'02 legacy and head gasket?

Call the dealer with your VIN, and ask the question.

Best Regards,

-- Todd H.

I have an 02 and was not subject to the recall. Did you get a any recall info from Subaru.

i don't know how on the ball they are; i bought mine used and i don't know if the dealer sent in my particulars.

probably worth phoning "the mother ship", or the dealer service department, tomorrow and getting them to check my vin#.

Know this is getting a little dated but just returned home from long trip.

I would advise NOT to use any stop leak product including Subaru's. I had used Subaru's cooling system conditioner when I first bought the car last year (00 model) and again when I replaced the belts and water pump. Was a thousand miles from home when I started experiencing over heating problems. Took the radiator down to a local shop and they removed the top tank and was full of particles from a stop leak product. Lot of stuff laying around and most of the core was plugged. Subie radiator has very small passages. Spoke with my local independent subie mechanic and he said they do not use any products of this type including factory product and they only use factory parts for repairs.

Got the radiator "rodded" and back in the car. After another 4+k miles and climbing numerous Mts., no more cooling issues.

Mickey

My car is way past the extended warranty period.

Subaru is not GM. As I mentioned the core passages are very small. Rad shop had to look to find a rod small enough to fit in a push the crud out. If you saw the crap I saw plugging up the tank and core you might think differently but you are free to do as you please.

What do you think Subaru would do IF radiator did get plugged up and caused major problems? Think they would step up to the plate or find some way to get out of footing the bill? IMO the cooling systems conditioner is a band-aid solution at best and will hopefully hold off when the head gaskets will have to be replaced past point where they have to cover the cost. Hopefully latest HG design has really fixed the problem.

Don't see how the rad shops hate this stuff IF it plugs up a radiator or heater core, that brings in business. For some vehicles using a stop leak product may be an acceptable band-aid for but for cars like Subaru with tiny passages it not such a good idea. Like I said before the mechanic I've used wouldn't touch a product like this. They're a small shop and they couldn't afford to use something like this if it could create problems of it's own and they had to foot the repair bill. The shop is a Subie only shop and have been in business for over 20 yrs. I think they have more knowledge than I about this. I followed Subaru's recommendation and it created problems for me. My mechanic wouldn't use it and acknowledges the dealers do.

Everyone is free to do as they choose but some times lessons can be spendy to learn.

Mickey

Isn't usually covered 5 yrs or 50,000 miles engine and drivetrain then extended to 8 years 100,000 miles.

Ed, keep in mind that the only thing covered for the extended period is the external leak, so for everything else you're on your own. Here's a partial quote:

"If the vehicle owner has this Service Program repair performed promptly, Subaru will extend coverage under the Subaru Limited Warranty on the vehicle for cylinder head gasket external coolant leaks to a period of 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first."

Seems like every stopleak manufacturer claims boldly that "their's is the one that doesn't cause blockages". That makes me kinda nervous, so I've held off-on the goop. Also, the whole way that Subaru has handled this problem appears to be modeled after the way GM would handle a problem, and that's the second reason I'm reluctant to take the deal. I don't think it's a sure bet either way. -Danny

Isn't covered under engine/drivetrain 5 years 50,000 miles not 3/36?

Or 5/60? 3/36 is bumper-to-bumper.