about 1450 to replace both including machining the heads. A subaru dealer (who obviously has done lots of these) wanted 1900-2000 to replace both also sending them out for machining. Two other dealers gave variiations, saying usually all they require is cleaning not machining, also they were willing to do one for around 800. I don't know whom to trust and how many more problems I am looking at down the road for this vehicle.....Thanks