02 outback head gaskets ?

Question

I think I have been hit with the head gasket demon. I was doing my o/f change yesterday and I always check the underside of the engine while I'm down there . Well I noticed some weeping liquid coming from the driverside head gasket .Around the # 4 cylinder .It is mostly on the back side and bottom of the block by the firewall. It is a very little amount not enough to run down the block and drip on the ground . I can't tell what it is because it is black in color and feels gritty probable from picking up road dirt and sand from the beaches here . It almost looks like when you drop some oil while filling up you car and you don't clean it up ,it attracts the dirt and grime from the road . I then checked all the other areas and found no other weeping. I don't have to add any oil between changes . I am not losing any coolant and I don't have any overheating problems .I have checked the coolant tank after driving it appears normal . Is this normal for them to weep alittle or is it the start of head gasket problems . I have a 02 outback 2.5l 4eat with 37k miles on it .

Mike k

Marc Soloway · Accepted Answer

Generally, when the head gasket goes, you smell the antifreeze burning.  Areyou sure that you are not talking about a front main seal?

Michael R Kirschner · Answer

.I was able to stop by my dealer today on my way home from work tohave them look at my heads (lol).Well the mechanic and I are becomingquite friendly these past couple of months . I was able to finallyhave them change my timing belt tensioner last month . Any way back to my heads . The mechanic put the car on the lift and Ishowed him were i saw the leak . ON my car you can see better from thetop of the engine .Mine were leaking from the back and bottom of theblock around the # 4 cylinder. When I showed him it said ohh wellwhats another one when I do about 2 a week .He said that I caught mineearly because the gasket didn't fail around the coolant jacket . Minewas only leaking oil. He is going to call SOA and see if he canautherize to have both of my heads done , since he has to pull theengine anyway.He said that there seems to be a problem with the late01 model builds and the early 02 model builds . Mine 02 outback wasbuilt in 6/01.I'm dropping the car off next Monday and he said it...

Jeff · Answer

Where do you find the built date?  Thanks Jeffnews:...

Debra Co · Answer

I think it's on the driver door jamb. But I don't remember exactly. I have an early '02 OBW. I think it was built in 8/01. It has 33K miles on it. And it's a 6 cyl. Should I watch out for head gasket problems? What symptoms should I look for?

Jeff · Answer

I checked there no date.  Not sure if it involves the 6 cyl.

Verbs Under My Gel · Answer

Any of the following can be symtomatic of head gasket failure (probably not an exhaustive list):

1.) White, steamy exhaust, even after warm-up (coolant entering combustion chamber) 2.) Coolant mixing with oil, making a milky oil-water emulsion of the oil (check your oil, and check the underside of the oil filler cap) 3.) Oil mixing with coolant (have a look at your coolant expansion tank) 4.) External leaks (the coolant will boil off, leaving a chalky residue, or drip on something hot...you'll smell it)

Having said that, I haven't heard of any H6 head gasket failures yet. If you're really curious, give an indy Subaru mechanic a call and ask if she's seen any (I don't think a dealer's service department will be honest about this).

One last thing that cannot be stressed enough: _never_ allow a Subaru engine to overheat. If you see the needle start to climb toward the upper limit, pull off and stop the engine at once. Subaru engines (and all-aluminum engines in general) don't tolerate overheating.

02 outback head gaskets ?

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