2005 Headgaskets Leaking Oil - Any Recommendations?

[doug102]

I have a 2005 Outback, 2.5 Liter, 4 Cylinder with 86,500 miles. I always follow the maintenance plan and always go to my Subaru dealer, as I am not mechanically inclined.

Went to my dealer last week for the oil change service interval. Was informed both headgaskets are leaking oil, repair cost is $1,900. Also informed the RF Axle needs to be repaired/replaced for $350 as well as the Control Arm Bushings for $315. On my previous service visit (82,834 miles) the LF Axle was repaired/replaced.

When I asked, these repairs do not require immediate attention but will need to be addressed in the near future. Before proceeding with any of these repairs, I want to explore my options...especially with the headgaskets as I had HG issues on my previous 2001 Outback. I ultimately traded in my '01 for my current '05 instead of going through a second round of HG repairs on the '01 (more details on my '01 further below in italics).

I am going to a non-dealer repair shop for a second opinion. This shop only repairs Subarus (and also sells used Subarus) and has been in business since the mid 1980s.

After this second opinion, I am planning to call Subaru to see if it can cover the HG costs (as this is my third experience with HG problems).

In the meantime, I'm wondering if it is worth it to make all the repairs or just trade it in now as-is, likely for another Subaru but probably something smaller than the Outback. I don't necessarily mind paying for all these repairs, as I don't consider 86,500 miles to be very high for a Subaru, unless all these current issues (especially the HG issues) are a sign that I will experience other serious issues in the near future.

From reading the other posts, if I proceed with the repairs I will ask if I should also have the timing belt replaced now along with my HG repairs or if the HG repairs can wait until I'm closer to 100,000 miles.

I welcome any recommendations...thank you!

(On my '01, I had to replace the left HG around 90,000 miles. That service was thankfully covered under the Subaru HG Campaign. At 140,000 miles the other HG went and also resulted in the temp gauge widely fluctuating.

At that point, the dealer recommend I replace both HGs as the other one looked questionable. The dealer couldn't indicate how long this replacement would last. I contacted Subaru to see if Subaru would cover these costs, but it would not due to the mileage. However, after checking with my dealer to confirm that I had all service regularly performed, Subaru did offer $1,000 towards the purchase of a new Subaru...which is ultimately the route I went.)

[Ben5309]

I found myself in almost the exact same situation (about three weeks ago) with my 05 OBW as well, just at ~99.5 k. Luckily I was still under warranty untill 100 k.

Here are my thoughts:

Decide if you want drive the car for another 50-100 k or if you are ready for a new one. If there is a good chance that you don't want to keep your OBW, then do whatever you can to avoid having to do the work and trade it in ASAP (as long as your not taking a huge loss).

Lucky for me, other than the HG's/Control arm bushings/Camber arms/Axle boot seals/catalytic converters/rear wheel bearings, my car is a gem. I would be happy to drive it another 100 k and at the point I will be in a place where I can buy a new car and start doing all the maintenance and repair work myself (until the body rots out).

[Humbucker427]

Originally Posted by Ben5309

Lucky for me, other than the HG's/Control arm bushings/Camber arms/Axle boot seals/catalytic converters/rear wheel bearings, my car is a gem.

Too darn funny!

[Ben5309]

Yeah... Let me know if you still love your subie after it happens to you!

[Humbucker427]

Originally Posted by Ben5309

Yeah... Let me know if you still love your subie after it happens to you!

Whoa, there! I never said I loved it. That remains to be seen.

Anyway, I hear you! I just bought this one (my first Subaru) a little over two weeks ago and just found out I need new head gaskets. 97k miles... No warranty.

I guess it isn't looking good. I don't know... If I fix this, and it doesn't act up much after that, I can see me digging it. Still pretty bummed though.

[1 Lucky Texan]

you could just put oil in it.

soobs like to mark their territory.


You won't be the only car on the road leaking a little oil.

Change the axle and , maybe, the bushings yourself. Or have an indie shop change the bushings.

[doug102]

Ben5309, thanks very much for your thoughts. As I write this, I'm in the middle of doing exactly what you stated...considering all of my repair costs vs doing a trade on it now. Obviously not the most fun thing to be doing several weeks before the holiday but I'll see what seems best to me as I explore my options...thanks again!

[Humbucker427]

Originally Posted by doug102

I am going to a non-dealer repair shop for a second opinion. This shop only repairs Subarus (and also sells used Subarus) and has been in business since the mid 1980s.

After this second opinion, I am planning to call Subaru to see if it can cover the HG costs (as this is my third experience with HG problems).

Hey Doug102,

I was just wondering if you got that second opinion yet and if you had a chance to contact Subaru. I'd be very interested to see what they offer you, if anything. I would think you certainly deserve it...

[bstone]

Doug, what did the other repair facility say? Has anyone mentioned to you something called Subaru Coolant Conditioner? It is added to the radiator when there is an external leak of the HGs. It does an excellent job of sealing them up.

[doug102]

Hi Humbucker and bstone

Sorry for the delay in my response. Between the dealings with my vehicle and the holidays, things just became very hectic.

I did go to that independent garage that only works on Subarus. The headgasket issue was also confirmed there. The independent garage did feel that if I made the repair I would probably get many more miles out of it...the garage said it commonly sees this problem. I don't recall the details, but the replacement parts for the gasket that this garage uses are non-Subaru brand parts...but the garage did say it has success with the brand it uses...and it does seem like a well run and reputable independent garage.

Humbucker, I did also contact Subaru, as I did want to make the company aware of my continuing experiences with the headgaskets. I would say Subaru does take these issues seriously but Subaru definitely evaluated any complaints/problems in detail which is fine with me as I do all the regular maintenance and keep all of my service records. I would say I received a satisfactory response from Subaru although I was looking for a bit more input in how Subaru is specifically working to improve the headgasket issue.

bstone, yes I have heard of the Subaru Coolant Conditioner. I ended up using this with the headgasket issues on my first Outback. It did not turn out to be a successful long term solution in my situation. However, I know for other people it has served as a long term solution.

In the end, having been through this gasket issue previously, I decided to replace my Outback with a Legacy. For my situation, it was the best way to go. And there is definitely a different feel with the redesigned engines, as compared to my 2005 Outback.

Thanks for the input from you both!