I've read a lot about different engines having cylinder head gasket problems. Can someone give me idea of the best years/engines and the most risky ones? I'm interested in either a Legacy or a Forester

Thank you

I've read a lot about different engines having cylinder head gasket problems. Can someone give me idea of the best years/engines and the most risky ones? I'm interested in either a Legacy or a Forester

Thank you

 

From info gathered here 97-98 and possibly part 99 had the infamous internal head gasket failures. 2000-2002 had the external head gasket failure potential. Thus the recall. I think by 2003 the problem was corrected, but those cars may still be to new to determine long term effect.

Anything with a 2.5 phase 1 is at risk for the internal expensive failure.

Perhaps a real Subie expert will help here, but I think they ran from 1997 to 1999 in the Legacys.The first safe one would be a 2000 model year.

For some reason the Forester got the phase 2 a year early in 1999. this is why I have a 1999 Forester as folks on the board warned me about the phase 1.

The legacy got the 2.5 in '00, 2.2 up until then. Forester got the Phase II 2.5 in '99 like cookie said. I think the Phase II had a lot of head gasket problems until about '02 or so. I think the impreza got the 2.5 in all cars in '02. The outback had the Phase I 2.5 through '99, then the Phase II. '99 is a crossover year. Our '99 has a Phase II block with Phase I heads. It has been reported that some outbacks in '99 got the complete Phase II, but I haven't seen it.

1 of my co-workers had a 00 OBW, and he had an external coolant leak from the head gasket. Passenger side, I think. He had 105K. He was quoted $4500.00 for replacement of the motor. Head gasket replacement was not recommended, as it would/could fail again. He bought an 03 OBW instead. I have an 01 OBW, hopefully the coolant additive will do it's thing. I advised him of recall, which came about 3 months after he bought the new car. He contacted Subaru, they offered noting but an apology, and thanks for buying another one...

Okay, dumb question: How do I know if I have a Ph1, a Ph1 with phII heads, or a PhII on my '99 OBW? I have 73k with no problems (so far.)

The heads are easy. Look at the timing cover, on a Phase II you will see that it has two big sprockets underneath, the Phase I has only one. As far as the block goes, IIRC if you look underneath the power steering pump there are two ridges cast into the block, two ridges for a Phase I and one ridge for a Phase II.