I have a 1998 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT and it's starting to give me plenty of problems, it has 60k miles. I bought it four months ago, it was driving so perfect. And now for the past couple weeks its been starting to give me a bunch of issues, I had replace a few parts and now i have to replace the seal its leaking more and more engine oil as time go on. It seem as i fix one problem another problem pops right up.

From my research, everyone is saying to get a older 2.2L with the EJ22 motor with a manual transmission for reliability, Is that a wise decision for me to do??  What are you guys input on the best option for me to do? Reply asap thanks

If the engine is running ok otherwise, I'd just pull the engine to replace the separator plate, which is probably what's leaking, if the leak is from the rear.

The 2.2 is a good option if you HAVE to replace the engine.

 

O.

If it's your head gaskets that are going, then yes, a 2.2 is a good option. If you just have a leaky seal somewhere else, replace it if it's bad, or if it's mild, just top off the oil from time to time.

 

Many prefer manual transmission, but the automatics are perfectly reliable. My wife's 2000 Outback got 300,000 miles on it's original automatic before I replaced it.

 

Are you getting your information on the car firsthand? Or is a mechanic telling you of your issues?

Thanks for reply guys, appreciate it. A mechanic was telling me of my issues. Does the 2.2L Subaru's have head gasket issues also??

Not like the 96-99 DOHC engines.  

 

Pretty rock solid engines as long as they are maintained and not over heated.

I'd like to know which seal you're talking about.

 

If it cam seals which usually start leaking around 60k or another minor repair like oil pump then an investment in replacing these would be the way to go.

 

For a couple of hundred you can have it nice and tight oil wise and while your in there replace the timing belt and water pump then you should be good to go until 170k miles before you need standard engine maintenance.

I've owned/own a number of 90's subaru's.  The following assumes that you have personally verified that your HG need to be replaced.  If its just the separator plate leaking, then I would and have lived with it. If you replace the engine with a 2.2 OR replace the HG/separator plate, you must find a experienced mechanic who has done this work before.  That's paramount.

 

A number of posters have said that the 2.2 replacement is easy.  However, the used 2.2 motors have a lot of milage on them and you may not be confortable with that, even though the motors should last to 250 Kmiles at least. 

 

Alternatively, replacing the HG's is a viable option because a number of the posters have said that the OEM replacement HG for the 90's 2.5 engines are MLS and are a reliable replacement.  Maybe other will chime in and agree/disagree.

 

Either way, you are looking at about $400 parts [assumes that timing belt, pulleys etc are also replaced] and $1200 labor.  In the first case, you would also have to add the cost of the replacement motor.

 

By the way, my separator plate leakage on a 95 doesn't seem to be getting any worse with time.  I don't even have to add oil between replacement at 3000 mi.

I reseal engine headgaskets separator plate cam seals crank seal valve covers ect cost about 1500-2000 depending on if 5 speed or auto as a clutch kit adds 400-500 to the job