Millions of posts on blown headgaskets, I've searched through them and now I'm asking for your personal opinions.
Bought a 97 Outback 2.5l from a dealer with 110k on it.
The Heater wasn't working. They promised to fix.
I did a lot of homework that night(yeah should've done beforehand) and realized that this wasn't just a blocked heater core but quite possible something much more ominous.
Basically here's what's gone on.
They replaced 2 thermostats, the Radiator, and the water pump.
I've had the car a month, driven for maybe 4 days because I've been pushing them to fix it(LEMON LAW).
I took it out for a decent drive, and basically after about 13 miles or so started overheating like clockwork. The temp gauge will continue to go nuts unless the car stays off for approximately 1/2 hour to an hour.
My mind says(and when I call the dealer screaming my mouth) that this is Internal head gasket failure and that they need to replace the headgaskets and make sure that I don't need any resurfacing or I'm getting my money back because I have that legal right.
Problem is, I want the car! It's awesome, and I know if this headgasket problem is fixed(if it's that) then it'll go forever and a half and I won't have to worry about it.
Does this sound like the headgasket failure is what this is? I've had the radiator flushed quite a few times(due to the replacements) and there is an oily substance in the liquid but I'm guessing that's stopgap that they put in there or something it's not black.
I don't notice any certain amount of smoke or anything coming from the exhaust, moisture but mostly in the morning.
They did a Hydrocarbon test, and a compression check and both showed up fine...
That's my concern. If there was an internally leaking headgasket, the Hydrocarbon test would definitely show fail right? I've seen user's on Skip's Soobie Head Gasket board complain they were told their Hydrocarbon test passed and they had failures despite that. I just want your opinions please.
ROCK On, thanks in advance.