Internal Leaking Headgasket..should I repair or Sell?

[kirbyy]

Typical failure mode:
Internal leak, not externally visible. May see bubbles in overflow reservoir, sludgy residue on walls of overflow reservoir, random overheating of engine.

Phase 1 engines typically experience an "internal" head gasket failure if failure happens. This is hard for a lot of mechanics to diagnose, is difficult to reliably duplicate, and often has resulted in the owners throwing money and parts at the problem. New thermostats, flushing coolant, new water pumps and radiators are examples which do not fix the problem if it is indeed head gasket failure. If the engine overheats too many times or too severely, it can result in warped heads and the need for a new engine. As of this date Subaru has never acknowledged the existence of any problem, and are unlikely to do so. They have redesigned the head gaskets and most people that have had the new gaskets properly installed have had good success. The "coolant conditioner" described in WWP-99 DOES NOT fix this internal leak, nor does it give you an extended warranty against head gasket failure. Headgasket replacement is your only option besides engine replacement.
Common symptoms:
Overheating, often when slowing or stopped after extended high load driving. The overheating can be seemingly random and sporadic.
Bubbles in coolant overflow reservoir, immediately after running.
Sludgy residue in coolant overflow tank.


So; all of this is matches my car's Dilenma with the engine.. I'm just not sure if I should sell the car now at this point or invest 1500$'ish~2000$'ish into it and fix the internal headgasket. Just for it to blow again at anytime thats not known..or sell it at 3,000'ish and pick up another car. :huh:

What would you guys do?

[TheAngryPidgeon]

What year, model, transmission, mods, condition?

There are quite a few things to take into account prior to making that decision. Another important factor is if you have enough time, tools, knowledge and garage space to do it yourself. You can save serious cash monies if you do and can go without it for a week or so.

[kirbyy]

What year, model, transmission, mods, condition?

There are quite a few things to take into account prior to making that decision. Another important factor is if you have enough time, tools, knowledge and garage space to do it yourself. You can save serious cash monies if you do and can go without it for a week or so.


Ohh, forgot that timbid. I have a DOHC, Stage I EJ25, 1996 (Build Date 8/95) Subaru Legacy GT 4EAT, no mods everything OEM, and condition runs..still runs and drives when I put the key in, bit below average on the MPG, getting prolly 340'ish miles per tank (I'm fearing putting in some Sea Foam.) but sometimes sags when I'm driving it though.

I can't do it myself; I lack the proper tools--and by the time I go through with it I'd spend a mini fortune on getting certain Air tools/snap on tools-and then to take into accountability my skill level around the boxer engine is slim and I really don't want to do anything to take the engine into risk..

IT's just the guage runs on red all the TIME, and then progressivley lowers do 3/4th level and such. There is some black gunk in this expansion tank-- and it's showing electivley all the signs of a head gasket which I so feared :(

[TheAngryPidgeon]

If you drive it pinned out on H most of the time, there's a good chance that you've damaged the heads, and you'll need to take remachining them into account. At a local shop, I was quoted $1400 to replace the HGs under the assumption that no machine work was needed.

Also, how many miles are on it?

[kirbyy]

If you drive it pinned out on H most of the time, there's a good chance that you've damaged the heads, and you'll need to take remachining them into account. At a local shop, I was quoted $1400 to replace the HGs under the assumption that no machine work was needed.

Also, how many miles are on it?

124.5xxK.

It's been driven atleast 3k miles with an up and raising headgasket.

[track8]

My car was running on bad HG's for a a year and a half before I bought it. The friend that I bought it from said he was monitering the gauge quite well and it rarely pinned the needle (and he has raging OCD), it's still a crapshoot like that. So anyway, when I milled the heads, they were still not warped but had damage where the fire ring part of the gasket had peened the aluminum in. It only took a .004" cut to clean up.

As far as having to do it all over later, if it's done correctly this time, with a quality gasket (I used the NAPA multi layer one) the consensus seems to be that it is not likely to ever be a problem again.

Hope this helps in your decision.

[jey]

So; all of this is matches my car's Dilenma with the engine.. I'm just not sure if I should sell the car now at this point or invest 1500$'ish~2000$'ish into it and fix the internal headgasket. Just for it to blow again at anytime thats not known..or sell it at 3,000'ish and pick up another car. :huh:

What would you guys do?

If you get it replaced use a high quality gasket and it won't blow again.

I guess it all depends on how much you like your car, and what options you have if you decide to sell it. $3000 won't get you much in terms of a used car, but if you have the finances it could make sense to trade up to a newer car that you'd like better instead of dumping a bunch of money into a car you don't like.

[kirbyy]

So; all of this is matches my car's Dilenma with the engine.. I'm just not sure if I should sell the car now at this point or invest 1500$'ish~2000$'ish into it and fix the internal headgasket. Just for it to blow again at anytime thats not known..or sell it at 3,000'ish and pick up another car. :huh:

What would you guys do?

If you get it replaced use a high quality gasket and it won't blow again.

I guess it all depends on how much you like your car, and what options you have if you decide to sell it. $3000 won't get you much in terms of a used car, but if you have the finances it could make sense to trade up to a newer car that you'd like better instead of dumping a bunch of money into a car you don't like.


I think I may fix it; I'm just debating the fact now because I have to first find a good mechanic to do the work and knows Subaru's and isn't a shadetree... :X

But; if in th emean time someoen buys it off craigslist or trades me a nice car I may take that and miss the subie :(.

Dunno.. I like the Subie but nearly don't have the finances to fiance any option lol.