Josh97546 Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 Hi, this is my first post in this forum. I noticed this place when fixing our '90 Loyale, and realized how much good information was here. (couldn't have done it without ya!) So I have decided to tackle our neighbors 99 forester (EJ2.5L vin #6) as well. She appears to have all the symptoms of a blown head gasket. Water in oil, oil in water, overheating, the usual. I guess my question is this: I have done many a head gasket in my day, but this is only my 2nd Roo. Are there any strange particulars that I need to know going into this? Seems pretty cut and dry. I plan on replacing the H bolts, and getting the heads checked. But I have heard about only using a "subaru" head gasket, is this true? Also, we haven't a lot of money to burn on this, and I wondered if I could get away with just doing the side that it bad? (saves about $100) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 Subaru offered a 100,000 mile extended head gasket warranty on SOHC engines from 2000-2002 - the 99 forester may have been included since it had that SOHC engine a year before the OBW's did. Too late now it sounds like but had your neighbor looked into this earlier it might have been on Subaru's tab. Save your money on the head bolts and do both sides. You do not replace the headbolts on Subaru engines. Look up "Torque to Yield headbolts" online and read about those if you want more information on why and the differences between head bolts. Yes, definitely use the Subaru head gasket. Find an online Subaru vendor and buy from there, it's much cheaper that way than the dealer. Sometimes the local dealers will match the online pricing (that's what I do most of the time), or give you the local jobber price they're giving to all the local shops. All you have to do is ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh97546 Posted February 19, 2010 Author Share Posted February 19, 2010 What drew my interest in the head bolts, is that in every HG set I looked at, they said "new head bolts recommended" usually, that means "for sure" but if they aren't "stretch" bolts, should be o.k. I will look for the subaru head gaskets. Also, I commonly use a spray sealant to help me stick the gaskets for assembly. I was planning on doing the same here. But, I also commonly work with cast heads, that are in a "V" configuration. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 Subaru requires the gaskets be installed dry. I would suggest following Subaru procedures rather than inserting other procedures not required. This all of course assumes they didn't abuse the car. It's highly unlikely that this just recently started, I would guess it's been going on for quite some time since it's now leaking oil, like years based on my experience. These typically start seeping very slowly out the back side of the head to block mating area, slow drips...then get worse over time. They start as coolant only leaks and can stay that way for years, then progress to oil leaking too. So that's why I'm suspicious of a lengthy leak. All that to say - it's been leaking for a long time, if it's also been run low on coolant and overheated then all bets are off on the overall condition of the engine. But new anything won't fix that - so you're back to a typical repair anyway. Subaru redesigned the headgaskets due to this propensity to leak, so best to go with their gaskets and procedures...which experience across countless boards, mechanics, and hobbists like you find here also reveals success. Good luck. There are some really good threads, links, websites, and such referencing parts, prices, and pictures of the process. Try and find those to get you started. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh97546 Posted February 19, 2010 Author Share Posted February 19, 2010 Sounds good to me. What is amazing is how long she has been driving it this way. It just keeps going. Every morning though, I look out the window with my coffee in hand, and see her topping off water ad oil. She has also been frequently changing the oil. I think she already paid for the head gasket job twice over if she had just come to see me sooner! So I am expecting the worst. Warped heads and the like. It's good to hear "dry install" because I used no sealant on the Loyale heads, and it made me nervous. Well, I will tear it apart and post with all the dirty details! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike104 Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 Josh, Thanks for doing the neighborly thing! Too bad you didn't live closer to me or I would come and help you with that head gasket and you could help me with mine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 (edited) What is amazing is how long she has been driving it this way.Exactly what I suspected, I wasn't just making this up: I would guess it's been going on for quite some time since There's quite a few differences across subaru motors. The good thing is this particular motor fairs well and can run a very long time if you just keep adding oil/water. It doesn't over heat unless it runs low (unlike some other Subaru engines). That she kept filling it up is a good sign and it probably doesn't need anything other than the heads milled, cheap insurance to do a big job like this right. Good luck, sounds like you got the basic idea down. Edited February 19, 2010 by grossgary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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