Head gasket...

[2nPac]

Great News! Took my car in for an oil change and left with a broken head gasket...damn. What to do now? Should I pay the $1500 to have this repair? Swap out the motor? Or buy new head gasket parts and do it myself?...Anybody know everything you'd need and how tough of a job this would be for a 95 BD?

[decke48]

huh? whats ups. so you took you car in for a oil change. and im guessing the mechanic told you need HG's. is the car overheating? leaking fluild out of them? are you sure that why that the problem is.

1)if you not changing your own oil. HG's are far to complex
2)a motor might be cheaper if its in good condition. HG's parts can range up to $400
3)buy a felpro HG's kit and headbolts (the HG's and bolts are direct from subaru, just the other gaskets are felpro made) and a timing belt kit and waterpump

[2nPac]

took it in to get the check engine light codes read and the head gasket issue is what they found. Car wasn't overheating or anything before that. But when I drove it home from the shop car did overheat and was shooting white smoke out the hood a couple blocks away from home.

[iampetro]

maybe they messed up your car...
if it never did this before
i don't know whhat they could have done

[j_saffron]

i've had head gaskets done it cost $1264.00 that included parts, labor, heads machined, replaced spark plugs, 4quarts oil, 1quart transmission fluid, 2 gal antifreeze, and subarus recommended cooling system conditioner(part # soa635071)

parts= 305.19

head gasket labor= 750.00

machine shop= 185.00

i would recommend having it repaired, then you know its been done, and won't be an issue later on.
unless you want to take advantage of this time to do a complete swap. but that will run much more than 1500.
how many miles are on the 95BD? if its under say, 140,000 i would fix the HG's.

[2nPac]

It's at around 180k miles right now...found a shop that specializes in japanese motors that would do the HG job for $725 including labor. My dad had his engine overhauled here on his 85 Toyota pickup 5 years ago and its still running. I'm thinking about taking a chance on this shop if they offer a warranty. Otherwise a swap might not be such a bad idea.

[j_saffron]

sounds like some good options!
don't forget that coolant conditioner.
i cant remember but its like $10 or $15 from a Subaru dealership.
i think i drove a day or two before getting it.