Thinking of buying 1st-gen Legacy Outback wagon

[MacNews]

I am pondering purchasing a 1st gen Legacy Outback wagon, in the next couple of months.

I understand the 2.5L engine has lots of problems with head gasket issues. How do you know if the wagon has the 2.2 or 2.5L engine? Or did all Outbacks get the 2.5L engine?

And if the head gaskets have been replaced, then are they "safe" from failing again?

[Okin DaVanh]

Outbacks were'nt out until the 2nd gen. And the 95's came with a 2.2 96+up had 2.5 from what I understand.

[1996Battlewagon]

Okin, you're stuck on Legacy's. The first gen Outback underpins the second gen Legacy.

Check Cars 101.com for more info. I think that only the 95 and the 96's were offered with the EJ22. The 95 wasn't really an Outback, just a Legacy with two tone and badging. The 96 was the first official year and it had the lifted suspension and raised roof. You can tell if a 96 is a 2.2 just by opening the hood. 2.2's are SOHC plus, the emissions sticker and engine stamp will tell you the engine code and displacement.

Yes, it's sad but true that the 2.5 can be a little more trouble than the 2.2, but it is still a great engine. If you do find yourself looking a 2.5l Outback, make sure the headgaskets have been done. The problem was the OEM gaskets were cheap and brittle. Once replaced with stronger gaskets, you should be safe.

[MacNews]

Thanks guys for the great responses, cars101 is a great resource! I will make sure the Outback has had the headgaskets replaced.

Now I just need to save the $$$.

:cool:

[ouch1011]

Mine had the head gaskets replaced previously and they still failed again shortly after rolling over 150k.

The problem isn't so much with the gaskets themselves, but the open deck design combined with the fact that the EJ25 runs a fairly large bore for the cylinder spacing in the block, there just isn't much sealing area around each cylinder.

[kevbot]

Also, timing belts are notorious for failing in high mileage Subarus. Replace it once you buy it, especially over 160,000 miles

[Dodge Aries K]

My 96 Outback is a 2.2L. I spent years trying to find one...

[Matt S.]

1996 Outback 5spds= 2.2
1996 Outback Auto=2.5(hydraulic lifters)

1997-1999 Outback=2.5(solid lifters)

1996=No Hoodscoop
1997-1999=Hoodscoop
(just as a quick reference when you are looking)

If you have a 96 Outback and you have a different combo than above, it's not factory.

As for new headgaskets on a 2.5, I agree with 1996battlewagon, if they were replaced with the newer updated Subaru headgaskets , the heads resurfaced and the head bolts all torqued in the correct sequence/ft lbs per Subaru, to have another set go bad is rare.