Well I'm back again with a request for some help.

I'm the unlucky owner of the infamous 97 outback 2.5.with bad head gaskets.I had the head gaskets replaced last year and the problem has returned again.I'm getting coolant in the conbustion chambers and engine has had it.We think the block is cracked due to overheating.I have no choice but to replace engine and I read a post by one of you guys on a step-by-step engine replacment.Thought I saved it but can't find it now.

Should I try and find a 2.0 engine for this thing or another 2.5?

 

Thanks for you time,

Dave

Dave:

 

Unless you're talking about the 2.0 turbo engine, found in US WRX's from '02 on, I think you're looking for the 2.2, specifically a 1995 year one if I'm not mistaken.

 

EDIT: In the time it took me to type, "do a search", I just did a search, here's the one I'm thinking of, hope it's what you're looking for:

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=24708&highlight=2.2

 

Steve

Hi There.

 

I have a 97 Outback with the same problem you had. My question is did you just replace the head gaskets?

 

My car overheated enough where I wound up warping the heads (there is supposed to be some sort of a kill switch if the engine gets to a certain temperature to prevent the block from cracking). If this happened to you it is possible to have coolant in the engine again. I replaced just about all the cooling system components and replacing the gaskets and seals on the engine as well as replacing the heads. It has only been about 6 months and 6,000 miles, but so far all is well without a hint of a problem.

 

The Subaru mechanic told me that when a problem like this comes up, especially if the engine overheats like mine did that there is no sure fire way to eliminate all the potential leaks becasue I the overheating would have either warped or stressed all the components to make them unreliable.

 

My heads were about 3,000 of an inch out of factory tolerance levels, the Subaru mechanic stated that if they used those same heads I would be experianceing coolant in the engine again within a year.

Grimm,

Yes,I had the head job done last year.Matter of fact they had to be redone right after that.I'm quite sure that the block is cracked which I think happened in the first gasket failure,cause it never ran right after that time.

My problem is that I just got a price of $4330 for a rebuilt engine.Great news eh? I called Subaru dealer and he said too bad Subaru won't back this faulty design. I sure agree with that.They see lots of them right around 80K. No idea what to do now.

Yes my engine is 2.5 single OHC.

Thanks,

Dave

The cost of the engine from what I understand is usually around $5K so your price is a good one. I am sorry to hear that the money put in to fix that problem did not go away.

Have you seen this?

 

http://www.ccrengines.com/

I would go with the 2.2 swap. They are just awesome engines. You won;t be dissapointed. I hear that CCR engines do great work and are a huge help when doing the swap.