Is this head gasket leak?

'leaking' implies dripping onto the ground or perhaps being blown around in the engine compartment/blown backwards under the car when driving.

If you mean 'high oil consumption'/'low oil on dipstick', it must be going somewhere.

From your post as it stands, I would recommend a different mechanic. Certainly I would want a second opinion under odd circumstances before spending $2000.

Sounds like a possible head gasket, for sure. If it is in good shape otherwize I'd fix it and drive it.

It is very possible she has both an external and internal oil "leak" IF there is oil in the coolant she does not need to see another mechanic for a "second opinion" - she has already gotten mine. As for the $2000, there may well be a mechanic around who will do it (properly) for less. Depends where she is, and how many independents in her area are well aquainted with Soobs. Like the GM adds say, "it's not your daddy's oldsmobile"

I'm not saying it isn't a bad headgasket. Just that the wording of the post makes the diagnosis questionable. Has Dima seen the oil in the coolant or coolant/'chocolate mousse' in the oil? Also, did the dealership use the coolant conditioner if they flushed the coolant at the 60K service? (I would definitely hold them accountable if it isn't shown on the receipt.)

It is definitely leaking on the floor - that I can see. Eventually it gets low on a dipstick - that I can see as well. The dealer says they found oil on the coolant. I dond't yet know about it myself. The coolant level so far was stable and when I am checking oil, I see no foaming indicative of coolant in oil.

I'll do that.

My '03's went last month at only 40k mi, starting as a burnt antifreeze smell and then leak. Repair was nearly $1,400 which hurts but is much less than book value of the Forester. Dealer said they had only seen a couple of head gasket problems with '03's but they were over 100k mi.

Last year, same odor and then leak, was said to be bad water pump. I had heard about this special coolant thing after I had changed antifreeze at non-Subaru shop but Subaru had done the water pump replacement and also threw in a timing belt change at cost of belt since it was off.

Candidly, I've been a big Forester fan and my wife has an '08 but if I see this problem again on either Forester, I may be looking at other brand AWD's next time I need a new one.

Perhaps they meant you need new valve cover gaskets? Still, that seems like a lot of money.

There is a 'sniffer' test - similar I guess to the tailpipe emissions tester - that can be used to detect exhaust gasses in the coolant.

Also, do locate your 60K service receipt - or get a copy from your dealer's service desk, and see if the 'coolant conditioner' was used in your car if the 60K service included a radiator flush/refill. IF they didn't use it and IF you actually have ANY headgasket issues, you MIGHT be able to hold them accountable. In reality, the conditioner is only to prevent external (leaking coolant onto the ground) leaks. But, putting up a fuss about it may get you somewhere.

good luck and please let us know what you find.

If I remember correctly, if the dealer added the coolant conditioner back when the TSB was issued, it extended the warranty to 8 yrs or

100,000 miles. With an '02 you are just outside of that warranty, but considering your mileage maybe you can work something out with them?

Alas, this particular car was NOT under this recall. Somehow, some

2002 cars were and some weren't. I just looked at the 60K job slip and it is listed there: "coolant sys SOA635071" $1.75

What I have hard time believing is that it was pure co-incidence that the car started to leak the day I took it from the dealer's 60K maintenance. On the other hand, I can't even start guessing what it was they could do wrong to make it leak... I know, my own fault and it's way too late now (I was sick and my wife dis not feel like going back to the dealership).

Headgasket at 60K is completely ridiculous. My old Impreza is at

120K now without any hints of the problem. I am going to see an independent mechanic tomorrow.

Forgot to ask in the dealership for how long they guarantee a new gasket they'd put in. Anyone knows?

- Dima

My wife insists on three things for her car:

- AWD

- SUV

- manual

I also insist that it has to be reliable and inexpensive. Other than Forester/Subaru, what cars might fit the bill?

Toyota RAV 4 and Honda CRV come to mind. They may not be base AWD and probably cost a bit more. I have not driven either and guy I know got a Forester over the RAV 4 as he said RAV 4 drove like a truck.

Perhaps the Toyota RAV or Highlander? Or the Honda CRV? The Hyundai and Kia offerings are getting pretty darn good reviews too, at a lower cost.

For what it's worth, Consumer Reports small SUVs:

Toyota RAV4, Subaru Forester, Honda CRV, Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan Rogue, Hyundai Tuscon in that order.

It seems that for all of them, the combination of AWD/MT is not available in the USA. Weird. Staying with this Forester has just become more appealing...

DK

I had not considered manual transmission and don't know why anyone would want one except maybe to save a few dollars. Mileage on automatic is nearly as good.

You must be looking at an old list.

The Consumer Reports 2011 Buying Guide, p. 120, rates them, in order:

Subaru Forester 2.5XT Limited 87 Subaru Forester 2.5XT (MT) 84 Toyota RAV4 Limited (V6) 83 Kia Sorento 82 (new model, reliability unk) Toyota RAV4 (base, 4 cyl) 82 Subaru Forester 2.5X 82 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited (V6) 80 Honda CR-V EX 76 Kia Sorento LX (4 cyl) 75 (new model, reliability unk) Mitsubishi Outlander LS (4 cyl) 73 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS (4 cyl) 73 Nissan Rogue SL 73

The choice seems clear.

Save a few dollars? In some cases a manual actually costs MORE today.

Consumer Reports is hardly the standard for rating vehicles- the hatchet job they did on the Isuzu Trooper comes to mind.

ew model, reliability unk)

reliability unk)