Hi:

I have a 99 Subaru Legacy Outback. Made a post back in early Jan (Mystery Overheating Engine). Returning to ask advice -- can a mechanic tell whether a block is cracked JUST by witnessing exhaust in the coolant system? I still owe on my car and can't EVEN imagine paying out $5K to get a new block at 113K miles.

 

Should I have the mechanic run a test to be certain it's block vs gasket?

Ms. Dickens

If it were me I would want it torn down to inspect it. It might be that the mechanic has seen several cracked blocks in similar circumstances and has made up his mind this is the case.

This is why doctors reccomend second opinions. Get one.

Follow cookie's advice get a second opinion

a cracked block will have antifreeze in the oil most of the time. a cracked head gasket there will be gook in the raidtor. very very very few cracked blocks here, so it would be a safe bet for a HG. i dont even recall a single cracked block here unless the engine was cooked.

 

Get a second opinion, and what are your symptons.

 

 

 

nipper

haa ha, more fun posts about this for me to get called 'incompetent' and other childish names.

 

here's the bottom line ms dickens: coolant in the exhaust does not mean cracked block period. it can, but doesn't exclude other more common things.

 

i've replaced with my own hands 6 blown headgaskets. drove to work today in one with 150,000 miles on it.

It is very rare for a Subaru to crack a block. The 1990 2.2 did have a problem with the block. The 2.5 does not, remove the heads and have it inspected. I get tired of hearing all these hacks tell customers they they have a cracked block. It is simply not true. Goood luck.

i've heard of some board members getting help from Subaru on fixing these issues past warranty mileage. 1999 seems older and i doubt it, but i'd plug around here and see if that's an option.

A 1999 Outback is a phase 1 so its not going to happen with warranty.