by "Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!" (theduckduck)
Published 12/06/2017 at 11:05
by "Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!" (theduckduck)
Published 12/06/2017 at 11:05
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STARS: 0
Hello OPPO! Long time listener, first time caller here. I am planning on changing the timing belt and associated goodies this weekend. I am wondering if I should also change the thermostat whilst I am dicking around in the general area? I am going to have all this fun with my 2012 Subaru Outback 2.5 with 108,000 miles.
Sweet Outback for your helps.
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
12/06/2017 at 11:35, STARS: 0
Define “messing around”. Are you already draining coolant? Or is something leaking?
If the cooling system isn’t too dirty I probably wouldn’t mess with it.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
12/06/2017 at 11:36, STARS: 2
T-stat? Maybe. Water pump? YES!
"Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!" (theduckduck)
12/06/2017 at 11:44, STARS: 0
Nothing leaking. I am changing the water pump at the same time as the timing belt. I am also going to change as much of the coolant as I can drain out.
"Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!" (theduckduck)
12/06/2017 at 11:48, STARS: 1
Definitely doing the water pump. It’s not an OEM pump but was made in Japan so close enough.
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
12/06/2017 at 12:02, STARS: 1
If it’s a known problem, sure. But if you’re just doing it as preventative maintenance I don’t know if I’d bother breaking a good gasket seal to replace a part that’s probably OK.
"cmill189 - sans Volvo" (cmill189)
12/06/2017 at 12:09, STARS: 1
Water pump and thermostat definitely. Don’t cheap out on the thermostat, get a Subaru one. I can’t remember but you might have to order the o-ring as a separate part. Cams seals are cheap and easy since you’re in there. Also good to check and reseal the oil pump.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
12/06/2017 at 12:10, STARS: 1
Everything that has to come off the car in order to access the timing belt and water pump, replace all of that. Doesnt matter if it was recently changed already, just do it now while it is off. On most cars this should include accessory belts and coolant hoses but depending on the car might also include valve cover gasket, spark plugs and wires, and maybe even the radiator. Its just a good idea to not have to do the labor twice so that is a perfect time to replace all of that crap right then. No sense in bolting back on old parts.
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
12/06/2017 at 12:11, STARS: 1
Wow kinja just disappeared. Yes I’d do the T-stat too, with water pump, maybe oil pump too? Luck you it’s not burning too much oil yet?
"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
12/06/2017 at 12:13, STARS: 1
Changing the water pump? Then absolutely. As I recall on these, the thermostat is on the water pump behind the cast thermostat housing. You need to move the housing to the new water pump, so for ~$20, why not replace the thermostat while in there.
"hillrat" (hillrat)
12/06/2017 at 12:14, STARS: 2
Having replaced a good bit of my cooling system this summer, my experience was that fixing the stuff that’s broken will put pressure on the stuff that you don’t touch. I replaced the water pump, serpentine belt, thermostat, and coolant reservoir. Once all that was working again, after a couple of months, I blew a hole in my radiator this past week.
I had considered replacing the radiator while I was fucking
around this summer but I was a little too quick to declare victory. Crappy
weather, short days, no garage, and the fact that I was going to have to take
the whole front clip off to replace it, led me to a garage and $900 worth of
sadness.
A failed thermostat likely won’t cost you that much, but there’s another data point for your decision making matrix.
"razorbeamteam" (razorbeamteam)
12/06/2017 at 12:15, STARS: 1
If you’re draining the coolant anyway, I would do the thermostat, water pump, and put on new hoses. Also, fresh coolant.
"CobraJoe" (cobrajoe)
12/06/2017 at 12:23, STARS: 1
Thank you for starting this post, my wife’s 2012 2.5i Outback just rolled over to 100k, and I just realized that I should be planning for a timing belt replacement too.
"PowderHound" (PowderHound)
12/06/2017 at 13:15, STARS: 4
Costs like $20 and it’s right there when doing timing belt/water pump so you may as well for peace of mind.
"E92M3" (E46M3)
12/06/2017 at 13:21, STARS: 0
I wouldn’t. I’ve known a couple people who replaced their t-stat as preventive maintenance, only to have the new one fail within a year.
"Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!" (theduckduck)
12/06/2017 at 13:32, STARS: 0
I bought mine in June this year with 100k and looked up when the timimg belt was due and was like “fuck! I am tired of fixing my own cars, but here I am.” FML But I did quite a bit of research since this is the newest car I have ever owned and lowest mileage. All the forums (lol) recommend OEM all parts unless you wanna do it again at 150k. I bought my parts from eBay seller subarupartsdirect and they claim to be a dealership but cost significantly less than my local Subi dealer. The only non OEM part I am putting on is the water pump. The factory water pump is apparently very reliable but I got an AISIN water pump off Rock Auto.
"CobraJoe" (cobrajoe)
12/06/2017 at 14:39, STARS: 1
Thanks for the tip on sourcing the parts, I was planning on just going with a reputable brand from Rock Auto, but genuine parts probably are a bit safer for something so critical.
I should have remembered my less about buying a car with just under 100k miles on it, there’s usually something big that needs to be done around that mileage.
"Jason Spears" (shadestalker)
12/06/2017 at 15:02, STARS: 1
Are you going to be right next to the part anyway? Does the part cost less than a protracted decision-making discussion about whether to do it?
Do it. :) HAL-9000 would approve.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
"AMGtech - now with more recalls!" (amgtech)
12/06/2017 at 16:07, STARS: 0
I won’t do a major cooling system (water pump, radiator, etc.) component without also doing a thermostat. It’s usually maybe five minutes if extra labor and a few dollars for the part. It’s dumb not to.
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
12/07/2017 at 06:03, STARS: 0
leave it be.
"Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!" (theduckduck)
12/07/2017 at 08:29, STARS: 0
I was originally going to go Rock Auto too. I usually put Gates timing belts on but was convinced otherwise. If it was an older car I wouldn’t have thought twice about it.
"Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero" (sampsonite24)
12/09/2017 at 17:32, STARS: 0
this is good logic haha
"Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!" (theduckduck)
12/12/2017 at 09:15, STARS: 0
So now that I have done this, are you interested in tool I made? I figured I would help out a fellow Oppo.
"CobraJoe" (cobrajoe)
12/12/2017 at 16:39, STARS: 0
It’s tempting, that was a very nice looking tool you made. I’m not afraid of cobbling my own tool up though, and I have a few thousand miles before it’s officially due.
So, if there’s someone local who could use it, it would save you the hassle of shipping a large tool.
I appreciate the offer though, thanks for remembering.
"Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!" (theduckduck)
12/12/2017 at 17:49, STARS: 0
No problem. The holes in the crank for the tool are 5/16 if that helps.
"CobraJoe" (cobrajoe)
12/13/2017 at 12:08, STARS: 0
Thanks for the tip, I think I actually have some spare 5/16in rod lying around too.