With an eye toward shopping for a '90something Outback, I'm gathering the hard-earned wisdom here. I hear about head gasket issues with later models - anybody able to say when the vulnerable engines came out, and any other details?
TIA!
Mike
Head gasket issues... what's the skinny?
Nov 01, 2005
4 Replies
Just a quick one since it's time for bed. I spent over $AU3000 a couple of months ago having our EJ25 engine rebuilt - this is the vulnerable DOHC engine. The problem is that the crossover pipe that takes coolant across from one side to the other is the highest point in the engine, and without some extreme gyrations, will trap half a pint of air when the coolant is refilled. On starting, the air flows to sit at a point in the head which overheats and the gasket fails.
The solution is correct filling procedure, or better, tap a small tube into the top of the crossover pipe to return the air to the radiator during bleeding. The folling procedure has been described here recently, I guess Google groups can find it.
Clifford Heath.
Tired or not, you gave me some golden info there, Clifford. Thanks!
Mike
You're welcome. I found Edward Hayes' message about refilling the coolant: or
.Clifford Heath.
Trying to remember. I changed on my '98 Forester and seem to recall a bleeder screw on engine. This head gasket thing makes me think I should have done in shop. Frank
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