Hi all. I am considering buying an outback. sixth digit in VIN is 6. Owner says it's a 99' with 170,000 miles. He had an oil leak present, then he overheated it. Now the oil leak is alot worse. My guess is the heads are warped. What's your thought's? He said a shop told him it would be a grand to fix?

 

Couple (well lots) of questions but Ill try to keep it slow.

 

Is it worth putting new heads on the original motor with 170k on it? Or is this type of motor a boat anchor with this many miles?

 

Can the heads be swapped with the engine in the car?

 

How hard is it to swap a 2.5 motor, with no lift?

 

 

 

 

 

Mileage isn't the issue, overheating is. The DOHC 2.5 especially does not do well after overheating. The rod bearings are easily damaged and often fail within a few thousand miles in glorious fashion. Find a rebuilt 2.5 or do a 2.2 swap.

Mileage isn't the issue, overheating is. The DOHC 2.5 especially does not do well after overheating. The rod bearings are easily damaged and often fail within a few thousand miles in glorious fashion. Find a rebuilt 2.5 or do a 2.2 swap.

Much the same thought as above. My wife severely cooked the 2.5 motor in her 98 OBW. It is the same motor as in the 99 you are looking at. The aluminum block, and prolly everything else was warped, so it was leaking oil noticeably. It just wasn't worth trying to fix, so dropped in a motor from a wrecking yard, and all is well. The seller saying cost of repair is $1,000. This is not a realistic figure.

 

You could prolly pull the engine using drive up plastic ramps to get under the car, and an engine hoist. Lots written about engine swaps here. Just use the "search" function on this site to learn how, and what swaps right in.

Uhgg! The car sold... but after the feedback and the little research I did I'm feeling like I need to find me another one. 

Uhgg! The car sold... but after the feedback and the little research I did I'm feeling like I need to find me another one. 

Sometimes the best deal, is the deal that never took place. Buying a car with a strong oil leak, with thoughts that the motor may have been over heated, isn't a good start in buying a used car. The seller wanting near retail didn't make the deal any good. Consider yourself lucky.........there are better used Subies out there, that will be better values for your money.