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LSiTo5Revo
03-04-2010, 10:13 PM
Soooo for the third motor in my subie the head gasket(s) is or are going in it. Looking at graphite gaskets. Any good?
green97gt
03-04-2010, 10:29 PM
wow...whats going wrong?

after the second set of HGs i would start looking elsewhere for an issue, mechanical or other.
LSiTo5Revo
03-04-2010, 11:51 PM
Oh no it's not the same motor. This is the second 2.5 that was put in it. When I bought the car it had a 2.2 in it. I ended up dropping a 2.5 back in because the rings went in the 2.2. (1st-original 1997 2.5), (2nd-2.2,) (3rd-1998 2.5.). This 2.5 I just put in it had 186k on it. The other day I checked the oil and there was nearly nothing in it. Three days before that I changed it. I decided to take the cap off the radiator and there it was...OIL!! I caught it in time though. Now I'm looking at gaskets.
ouch1011
03-05-2010, 12:09 AM
That's kind of a different sort of head gasket failure for these engines. You didn't install an engine with an oil cooler by chance, did you? It would probably have to be from a Forester to get that.

Other than that, unless you can see an obvious failure when you pull the heads off, I'd make sure to carefully inspect the block and heads as well. Also, you'll need to flush out the rest of the cooling system really well to get all the oil out. I'd suggest having the radiator professionally cleaned. Also you should replace ALL the coolant hoses. Oil softens the rubber in the coolant hoses and will cause them to blow out over time, and oil really clings on to things so you'll need to use a flushing chemical and possibly flush it a few times to get the oil out.

I would avoid graphite/composite gaskets. They aren't as strong as MLS gaskets, but they work better on surfaces that aren't totally smooth or flat. But with a perfectly flat surface and smooth surface, MLS gaskets are much better.
LSiTo5Revo
03-05-2010, 01:00 AM
The 2.5 I'm running now is out of a 98 outback.
LSiTo5Revo
03-05-2010, 01:04 AM
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 0017001801 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400017001801&crlp=1_263602_263622&ff4=263602_263622&viewitem=&guid=49b380171260a0b5833470d4ffc944ee&rvr_id=&ua=WXF%3F&itemid=400017001801)
mike-tracy
03-05-2010, 01:45 AM
That's pretty cheap. I've used MLS Felpro HG's (about $44 for both) for my cars and have run well over a collective 100k miles with no HG problems. I had the heads planed, too.
98outbackpdx
03-05-2010, 02:43 AM
i would go to napa or some other parts store, you can get an entire gasket for about $200, it would be worth it in the long run.
LSiTo5Revo
03-05-2010, 09:11 AM
well I just wanted to see what you guys would say on gaskets, I did get some answers.
Reason
03-05-2010, 04:45 PM
You get what you pay for... Buy cometic headgaskets.
StatGSR
03-05-2010, 05:01 PM
^ or OEM
Reason
03-05-2010, 06:46 PM
^ or OEM


In most cases yes, but I replaced my HG on my 97 GT with the "updated" HG and I blew them a year later. The only way I will ever think about putting OEM headgaskets back on my car is if the Cometics blow.....
rstimpreza
03-05-2010, 10:32 PM
so any recommended HG?
ouch1011
03-05-2010, 10:34 PM
Cometic, Fel-pro and the OE MLS gaskets are pretty much the exact same design. Any of those would be fine.
Reason
03-05-2010, 11:14 PM
Cometic, Fel-pro and the OE MLS gaskets are pretty much the exact same design. Any of those would be fine.

I would love to see these claims.
lord flashheart
03-05-2010, 11:49 PM
personally i like fel-pro, but i have only tried like 2 kinds so im not what you would call an "expert"
ouch1011
03-06-2010, 12:40 AM
I don't have side by side shots, but I've used all of them, they look the same. They are all multiple layers of stainless steel with a thick shim in the middle and an elastomer rubber coating on the outside.
decke48
03-06-2010, 09:57 AM
driving on some cheap ebay graphite HG for 30k and counting. just dont use the valve cover gasket that only last 10 miles cuz they have a ruff cut edge and dont seal well. btw felpro makes most OEM subaru gaskets
Reason
03-06-2010, 10:11 AM
No offense to anyone, but I like to see proof before I take anyones word. I'm sure most gaskets have the same design but usues different material and that's a big factor.
lord flashheart
03-06-2010, 02:00 PM
No offense to anyone, but I like to see proof before I take anyones word. I'm sure most gaskets have the same design but usues different material and that's a big factor.

im very offended. how dare u not take our word.
decke48
03-06-2010, 04:07 PM
if you every look at a felpro mls HG for subarus they have the fugi heavy logo stamped on them. ever manufacturer out sources for lots of products. all you get with subaru oem head seal kits is a mix of nok seals and felpro seals. but im not going to go out of the way to convince anyone. one because i dont think subaru will tell me who the outsource to
LSiTo5Revo
03-07-2010, 07:01 PM
I HAVE used many felpro gaskets and they're holding up nicely. This is a BIG deal though. If it were my exhaust I wouldnt care what gasket I used, by the way the felpro exhaust gasket seems to be the best from any auto part store. Nicely layered. but not to get off topic I'd judge the gasket by what material its constructed out of. I could see graphite gaskets breaking down with the gas washed fuel and temperatures. It would help by softening the compound. I wouldn't think they would last as along as we would want them to. Composite materials are just no good I would think. Now the multi layer steel (MLS) gaskets I could see being more durable to heat and the gas washed oil. The rubber compound I think is a more durable material and wouldn't erode away. Take a gander at this website guys.

http://www.enginesus.com/ejsp/itemsb.js ... gineid=164 (http://www.enginesus.com/ejsp/itemsb.jsp?type=heads&enginemake=&engineid=164)