possbile blown HG!!!!!!

[chrish8r]

okay, so heres the deal.......i drove my car from my house to Columbia. 30 miles, 45 minute drive-fine
i drop my car off and hop in a friends car and we got to the Philly suburbs. come back and about 5 hours since my car was driven have elapsed. i begin to drive home and about 10 minutes into my drive(while on the highway) my car starts to overheat and the needle shoots up really fast. so i get off immeadiately(thank god i was by an exit) and pull over and stop the car. coolant resevoir is filled to the top for some reason and the radiator hose is still solid.......after about 20 minutes, i drive the car about 10 more minutes and it overheats again and now i pull into a rutters. samething, solid hose, filled resevoir......but NO LEAKED coolant!!!! i am thinking that this is my headgasket. it looks a little wet around there and gunk is starting to build up. i am unsure is i should sell the car as-is and for how much? or if I (by i, i mean pay a shop to do it) should fix it.....AGAIN!!! we had a total engine rebuild 6 or so years ago that cost around 3 grand....i dont want this car to be a money pit.....OPINIONS PLEASE!!!! im really stuck here and dont know what to do cause i really dont want to part with my subie but then again, i dont want to put into it more than it is worth

[geckoboy86]

If it turns out to be the head gasket, another option for you would be to ask a few of the local subaru groups (like the York one or maybe LVSE) and see if they could help you out.

[harrymaneuvers]

^This, hop on a few local subaru forums and see if someone is down to help you out... I know HG's shouldnt cost anywhere near $3000 especially if it is done within the subaru community

[chrish8r]

That 3k bill was from a complete engine rebuild.....but i need this car to go to school and with winter approaching..i dont think our mustang can handle the snow...and i dont have another car in my family to use while this one is down

[anothernord]

Any white smoke out of the exhaust on decel or at idle? Any oil in the reservoir or in the radiator?

[chrish8r]

Im not sure about white smoke but my coolant has a different smell to it in the resevoir

[Grafton]

get a "block tester" from napa its about $40 and it tests for exhaust in the coolant, that's how I confirmed I blew a head-gasket

[bulldozer24]

mine did something like this but it pushed the coolant out of the top off the reservoir, turned out to be a stuck thermostat. you might want to check that first.

[chrish8r]

I just replaced my thermostat about two weeks ago so im ruling that one out but thank you

[xoSubieLegacyxo]

I'm agreeing with Grafton, buy a tester. If there is a headgasket problem, I know that I can lend you a hand and some tools to fix it. I know ppl from the area will gladly help you out Chris.

[chrish8r]

I think im just gonna cut my losses and take it to the shop and let them do whatever they need to so i can have my car back ASAP.....but thanks for all the great advice. I know i can alwaya count on SL-I for any help with altercations i encounter

[dplacencia]

sounds like your car needs head gaskets...

[Okin DaVanh]

sounds like your car needs head gaskets...



:cry: Dis Mann speeks ze troof....





The inevitable 2.5 curse.....

When they did them before, did the upgrade the gaskets for you? If not, this time maybe shop for a known brand that is proven to decrease your chance of this reoccurring.

[chrish8r]

i took it to the shop and they said the gaskets were blown inward. therefore allowing the combustion gasses into the coolant and evidentally creating an air bubble in my radiator which did not allow the coolant to cycle.....the shop wants 3800 to do gaskests, replace gas tank(rusted out overflow line) and the left rear strut.

[Okin DaVanh]

i took it to the shop and they said the gaskets were blown inward. therefore allowing the combustion gasses into the coolant and evidentally creating an air bubble in my radiator which did not allow the coolant to cycle.....the shop wants 3800 to do gaskests, replace gas tank(rusted out overflow line) and the left rear strut.
So, I guess this means... New/Another Car???

[xoSubieLegacyxo]

*cough cough http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/cto/2639959551.html

[chrish8r]

Haha...i already talked to that guy about it...there are problems with it and its not inspected..oh and he is selling to pay off fines...

[Hinyo]

damn dude this just happened to me. did it in my driveway like 2 months ago. if you rent a engine lift honestly not that bad a job. can be done over a weekend with the right tools. honestly if you want to do it. i'm sure you could get away with it. recommendation DO NOT TORQUE CAMCAPS to spec. they will break(found that out the hard way almost had to get a new block). get the heads machined will cost you about $150 but the phase II gaskets and its a done deal. timing can be a bitch but there are some quick ways to do it around the forum.

[Dead91silvia]

i took it to the shop and they said the gaskets were blown inward. therefore allowing the combustion gasses into the coolant and evidentally creating an air bubble in my radiator which did not allow the coolant to cycle.....the shop wants 3800 to do gaskests, replace gas tank(rusted out overflow line) and the left rear strut.

Go to another shop, those guys are WAY crazy! I just did a complete engine re-seal for a customer on his 98 Outback (2.5) for about $1000. The other stuff is a little different...

But still, gaskets even on the high side should only be about $1800... At most. I use Subaru head gaskets with my customers cars, the other gaskets are most the time Fel-pro, but always use OEM HG's....