Ideal year? Expected repairs at 90-120k ?

[Unflagging]

I just called a seller about a 2005 Outback with 95k. He said the check engine light went on, and the dealer told him he needs a new head. I told him to get a 2nd opinion, but when exactly do these cars start showing head gasket problems? My friend anecdotally says it goes at 200k. Now, I am reading about people redoing head gaskets here before 100k?? What's the median miles at failure?

[rasterman]

Look up the head gasket log only thread. Folks have been logging stats there.

My last car saw them go at about 120k.

[cardoc]

Originally Posted by Unflagging

What's the JDM engine? An upgrade? I saw an ad for a car with a replaced JDM engine, and I dismissed it as some blown engine, etc. Didn't want to go there. Aftermarket, etc.

Japanese Domestic Market

The cars are taken off the road by 50k miles. All the parts are recycled and shipped to other parts of the world and sold.

I put the JDM engine in for the low mileage and the OE engine started making a lifter noise right in the midst of the tuning.

[Unflagging]

Originally Posted by rasterman

Look up the head gasket log only thread. Folks have been logging stats there. My last car saw them go at about 120k.

Here it is: HG failure log (NO DISCUSSION, Log ONLY)

Looks like 200k is an inflated expectation. Maybe I just got lucky.

[Unflagging]

So, I found a "new" 2001 Outback Wagon with only 65k miles for $5500.
Original owner, and very clean inside and out.
Clutch felt tight, and the only work major has been water pump and 4 new tires.


I plan to keep this as long as I can.
So, I will probably invest some money into it:
1) new brake pads/rotors all around.
2) rest of cooling system (thermostat, radiator, 2 hoses)
3) battery, wipers, air filter
4) Fan belt
5) Change all fluids: oil, steering, gearbox, rear diff, coolant

Anything else you'd do?

[Performance Suby]

Is this a 4cyl or 6cyl, if its a 4cyl do you know if anything else was changed behind the timing cover when the waterpump was done? If not you should do the timing belt, idlers, tensioner, cam&crank seals, even though the car has low miles the time interval for the timing belt change is past due( I think 8-9 years).

Anyway make sure the headgaskets are ok (especially if this is a 2.5L 4cyl) inspect the bottom of the engine for leaks.. oh and cv boots are also a common thing to go especially the passengers front inner due to the catalytic converter being under it.

[Unflagging]

I don't remember if it's 4 or 6cyl.

Head gasket. Car seemed to run great, and I didn't smell coolant or see any pooling in the common spot.

Yes, I will do the timing belt. I forgot to put that in my list.

I will check the Idlers and tensioners when the belt is off. They often last a lot longer than 10 years or 60k.

Cam and crank seals? Is this typical service? Is this a big job?

[RedGeminiPA]

You said the clutch feels good = 4 cylinder. The H6 never came with a stick.

Head gaskets can leak oil external, not just coolant.

[Unflagging]

Ok, here is my updated list:

1) new brake pads/rotors all around.
2) rest of cooling system (thermostat, radiator, 2 hoses)
3) battery, wipers, air filter
4) Fan belt, idlers, tensioner.
5) Change all fluids: oil, steering, gearbox, rear diff, coolant
6) New CV boots. (Passenger Front inner)
7) New timing belt.
8) Cam & crank seal

Anything else you'd do?

Which CV boots should I have done?
It sounds like there are 8 ?

Passenger front inner
Passenger front outer
Driver's front inner
Driver's front outer
(And then 4 more for the rear)

[AWDFTW]

2: OEM tstat only, trust me.
6: CV only if the boot is split and flinging grease. It is always better to reboot unless the axle is damaged. This is a Subaru only part due to fit quality issues with aftermarket parts.
Typically the passenger front splits, it's right over exhaust piping.