Blown Head Gasket! LONG thread

Sam Kaufman · 11-27-2001, 09:27 PM

Well it finally happend. I heard the 98 2.5 is prone to this but was always hoping it was the other guy not me. I kept having an over heating problem and replaced the t-stat 2 times and I was still overheating. We tested for emissions in the radiator at work the first t-stat and we had no hydro carbons in the radiator. God news I thought. What I didn't really know is that it should have been tested with the old coolant in and while the car was at running temps. The t-stat didn't open and with the new coolant,we had no numbers indicating a blown headgasket.
I should have know all along because I had a gray sludge built up on the walls of th coolant resivior. I was thinking that I just really needed to flush the coolant. After doing the second t-sat,the car was fine for about a week. Then coming home,it overheated on me again. I limped back home and was able to drive fine with no over heating on my way to work. We tested for emissions in the radiator again and it was super blown. I had a reading of over 400 Hydro Carbons in my radiator. The alowable limit for H.C is 20 H.C. I had it towed to The local Subaru shop to have the warrenty work done. They told me it would be 3 weeks!!!!
I am a Service Manager at a shop and know that it doesn't take that long and i really don't think that their that busy.
Any way, the whole point of this thread is that we ALWAYS presure test and resurface the heads ANYTIME the come off.SUbaru told me that they hardly ever do this because it's not usally needed. What do you all think about that? And I heard a rumor that the replace the whole head with a newer version head for the 98my. Can anybody confirm or deni this? Your help would be great. Sorry for this huge thread,it's kind of a big issue for me.

Thanks for any help or info!
Sincerely,
Sam Kaufman

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SubyTechMaster · 11-27-2001, 09:48 PM

There is no newer version of the '98 head. In '99 Subaru went to the Phase II head but it's not a simple replacement.

I would only surface a head if it was warped or eroded. The Subaru heads can only be surfaced .004", warp limit is .002". The heads don't crack but you could request at your own expense to have them pressure checked. If they choose not to and they still leak they are the ones that have to stand behind the work. What you really have to worry about is weather the cylinder split. It is fairly common when an EJ motor overheats for the cylinder to split where they are thinner for the case bolts. If it happened they will know as soon as it's back together and running, provided it was undetectable when apart (which also is common).

As for taking 3 weeks to do the work, it's maybe a days work. Check with another dealer, call SOA, whatever. It's a free market.

Sam Kaufman · 11-27-2001, 09:54 PM

The phase II is what I remember hearing about. I thought that they were replacing the 98 head with this. Your info helps lots! Thanks!

11-27-2001, 09:27 PM	#1
Sam Kaufman Scooby Newbie Member#: 3135 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Pewaukee,Wi Vehicle: 98 2.5 rs red	Blown Head Gasket! LONG thread Well it finally happend. I heard the 98 2.5 is prone to this but was always hoping it was the other guy not me. I kept having an over heating problem and replaced the t-stat 2 times and I was still overheating. We tested for emissions in the radiator at work the first t-stat and we had no hydro carbons in the radiator. God news I thought. What I didn't really know is that it should have been tested with the old coolant in and while the car was at running temps. The t-stat didn't open and with the new coolant,we had no numbers indicating a blown headgasket. I should have know all along because I had a gray sludge built up on the walls of th coolant resivior. I was thinking that I just really needed to flush the coolant. After doing the second t-sat,the car was fine for about a week. Then coming home,it overheated on me again. I limped back home and was able to drive fine with no over heating on my way to work. We tested for emissions in the radiator again and it was super blown. I had a reading of over 400 Hydro Carbons in my radiator. The alowable limit for H.C is 20 H.C. I had it towed to The local Subaru shop to have the warrenty work done. They told me it would be 3 weeks!!!! I am a Service Manager at a shop and know that it doesn't take that long and i really don't think that their that busy. Any way, the whole point of this thread is that we ALWAYS presure test and resurface the heads ANYTIME the come off.SUbaru told me that they hardly ever do this because it's not usally needed. What do you all think about that? And I heard a rumor that the replace the whole head with a newer version head for the 98my. Can anybody confirm or deni this? Your help would be great. Sorry for this huge thread,it's kind of a big issue for me. Thanks for any help or info! Sincerely, Sam Kaufman * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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11-27-2001, 09:48 PM	#2
SubyTechMaster Scooby Specialist Member#: 4423 Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Placerville, CA USA Vehicle: '04 08 Tribeca, SVX Gold, Maroon	There is no newer version of the '98 head. In '99 Subaru went to the Phase II head but it's not a simple replacement. I would only surface a head if it was warped or eroded. The Subaru heads can only be surfaced .004", warp limit is .002". The heads don't crack but you could request at your own expense to have them pressure checked. If they choose not to and they still leak they are the ones that have to stand behind the work. What you really have to worry about is weather the cylinder split. It is fairly common when an EJ motor overheats for the cylinder to split where they are thinner for the case bolts. If it happened they will know as soon as it's back together and running, provided it was undetectable when apart (which also is common). As for taking 3 weeks to do the work, it's maybe a days work. Check with another dealer, call SOA, whatever. It's a free market.

11-27-2001, 09:54 PM	#3
Sam Kaufman Scooby Newbie Member#: 3135 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Pewaukee,Wi Vehicle: 98 2.5 rs red	The phase II is what I remember hearing about. I thought that they were replacing the 98 head with this. Your info helps lots! Thanks!