Does Subaru Tend to Stonewall the Head Gasket Issue?

[Bluestone]

My 2000 Legacy GT Wagon hasn't been driven that much; it's got just 47,000 miles on it. I purchased it, new, in August of '01.

While the temperature gauge always registers normal operating temp and there's no coolant smell evident, the reservoir's coolant level slowly keeps dropping. I add coolant to a predefined mark, check the level every so often and notice the level slowly but steadily drop below that mark. I always check the level with the engine cold and the car parked on a level surface. I only add coolant when the level drops by about an inch to an inch and a half.

I just had the cooling system pressure tested, drained and refilled at the dealer....er, excuse me, stealership....it cost me $166. I had mentioned my concern about the dropping coolant level. I figured that having the cooling system attended to at the dealer would be best since there's still two years left on the extended head gasket warranty and there would be dealer documentation of any cooling system issues, handy if a head gasket problem shows up.

The work order states that the cooling system was pressure tested and "no obvious leaks found at this time". If they did , in fact, find leaks and documented it, they would be admitting that there is a problem. And I have no assurance at all that they did not, in fact, find no leaks; they may be just intending to string me along 'till the 8 year/100K mile extended head gasket warranty runs out. I've still got 2 years left on it.

If the coolant level keeps dropping, I take my Subie back to the service dept.(God...how expensive that would be!), and they keep saying "no obvious leaks found at this time", what recourse do I have?

The thought has occurred to me that even if an obvious cooling system failure does happen, Subaru has any number of ways(rationales, excuses) of getting out of fixing it at their expense.

I'd like some of your opinions on this.

[ericem]

Did you try another dealer?

[nipper]

I've come to the conclusion, that its 50% SUbaru and 50% the dealership.

 

Some dealerships will fight to get you the HG job (they get reinbursed from subaru for the cost of warrenty work). Some dealerships could care less. This is no differnt then any other make of car.

 

From what you have said about the dealership, they didnt even do a proper test. A customer comes in with a complaint of loss of coolant on a car known to have HG issues. First thing that happnes is the paperwork is noted that the customer is complaining of loss of coolant. Next should not only be a leak down test (which personally i would skip all together), and a hydrocarbon test.

 

For your part you need to look at the coolant at regular intervals, as "every so often" doesnt tell anyone anything (including the dealership).

What is this predefined mark? If its not the full when cold level, that is not informative either.

 

For the record, several things can affect fluid level in the resivoir. One being evaporation (if the car really is driven so little). Another is air temperature. Dirt around the neck of the radiator cap will do it too.

 

I suggest right now replacing the radiator cap. They get old. Leaks happen for other reasons aside from HG's. This is usually a good reason for coolant level issues, and a cheap "chicken soup" fix.

 

nipper

[elborak]

Slightly long, but perhaps helpful, HG story...

 

I purchased a used 2002 Legacy L wagon from a small used car lot about a month ago, 130k miles. Came with a 3rd party 6mo/6k warranty from the dealer (which as we know can work but can also be a major pain).

 

Took it in to the local Subaru dealer after a couple of weeks for standard servicing & a thorough check. Dealer found a "small" head gasket leak. I'm taking this vehicle on a long trip on July 5th. Due to the end of month PA inspection rush and the 4th holiday, they couldn't handle the servicing until after the 4th. Found another dealer about a half hour away that could squeeze me in. Dropped it off.

 

3rd party warranty co. tried to stall/weasel on the warranty claiming the condition probably existed at the time of purchase and wanted the selling dealership to inspect/confirm/repair it. After many phone calls, I agreed to have the selling dealer service it, despite it being significantly farther away. When I contacted the Subaru dealer to arrange to pick up the car (they hadn't started work as the warranty approval hadn't come through), the service manager said he was getting pissed off at the warranty company run around and asked me to give him a bit of time to contact the regional office/manager.

 

End result was that he called me back 10 minutes later and said that Subaru had agreed to pick up the entire HG tab. Also offered to do the timing belt as well, but that had already been done by the seller. Picked it up just last night, zero charge.

 

So my personal guess (and that's all it is) is that Subaru will pick up HG charges in many cases, but likely only if the dealership is willing to lobby for it. So find a dealership you like & trust.

[NOMAD327]

who was the good subaru dealer you dealt with?

[elborak]

who was the good subaru dealer you dealt with?

#1 Cochran Subaru in Monroeville PA. Cochran is a huge line of dealerships and sell/service many makes, but the just recently took over Subaru in Monroeville.

[Skip]

That is the old "Langston Subaru"

bought our first Forester off of them when they were on 286

 

I wonder where they went, they dealt in a ton of HiPo

stuff.

 

Got my second turbo Legacy out of their lot when they mis-guessed a bad turbo for the PO.

 

Those copper 0-ring washers must fool a lot of them. ;^)

[idosubaru]

i think yours is one of the coolant conditioner models as well, make sure that's getting added. and have them document the coolant loss...with specific info like nipper said.