Welcome to the North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club Friday March 29, 2024
Home Forums Images WikiNASIOC Products Store Modifications Upgrade Garage
NASIOC
Go Back   NASIOC > NASIOC Technical > Normally Aspirated Powertrain

Welcome to NASIOC - The world's largest online community for Subaru enthusiasts!
Welcome to the NASIOC.com Subaru forum.

You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, free of charge, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.







* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads. 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-07-2012, 06:46 AM   #1
Charlton
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 43038
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Franklin, Tennessee U.S.
Vehicle:
2002 Forester S
Black

Default Leaky Head Gasket: Something to Live With?

I've got a 2002 Forester S and I believe has a phase II SOHC engine. The head gaskets are leaking at 152000 but this is simply a utility vehicle that I will only use occasionally.

If the head gasket is leaking externally, is it a simply a matter of keeping the fluids topped off to keep the vehicle running?
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Charlton is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Old 08-07-2012, 07:18 AM   #2
dub81
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 302401
Join Date: Nov 2011
Chapter/Region: HIIC
Location: i-club.com/Hawaii
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlton View Post
I've got a 2002 Forester S and I believe has a phase II SOHC engine. The head gaskets are leaking at 152000 but this is simply a utility vehicle that I will only use occasionally.

If the head gasket is leaking externally, is it a simply a matter of keeping the fluids topped off to keep the vehicle running?
Correct sir, you dont want to allow your engine to have oil starvation. No oil + metal on metal wearing without no lubricant between the metals is a bad thing. Just topping it off and monitoring your oil levels is a good practice until you have the time and/or funds to pull the motor and swap the HG's.
dub81 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2012, 08:01 AM   #3
KOJAK-02-WRX
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 208052
Join Date: Apr 2009
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Southern Indiana
Vehicle:
2004 SGM FXT-6speed
*SOLD* 02 PSM WRX

Default

As long as it is in fact only an external leak, should keep an eye on your oil and antifreeze colors to make sure they are not mixing.
KOJAK-02-WRX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2012, 11:00 AM   #4
Charlton
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 43038
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Franklin, Tennessee U.S.
Vehicle:
2002 Forester S
Black

Default

Thank you folks. I am getting the timing belt replace today. I couldn't find any history of this getting done by the previous owner. Timing belt and rear wheel bearing is going to be $1300 at local dealer. That's not too bad IMO.
Charlton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2012, 12:31 PM   #5
Counterfit
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 124254
Join Date: Aug 2006
Chapter/Region: NESIC
Location: Rhode Island
Vehicle:
2006 06 SGM Slowbaru
"The Scoobinator"

Default

That sounds pretty steep to me.
Counterfit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2012, 02:59 PM   #6
kayetealynn
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 253304
Join Date: Jul 2010
Chapter/Region: AKIC
Location: Eagle River, AK
Vehicle:
2001 Impreza 2.5RS
Plus MOAR

Default

Agreed ^^

Unless it's both rear wheel bearings, but even then that's still kind of expensive.

Honestly if you are going to keep the car you should do the timing belt with the headgaskets - due to the overlapping labor you would only end up paying for the belt if you repaired the headgaskets and replaced the timing belt at the same time.

But everyone is right - you can go quite awhile with a leaking headgasket as long as you don't experience overheating problems and make sure your fluids are clean/topped off.
kayetealynn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2012, 03:19 PM   #7
Matt Monson
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 832
Join Date: Jan 2000
Chapter/Region: RMIC
Location: Teh Ghetto Garage, CO
Vehicle:
99 2.5RS, '85 911
'73 914 and 2012 BRZ

Default

Drive that car for a while with a blown head gasket and it will only get worse. Eventually it will blow fully and the car will overheat any time you drive it. As mentioned above, do the head gasket at the same time as the timing belt. It would be silly to go that far in and leave the leaking gasket. It's just a timebomb.

As for the price, wheel bearings are freaking expensive to get done and it's one of the few things I only trust the dealer or a Subaru specialist to do. Anyone who tells you they can do wheel bearings on a Subaru without the special tool are setting you up to be back in there a year later replacing the wheel bearing they messed up on installation.
Matt Monson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2012, 03:33 PM   #8
mod maniac
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 300551
Join Date: Nov 2011
Chapter/Region: SCIC
Location: mariposa ca.
Vehicle:
2002 FOZ STI 2.34
Fullers Garage

Default

Subaru makes a coolant additive that is for external water leaks and it works. I have used it on many customers cars with no problems. I would use that before you hurt something.
mod maniac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2012, 03:49 PM   #9
Paidfor
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 267815
Join Date: Dec 2010
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: LSx allll done..need headers
Vehicle:
Be in awe
dont hate .)

Default

^^^^^^^Yeah...chevys got some oem stop leak crap as well.they actually had a recall a few years back that pertained to the coolant smellling like a dead rat. You had to remove the factory coolant/stop leak..and replace it with new coolant and these little "pellets" (stop leak additive) because of the overwhelming stench.
Paidfor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2012, 07:02 PM   #10
Matt Monson
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 832
Join Date: Jan 2000
Chapter/Region: RMIC
Location: Teh Ghetto Garage, CO
Vehicle:
99 2.5RS, '85 911
'73 914 and 2012 BRZ

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mod maniac View Post
Subaru makes a coolant additive that is for external water leaks and it works. I have used it on many customers cars with no problems. I would use that before you hurt something.
I suggest you do some searching here before you too aggressively encourage people to use the additive instead of actually fixing the real problem. That was Subaru's fix before they were willing to admit they had an actual head gasket problem on these engines.

There were a lot of clogged up radiators and cars that overheated from that stuff and needed a lot more work than just a head gasket job. That stuff is junk.
Matt Monson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2012, 08:16 PM   #11
Counterfit
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 124254
Join Date: Aug 2006
Chapter/Region: NESIC
Location: Rhode Island
Vehicle:
2006 06 SGM Slowbaru
"The Scoobinator"

Default

Plus that stuff won't do **** for an external oil leak at the gasket.
Counterfit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2012, 09:16 PM   #12
Samirr76
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 4835
Join Date: Mar 2001
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: Fl33tw00d, PA
Vehicle:
2003 Baja 5MT
Yellow w/ 220,000 miles

Default

Actually the Subaru additive does work WHEN USED PROPERLY. If you mix it with the wrong coolant, yes it will gunk up and cause problems. I myself have WITNESSED the additive work on a external coolant leak from a head gasket.

They WILL NOT correct an INTERNALLY LEAKING head gasket. This is the misconception that many have. These are two separate problems cause by two separate issues.

Subaru has taken responsibility for both issues. But bear in mind, how many car companies are going to cover a head gasket at 100,000 miles, your out of your mind.

My 2003 Baja's HG didnt go out until over 180,000 miles and I have had the coolant additive in my engine since the day they released it to thepublic. I have NEVER had an external leak.
Samirr76 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2012, 10:44 PM   #13
mod maniac
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 300551
Join Date: Nov 2011
Chapter/Region: SCIC
Location: mariposa ca.
Vehicle:
2002 FOZ STI 2.34
Fullers Garage

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Counterfit View Post
Plus that stuff won't do **** for an external oil leak at the gasket.

That is correct it won't fix a oil leak but it will fix a water leak. I own a shop and see alot of subaru's and I have yet to see it plug a radiator
mod maniac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2012, 08:51 AM   #14
D.R. Hornberger
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 304383
Join Date: Dec 2011
Default Lower End

My mechanic that i want too redue the blown head gaskits on my 1998 2.5 D.O.C.Told me they will not warrant for that some have locked up the bottom end after being replaced has any one heard of this ????? Dale Oh P.S. 150,000 miles on it.
D.R. Hornberger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2012, 10:53 AM   #15
SYO
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 330106
Join Date: Aug 2012
Default

Just change it. It will only lead to more problems.
SYO is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:47 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Copyright ©1999 - 2019, North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club, Inc.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission
Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.