Leaking hose, and bad Head Gasket - 57K miles

[mserke]

Both head gaskets look clean and well and the top sides, just the passenger side along the bottom as in the picture.

Was just looking at the hoses and they are the AT cooler lines. checked the fluid level and it is clean (it was changed as part of the service prior to selling the car) however it is high... is it being pushed out of the hoses because it is high and has to go somewhere as it heats up and expands?

[plain OM]

I doubt the ATF is being "pushed out" through the hoses because of a slight overfill.

The same two rubber ATF coupler hoses on my 07 started to appear "wet", but there was no dripping; they just accumulated dirt on them making it look worse than it was. The hoses were replaced under the extended, power train warranty.

The drops on the driveway appear to clustered in a row -- can you tell if they're under the left or right side of the engine? Can the location of a "new" drop help locate the source?

The photos of the lower side HG areas appear to be toward the front. If it's anything like my 07, the rear is difficult to examine, and especially the left side. I use an extendable 2-inch round inspection mirror with a flashlight to look at the back of the head/block joint, and around the bottom for a short distance (the engine mount prevents a full view). The drops might be from the back of the head/block area.

[grossgary]

Originally Posted by cardoc

Subaru is using the latest release head gasket kit on all SOHC and DOHC engines when they come in for HG repair. The dealer parts departments do not stock the older style gaskets.

I know because I have good standing with my local dealer parts and have had discussion with a few techs in their service department. If another Subaru dealer is holding on to the older gaskets, I wouldn't know. Just check to make sure its the latest version that is being installed or purchased for home repair.

what's the part number? is it different than what came in the 2009 EJ25's from the factory? I think it is...but I haven't checked since
i will keep using the EJ25 turbo gaskets.

aren't they still providing the 610 gasket for the older DOHC's?

[cardoc]

I'll have to remember to get with Subaru parts in Georgetown for the part number, but last week I had a customer in with a leaking HG, oil and coolant on an 07 Forester. I was putting together his options for repair dealing with cost and I specifically asked if the gaskets were the most up to date and he said yes. At the point I called, the part numbers weren't and issue, only cost and availability.

As it turned out, the cost for the repair worked out to be less with a replacement short block over rebuilding. He had a rod knocking. No, it wasn't a piston or pin knock. It was a rod. After giving him the total costs, he decided he needed to mull it over to see if he wanted it repaired or just take it and trade it in. I gave him a couple names at the dealer to speak with.

I also found out during the conversation with parts that a new engine only carries a 12/12 warranty while the rebuilt carries a 3/36. I thought this odd, but its true.