Because of their reputation for dependability and performance, Subaru cars continue to maintain a devoted following of buyers. Even though Subaru has a great reputation, it has occasionally erred in the past.
In reality, blown head gaskets are a common problem with some 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines, which can be expensive to fix.
So, what should you know about the Subaru head gasket Problems, and which models are impacted? Well, in this article, we’ll have a closer look at the Subaru head gasket. Nonetheless. The answers to the following questions will be discussed:
- What is a head gasket?
- What Happens If a Head Gasket Blots?
- How Do You Tell If you have a Defective Head Gasket?
- What Subaru Models Are Affected by Head Gasket Issues?
- What Is the Cost of Replacing a Blown Head Gasket?
- How Can a Head Gasket Be Replaced?
OK, let’s get started!
Contents
What is a head gasket?
The head gasket is made of a very thin metal sheet with perforations of various sizes. They serve to form a seal between your Subaru’s cylinder heads and engine block. The pressure from the combustion chamber is contained by a strong seal while it is doing its job. In order to prevent a mix-up, the gaskets help keep the coolant where it belongs and the oil flowing through the oil passageways. Head gaskets should only need to be replaced with significant repairs because they are designed to last as long as your engine.
What Happens If a Head Gasket Blots?
When the seal breaks, combustion pressures, and exhaust gasses are let into the cooling system. To prevent boiling, the cooling system is designed to maintain pressure. The cooling system is unable to function when there is a head gasket leak, and the uncontrolled heat can do serious damage to your car.
How Do You Tell If you have a Defective Head Gasket?
Symptoms Include:
- White exhaust smoke, which is caused by antifreeze leakage into the cylinders that turn into steam.
Power loss because the engine can’t handle high combustion pressures. - A burning odor.
- Overheating – hot gases could enter the cooling system or coolant could start to leak.
- Bubbling exhaust.
- Coolant leaks into the oil, giving it a milky appearance; if you drive with this, serious damage could result.
External leaks: The engine may have coolant or oil leaks.
What Subaru Models Are Affected by Head Gasket Issues?
The composite-style head gaskets used in the Subaru EJ251, EJ252, and EJ253 engines make them the most prone to head gasket issues. These 2.5-liter engines were available in a variety of setups and saw a few production-related updates. Any engine could experience a head gasket failure, but some Subaru models are particularly prone to it.
It turns out that the engines’ design contributed to the head gasket issues. The following Subaru models appear to be the most susceptible to head gasket issues: 1999–2010 Forester, 1999–2011 Impreza, 2000–2009 Outback, 2000–2009 Legacy, and 2003–2005 Baja. Naturally, the design of the boxer engine may also be at fault.
The engine of a Subaru boxer motor is flat, as opposed to standing up like those in most other models. The pistons in these engines oscillate side to side. The engines have fantastic weight and balance characteristics, but when the engine is shut off, fluids pool up adjacent to the head gasket rather than draining normally. The fluids’ acids begin to eat away at the seal even after the pieces are improved.
What Is the Cost of Replacing a Blown Head Gasket?
The cost to replace a Subaru head gasket will often range from $2,000 to $4,000. Sadly, the cost of just the labor alone can range from $1,200 to $3,000. A typical parts bill should be expected to be between $800 and $1,500, especially once the tensioners, idlers, water pump, timing belt, and seals are taken into account. Additionally, you might have to pay up to $500 more overall if your Subaru has a manual transmission.
How Can a Head Gasket Be Replaced?
It takes a great deal of effort and knowledge to replace a head gasket. The good news is that you shouldn’t have any repeat failures if you have the work done by a Subaru expert. The engine is entirely removed from the car before being disassembled and checked for internal component damage. Any problems are identified, diagnosed, and reported. To ensure that the heads reseal properly, the motor is then cleaned and prepared. The engine is disassembled again, examined, and then put back into the car.
Related Article
- Head gasket sealer and how to use it
- Understanding Valve Cover Gasket
- How to Test a Blown Head Gasket
- Why is water coming out of my exhaust pipe
- Cracked cylinder head: Causes, Symptoms, and What to do
Watch the video below to learn more
FAQs
Does Subarus have head gasket problems?
Many Subarus have a high failure rate for the head gaskets. Under ideal circumstances, they should last 100,000 miles. The mileage of your car will vary based on a number of variables when the gaskets fail. What year and type of Subaru do you own?
How much does a Subaru head gasket cost?
For a Subaru, the starting price for a head gasket replacement is about $3,000.
Can I drive Subaru with a leaking head gasket?
The quick answer is yes, but it is not advised. Ignoring a blown head gasket will probably result in further harm to your engine and your finances. The most crucial and essential components of any engine that serve to seal off compartments are gaskets.
What can be mistaken for a blown head gasket?
The most typical misdiagnosed signs of a ruptured head gasket are coolant mysteriously evaporating or an engine overheating for no discernible reason. It becomes immediately clear that these two things combined actually make a lot of sense if you have a solid understanding of the cooling system in your car.
Can a car run normally with a blown head gasket?
why driving after having a blown head gasket is not advised. Because a head gasket serves as a seal, your engine will lose pressure right away if it blows. You will experience a considerable loss of power as a result of the combustion chamber’s pistons no longer firing forcefully due to the pressure reduction.
How does a blown head gasket sound?
The compression of that cylinder is decreased if the head gasket leaks, allowing the compressed air and fuel to escape. This decrease in compression causes the engine to function poorly and significantly reduces engine output. Typically, this kind of failure is followed by an exhaust leak-like sound.
What causes head gasket failure?
The most common cause of head gasket failures is engine overheating, therefore make sure the coolant level is maintained and that the cooling system is functioning properly with no leaks and an effective radiator. Future harm can be avoided with a head gasket that is placed correctly.
Bottom line
So, that is it for this article, in which we’ve discussed Subaru head gasket problems. That said, the answers to the following questions were addressed:
- What is a head gasket?
- How Do You Tell If you have a Defective Head Gasket?
- What Subaru Models Are Affected by Head Gasket Issues?
- What Is the Cost of Replacing a Blown Head Gasket?
- How Can a Head Gasket Be Replaced?
Hope it was helpful. If so, kindly share it with others. Thanks for reading; see you around!
Leave a Reply