Eva

that makes sense, I'll ask the guy to send me some photo's and then compare it mine

Oh yeah I think I forgot to mention that it had overheated back in march but it was due to the thermostat failing shut. So she has been overheated a few times :/

Oh god fairtaxforme....so I could fix it and in 5-10k it could die again? This is very tricky decieding what to do. I have found some wrecked subies which apparently have good engines. One guy told me he has changed the gaskets and seals, I asked if he had receipts/proof and he said that he didn't but that you can clearly see the heads have been acid bathed or glass beaded which is a sure sighn it has been reconditioned. Does this sound right to you guys? Its a manual 98 model but he sais it will go straight in, im a little dubious thought you would have to do something else with the transmission being different? I still need to figure out if the engines warped/cranks bent, ive just been looking at engines as I think that would be the easier safer option. I will try your startup method ivans imports, im not sure if I will be able to diagnose it though as im not so familiar with what the knocking would sounds like. I'll check back in and describe what I experience, thanks again everyone

It is a 2.5 the engine is "EJ25" the limited edition. I already know it has bubbles once its warmed up I was hoping it was just air getting sucked in from what I suspected was a broken seal on the waterpump or thermo gasket or something because it didn't have any other symptoms. Oh that explains why my water is so mucky, the carbon from the exhaust. I'm convinced now, you guys certainly know your subies ... wish I came on here before I bought the bloody thing! @ Olnick sorry i'll add my country now Mb4lunch mentioned I may have warped my engine when it overheated, is there a way i can check that? I will get my mechanic friend out asap, he is a couple hours away and I want to know as much as possible so i can way up my options and make the best decision. Could be better off searching for a new engine or getting a different car altogether. Such a shame, it was the nicest car ive ever had only got it in Feb

Thank you all so much for your help, I know its just a car.. im more upset thinking about how im going to get to work and continue eating than the actual car. I currently have $100 to my name, I should be thankful 90% of the rest of the world are worse off! Hopefully I can borrow some money, I have a good backyard mechanic who can do the work for me. I'm just wondering whether its worth fixing, it has 279,000km's on it already ....no idea how to convert to miles! I guess the first step is to have the engine pressure tested and then take it from there, wish me luck i'll check back in and let you know how I get on. Still really hoping its just the pump!

Sorry another question! so if this model Subaru is prone to head gasket problems, if I somehow find the money to replace it is it just going to happen again?

"If your car engine was severely over heated for like 15 to 20 minutes of driving, then the problem becomes warped aluminum engine surfaces, and damaged crank bearings. At that point, a replacement engine is needed. If over heated just only once, or few times minimally, then installing new head gaskets will fix the problem." Okay ive had a cry, what is considered severe overheated? my temp gauge got up to 3/4 before I pulled over and let it cool, I had to do this 3 times before I got it home. So this kind of whining grinding noise I thought was the water pump could be my poor warped engine and damaged cranks? somebody call the waambulance

Oh I just read the your post properly rooster I think im going to cry

noooooooooooooooo!!!! Ivans imports & Rooster 2 how can you be so sure it is a blown head gasket? I have blown a head gasket on a 91 liberty before because i was a young fool who didn't service her car, the oil was milky and smoke poured from the exhaust... does the 2.5 not display the usual telltale symptons? is it possible it is just cracked and not blown? and if so would you recommend trying one of those gasket sealing products? Please pray for me its not... I have a friend coming this arvo hopefully he can help me diagnose my problem

Yes that's the timing belt cover and im pretty sure now it must be pump related, I can hear a kind of rubbing grinding noise from that region so now just to go and visually confirm and order the genuine parts ...

Sorry not a very good photo, it looks like its coming out of the rubber seal which looks a bit displaced but I spose it could be running out of anywhere... I was going to try take that plastic timing belt cover off and look in there until I realised what a pain it would be. I read somewhere I need to take the radiator out

Thanks for the speedy reply! pretty sure it's a 2.5, it overheated pretty badly the water was pretty much boiling even though I stopped before the temp gauge reached high. It wasn't coming out of the overflow when I opened the hood, I looked in there first and it was 3/4 full but the radiator didn't have much water at all in and I could feel a lot of pressure when I took of the cap slowly expecting a fountain which did not come. I think I am due for a timing belt change, I bought the car second hand and the service history is incomplete. I have a photo of the leak and will post once I figure out how thank you so much!

Oh yes one more thing I thought was strange, when it started to warm up I put the heater on (usually helps) at first it was blowing hot air but it then it went cool and the temp gauge kept getting hotter

Hi all, My 97 outback overheated it also overheated 8months ago but it was just a failed thermostat and after replacing it was fine. From underneath i csn see There is water leaking out of a rubber seal near where the radiator hose enters the engine on the passenger side. Is this the water pump seal? Or something more serious ? Both fans are working, the car had oil and water before it overheated. I know these cars are prone to gasket problems but i dont think the head gasket is blown, when it overheated no smoke poured out of it and the oil looks fine. it isn't/hasnt been blowing white smoke or had water dripping from the exhaust either. The water was a little mucky but not full of oil. The radiator does have bubbles but is probably air getting sucked in from where its leaking. I hope anyway. So this seal that is leaking (water only) what is it can anyone tell me? The head gasket seals are internal no? Any advice would be very helpful I live out in the sticks and cannot get it to a mechanic. Thanks in advance Eva