I just bought 1998 Forester and joined this board. Can someone explain the Phase 1 reference to the 2.5 engine? Is there a repair manual available for the Foresters? Thanks

Phase I is Subaru's earlier (97 to 99 in most models) 2.5 liter although I believe some (all?) 99 Foresters got the Phase II 2.5l engines. Phase I's are DOHC and Phase II's are SOHC. Yours should be a Phase I.

 

Unfortunately, some people have had HG problems with both phases, although the specific problems differs with the phase. For more on that, check out this link:

http://users.sisna.com/ignatius/subaru/headgasket.html

 

I don't know if there is a Forester manual but the Legacy Outback manual will have some relevant information (at least for the engines) as the Foresters and Legacy Outbacks used the same engine in 98.

 

Steve