Which subarus have head gasket problems

Starting in , reports say the Japanese automaker redesigned the 2. If you are looking to buy an older Subaru Forester, Outback, or Impreza, make sure you check the vehicle for engine leaks, pull the dipstick and check for a white milky substance, and most importantly, ask the owner for maintenance records.

Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press and the founder of Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models.

More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram. Leave your comments below, share the article with friends and tweet it out to your followers! Skip to main content. There are four Subaru models you might want to avoid when shopping for a used car. See which models could need an expensive head gasket replacement. Why do head gaskets fail on some Subaru models? What are the signs of a faulty head gasket? Visit Torque News homepage for more stories.

Automotive News. Subaru News, Pricing and Reviews. Subaru Forester News. Subaru Impreza. Subaru Outback News and Reviews. Subscribe to Torque News on YouTube. Comments Joel Treacy wrote on July 8, - am Permalink. Subaru also makes a coolant additive. One should make sure the engine ground strap is not corroded and is tight. MattyB wrote on July 8, - pm Permalink.

Might want to add Forester to the list as well. I had issue above at , miles. Rob wrote on July 8, - pm Permalink. Forester trails Outback and Impreza by one model year of engine change. Your motor is the same as an Steve wrote on April 13, - pm Permalink. Block replaced by Subaru at 60k as it was using 5 quarts between oil changes.

Now at k its leaking oil around the cam cover. Dealer says they have to drop the engine to fix It's a love hate relationship w in th this car Sharndor toth wrote on September 28, - am Permalink. Which exact model is it? Also SES light may be on due to misfire on startup due to coolant getting in the cylinder. Mine did this for a year before I had to change the gaskets. Luckily I can do this stuff myself. The leak will get bigger with time and possibly lead to a coolant leaking.

The smell of Sulphur or fuel from the coolant reservoir. At this stage, you will also notice higher readings in the coolant temperature gauge. Recurrent overheating of the engine during a long drive. Subaru never recalled any production for this problem. The things you can do to keep your Subaru in a good health are: Changing the oil on a regular basis. Clean the battery surroundings and its terminals at regular intervals so that there is no accumulation of rust and corrosion.

Take the maintenance service from a reputed shop or an experienced mechanic who is specialized in Subaru models. And according to the data and owner experience testimonies, these head gasket issues generally occurred anywhere between k and k miles. Subaru is aware of the head gasket issues and in began outfitting all their models with different head gaskets that have rectified the issue. If you own an older Subaru or considering an older Subaru, we recommend investing in an extended warranty to give you peace of mind in the event of an unfortunate breakdown or repair is needed.

As you would expect, fixing a blown head gasket is quite expensive because the labor required is intensive requiring the engine and cylinder blocks to be pulled apart to get to the gasket. These MLS gaskets do not have a coating on them — no coating, no leaks. An aftermarket head gasket is not recommended. The type that was used in the models that had issues were single layer graphite coated head gaskets.

The ones that are recommended are multi layer steel head gaskets not coated. Pro Tip: The head gasket model number for the faulty head gasket is A and should be avoided.

Overheated Engine — If your Subie is running hot or the temperature gauge is reading higher than normal, then you may have a cracked head gasket. If your engine is overheating, stop driving. If you continue to drive on an overheated engine, your head gaskets could be stressed to the point of breaking. Contaminated Oil — A milky white sludge is a sign that coolant and oil have mixed, resulting in contaminated oil.

If you notice this, take your car in to be looked at immediately otherwise run the risk of causing more damage than just the head gasket.

Exhaust Smoke — White smoke or sweet smelling smoke coming from your exhaust means that your coolant is leaking into the cylinders and being turned into steam while your engine is working. Reduced Engine Power — The head gasket seals in the pressure used for combustion in the engine, so when a head gasket is cracked, the engine will lose power. If the engine or coolant gets too low, it can cause serious damage to the engine. Head gaskets should last about , miles and preventive maintenance on your Subaru is very important in keeping your Subaru safe and on the road for a long time.

Below are some things you can do to prevent premature head gasket failure. Preventive maintenance is very important and key in identifying things that may become an issue. Checking out your Subie regularly will alert you to any possible items you need to keep a watchful eye over. Replace your coolant on time — If not changed regularly, the coolant can become corrosive and deteriorate seals and gaskets over time. Using antifreeze is also recommended by Subaru, as well as a coolant additive for Subarus with the second gen engines.

Low oil and coolant levels make it difficult to adequately cool and lubricate a motor causing excess wear on the engine. Friction also introduces more heat further degrading the remaining integrity of the head gasket. If there is a silver lining, the speed of failure tends to be relatively slow. In other engines, a ruptured head gasket usually indicates catastrophic damage.

An overheated engine can destroy piston rings or even crack the block. High heat also increases the risk of detonation in the combustion chamber. Sever damage like that requires a complete overhaul including machine work on the metal surface. The head gasket part itself is relatively cheap, but the work is labor and risk intensive. While aggravating, the repair usually corrects the problem entirely.

Most Subaru owners do not experience repeat failures provided that the shop does good work on the head gasket replacement. A good mechanic might charge you more but knows which parts and procedures permanently fix this issue.

While a dealer might put qualified techs to work on your car, they also install the same OEM head gasket that failed in the first place. Fortunately, a specialty market has grown up around those pesky Subaru head gasket problems. Aftermarket gaskets boast improved reliability and are worth considering. Read more about aftermarket Subaru parts. While the blown head failure rate is high compared to other brands, not every owner experiences the same Subaru head gasket problems.

Proper maintenance can reduce the stress on your internal parts and help keep your head gasket in good working condition. Remember, these cars are popular for a reason.

Drive your old Subaru and enjoy it.