2.5 DOHC H gaskets suck

I had the HGs done in my '98 Outback at Rays repair shop in Hudson, NH. It's a small local place put they have decent rates and do quaility work. (603) 889-9584.

Hey, Merrimack, NH checking in. I'd love to see a meet somewhere in the northeast with some light off roading, maybe blasting down some logging roads. I have a stock 98 OBW so it's not up for rock crawling or anything but I'm not opposed to getting it dirty. I'm new to the area so Just wondering if there is anything around.

I have a 98 OBW with 110K miles on it. Just did the HG repair. As you could have probably guessed from my screen name. I most likely drove my car for over a year before I even knew the HGs were bad. Went from Iowa to Wyoming and from Iowa to New Jersey several times. After 100 to 200 HIghway miles coolant would accumulate in the overflow tank and the engine would start to over heat. Let it cool down and top off the coolant in the radiator and it would be good for another couple hundred miles. The point is even if you have the problem you shouldn't be left stranded.

I can't comment on the dealers, haven't used them for repair, and don't have the resources to be buying anything new right now. But there is a local garage in Hudson, NH that is currently rebuilding the engine in my 98 OBW due to head gasket failure (as if you couldn't guess that from my screen name). They don't say they specialize in Subarus but they do great work. Rays Auto repair 12 Gowing Rd. Hudson, NH

Sounds like you've got a leaking front and/ or rear crank seal. My 98 OBW was doing the exact same thing. Look under the car and see if the oil pan is covered in oil. MIne was leaking from the front, it drips from under the plastic dust cover over the belts, running down the oil pan and burning on the exhaust.

I have a 98 OBW with bad head gaskets. It was doing just what you described. I could drive for about 100 miles on the highway it would push the coolant out to the overflow and not pull it back to the engine. If I stopped let it cool and top off the radiator it would be good for another 100 miles. Check what the others said and watch your over flow tank, if it keeps filling up and draining the radiator sounds like the dreaded HG problem. This generation motor has an internal leak that won't drip outside the engine so can be tricky to diagnose, I tried all the cheap fixes (thermostat, fans running, etc.) but now the engine block is sitting on a table, the heads getting checked for cracks and I'm waiting for a bunch of parts.

I second checking the front and rear main seals for oil leakage they are notorius failures of your generation motor. If it is those you should see smoke coming from the engine bay after driving. I hate to be the one to say it but I have a horendous smell inside my 98 OBW and it is due to the head gaskets being shot. It doesn't smell like pure exhaust inside the car but it is the smel of something burning and it comes throught the vents.

Well I've got a 98 Outback with the dreaded HG leak. I've decided to replace them since I can get the work done for free and only have to pay for parts. I searched this site extensively to gain all the info I can (awsome site, it's been a huge help). I just have a few questions before I tear it apart. I will most likely get the parts from subarugenuineparts.com I assume they have the latest revision of the head gaskets right? How long does anyone have on the revised gasket? Since I'll have the engine out I plan on putting in a new clutch, pressure plate, and TO bearing while I'm in there. Does the new stock clutch address the clutch chatter issue? I'll also be doing all the major gaskets valve cover, rear main seal (front was already changed along with water pump and Timing belt), etc. Anything else you would recomend while its in pieces and the engine is out? Thanks in advance for the info. Hopefully this will keep her going until I can afford a new Outback XT!