NHBill

Ask if/when the timing belt was changed.

I'm using a small shop called Auto Advantage in Concord, NH. A BMW and Euro car specialist who happens to be an 8 year veteran of a Subaru service department in Virginia. My 97 Legacy Outback (144K Miles) is new to me, and with a 2.5 L engine I thought it had head gasket problems simply because there was grease inside the coolant overflow reservoir. He has tested it for combustion gases and found no problems, but I need to throw money into the timing belt change and rollers for same, plus oil pump seals. I will report to the USMB my experience there.

I'm new to the USMB. This is great! Any recommendations for a Subaru mechanic in the Concord, NH area?

Okay, I'm brand new to the message board, too. I went and did it...bought a 97 2.5L Outback off of ebay without inspecting it. 144,000 miles on it and from a seller with a great feedback rating. I had heard rumor of the 2.5 headgasket problems but did not research it. I test drove the car prior to finishing the deal and found no sign of a problem. I drove the car home yesterday and still no overheating after 75 highway miles. I opened the coolant reservoir and looked for foam or other problems and wiped the inside of the "bottle" with my finger and came away with grease or oily residue. This morning I googled and found the USMB and have read up on the problem. MY QUESTION IS ...do I have a head gasket problem now or is the oil in the coolant reservoir just a sign of impending doom? Can oil get in there without being a headgasket problem? Great article/posting by "the other skip". You already convinced me not to attempt a new headgasket job on my own. I can do brakes and struts but will stay away from HG. ***************************************************************** Just read a long post from "Commuter". His story covers the oil in the coolant reservoir. Mine is not as bad...yet.