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Cost of replacing '97 OBW head and oil pan gaskets

I have a '97 OBW (USA) with manual transmission. This is the base Outback, not the one with the higher performance engine. The car had about 110K miles at the time.

I asked my regular mechanic to look the car over to see what it might need if I kept it instead of getting a new car (Forester.) He said I should replace the head gasket and the two oil pan gaskets. He gave me an estimate of ~ $500.

Since I have some Subaru coupons from a Subaru credit card, I contacted the local dealer and he said the total would be ~ $300. (Before the coupons, which he does not know about yet.)

Normally my regular mechanic is less expensive than the dealer, so I'm a bit confused. Perhaps the cost at the dealer is lower because they already have the parts or because they do this repair all the time or perhaps the dealer is low balling me and the price will be higher when I go to pick up the car.

What should this cost?

-- Vic Roberts Replace xxx with vdr in e-mail address.

Reply to
Victor Roberts
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I am thinking the dealer is not understanding about replacing the head gasket. I doubt anybody can do that for $300. Even the $500 is a very good price.

Mike

Reply to
Michael Pardee

Yeah, I think the OP would be having some driveability problems, or at least coolant loss if a headgasket were bad. Perhaps they mean valve cover gaskets?

I dunno

Carl

Reply to
Carl 1 Lucky Texan

Woops! I should have typed "oil pan gasket and two valve cover gaskets". The head gasket is not part of this deal. Sorry.

-- Vic Roberts Replace xxx with vdr in e-mail address.

Reply to
Victor Roberts

Yes - Two VALVE COVER gaskets and the one OIL PAN gasket.

-- Vic Roberts Replace xxx with vdr in e-mail address.

Reply to
Victor Roberts

Won't comment on price for these 3 gaskets but at 110k miles it is time for replacing timing belt, water pump, and associated gaskets and seals. These engines are also know for loosing head gaskets typ around the miles you have on the car. If any of these other repairs are to be included you will be looking at a price of $1500-$2000.

Head gasket replacement typ requires the engine to be pulled.

Mickey

Reply to
Mickey

The timing belt and water pump were replaced once, either at

60K or 90K miles. I'll have to check my records, so they are not yet ready for replacement.

I think I'll replace the head gasket when and if I see some sign it needs replacement.

-- Vic Roberts Replace xxx with vdr in e-mail address.

Reply to
Victor Roberts

Timing belt and water pump were replaced at 67K miles. So I have at least another year (at the rate I use the car) before I need to worry about the timing belt again. By then, someone may finally have a car I like to replace the OBW. Perhaps even Subaru :-)

-- Vic Roberts Replace xxx with vdr in e-mail address.

Reply to
Victor Roberts

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