Head gasket - replaced?

[Chevaru]

So, I have purchased this 1997 Legacy Outback with 204,xxx and the (as I have learned) infamous 2.5 engine. At $1,900, it was too good to be true....right? Okay, less than 15 minutes after signing for title, check engine light came on...$566 later I'm into the car for $2,500. Okay...even that is reasonable...While the car is in the shop I start searching net for other potential problems...HEAD GASKET FAILURE...it's everywhere and, frankly, I am real concerned a major repair bill is just around the next corner. I continue searching, really preparing what I might need to do once the inevitable happens, and then I read these motors were cashing it in between 75,000 and 100,000 for the most part...so I start thinking, if the car already has over 200,000, is it possible the head gaskets have already failed and been replaced by a previous owner? And, if so, and with no service records from previous owners, would there be a way I could determine the gaskets have been replaced?
Thanks ahead of time...and many thanks for the help you guys and gals have already offered as I learn more about my first Sooby.

[skippymo]

Chances are they were replaced. It is true, mine failed at 81,500 miles. Some other things that if found that are pretty common on the 2.5s. - seperator plate (rear of engine) leaking - clutch lever (the one on the trans) breaking near the throw-out bearing. Might as well do both at one time ( i was not that lucky ) two engine removals.

You can check to see if there is a lot of dirt in your anti-freeze, or look for white exhaust smoke, first signs of leaking head gaskets

[02_Legacy]

Just because the head gaskets were replaced doesn't mean you are out of the water though. The replacement head gaskets are no better than the origionals. Its hard to say what you should do. If it were me I would leave it till I know that they need to be replaced because they can last over 100K. But on the other hand they could go after only 50k. Its hard to say.

[ouch1011]

Any older car is capable of having a very costly mechanical failure. So any car you get is probably going to end up costing you a lot of money at some point during ownership.

That being said, the phase 1 EJ25 is prone to head gasket failures. But I hesitate to say it is common. Keep in mind that when you base your opinions off of a forum, every problem is going to look common. Reality is that HG failure happens maybe once every 100k or so. I had to replace mine at around 160k, and it looked like they had been done before.

Head gasket leakage on the phase 2 2.5 is FAR more common than on the phase 1, its just a lot less dramatic. Still costs the same though.