MY99 2.5L Outback, what to do?

The_Hawk · Post by **The_Hawk** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 6:09 pm

Looks like one of the head gaskets has a leak, not enough to stop the car yet, but enough to need to do something pretty soon.

Subaru have quoted around $2,500 to pull the engine out and do both gaskets and about $400 or so extra to get a full engine seal kit. Considering the car only has 190k on it, is it worth doing this or should I be hunting down a replacement engine?

Outback bloke · Post by **Outback bloke** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:37 pm

$2500 is the price most places charge to do the gaskets. There is no way in the world it should cost that much. More like $8-900 tops. I would suggest shopping around for other prices or consider doing it yourself. If you do it yourself you can epect to pay around $500 all up.

I also recommend not just getting another motor. The 2.5 is renowned for doing head gaskets and if you buy another second hand motor there is a good chance you are buying another problem. I think fixing it is the best option.

Having said that you could buy 2 motors for what you have been quoted though.

If you decide to do it yourself, there is plenty of people on here that can talk you through it. Also the Gregories or Haynes workshop manuals are very simple to follow and have good detail.

ScubyRoo · Post by **ScubyRoo** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:54 am

Score one more for the DIY option. This friday is the big day of putting the engine back in after my ej22 shat it's water pump and blew both head gaskets. I also suggest against a 'new' engine as you don't know it's history and may end up having to do the heads anyway. From the few wreckers I called when thinking about replacing my 2.2 with the 2.5, the ej25 seems to be about $1200 without being rebuilt. $2500 is always what i was quoted by subaru and an independant subi specialist.

The engine machinist in frankston (vic) cleaned, pressure tested and shaved both heads for $350 - oh and also checked all the valves/guides/seats and replaced camshaft seals. An additional $300 for new head bolts and full engine seal/gasket set. So $650 for just the head work and gasket/seal set. Add extra stuff like running in oil, normal oil and a few oil filters, air filter, timing and accessory belts, spark plugs and leads and it starts to add up if you want to do a decent service while you're at it... expect at least $1000, more if you need to buy decent jack, stands and tools.

I'll be doing a full write up in the next few weeks with photos and costs, should be roughly the same process for you with the ej25 as it was from me and my ej22, there's a few differences but nothing like going from an EA to EJ...

The haynes guide is sufficient, and the one available from this forum is more detailed but a bit harder to follow - i've used both. Haynes as my general reference and the online one for more detail if needed.

If you have the time, can read and follow instructions and have a bit of mechanical nouse then it's a doable job yourself.

Let us know what you decide!

Cheers, Owen.

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 10:08 am

i agree above, either get a mechanic fix it for you or do it yourself.
Don't replace the engine because you know your engine's history, whereabouts if you buy another one is asking for more trouble.
Cheers
AP

mattw · Post by **mattw** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 5:17 pm

Outback bloke wrote: The 2.5 is renowned for doing head gaskets

Really!!!!!
I've gone from a collection of EA82's to a 2.5L Outback, only to find it is just another Subaru engine "renown" for not holding their heads right.
F'ing great........
good thing I have a good dealer warranty cover..... oh.... no head coverage....

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 5:49 pm

I beleive it's only certain Ej25's which have this problem, a particular run of the quad-cam ones in a certain year? I'm not sure on specifics here but Outback Bloke may be able to confirm.

Pretty sure all the sohc ones are fine.

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:00 pm

Its something to do with DOHC that blows HG, whereabouts SOHC doesnt... Dunno why... That is why Gen 3 Liberty/Outback are SOHC.
Cheers
AP

SUBYDAZZ · Post by **SUBYDAZZ** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 10:39 am

I've a SOHC and looks like the head gaskets are shot.

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 10:52 pm

SUBYDAZZ wrote:I've a SOHC and looks like the head gaskets are shot.

Doesn't mean they won't do them if they're SOHC... I believe there was a design fault in the factory headgasket design on the DOHC EJ25's - that's about all I know.

Look after your cooling system and you're head gaskets should be fine for a long time. I've heard of an EA82 that's got 400k km on the clock without a head gasket change and is still going well, its probabily gutless like my last EA but the owner's still happy with the lack of serious mechanical work that's been needed.

Also, the all the prices of bits and pieces that ScubyRoo has listed won't apply to you Hawk, unless you do a FULL rebuilt on the motor - which doesn't sound like you need. Shaving the heads will give you the peace of mind that they are true and not warped in any way. A slightly warped head can lead to premature failure of the HG.

All the best with it!

Cheers

Bennie

SUBYDAZZ · Post by **SUBYDAZZ** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:47 am

Just to update, the Outback in question had a second hand motor put in (unknown km and history), which has now also done a head gasket. Grrr.

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 10:29 am

SUBYDAZZ wrote:Just to update, the Outback in question had a second hand motor put in (unknown km and history), which has now also done a head gasket. Grrr.

Not having a go at you, but that what happens if you buy 2nd hand engines. Unless you're planning on fitting new gaskets and seals etc before going in.
Cheers
AP