Subaru update: it's the headgaskets. Or engine :(

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion) 07/04/2019 at 15:31 • Filed to: None

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According to the dealership at least. They told my neighbor she needed the radiator and headgaskets replaced, to the tune of $43 00. They then told her she ALSO needed her engine replaced for an additional $58 00. Absolute scum. These are the same people who tried to tell my mom her engine needed to be replaced for a minor issue. 6 years and 80,000 miles later her “broken” engine is doing just fine.

This is partially my fault as I told my neighbor to take it to “the Subaru specialist down the street”. I meant the independent place, but yeah, I should have clarified.

We’re getting it towed to the *independent* Subaru shop which I trust a million times more to not try to take advantage of someone.

The car has about 140k miles and it’s been very reliable up until now, for all that I bashed it when it was mine. Sounds like my neighbor wants to fix it rather than dump it, which I think is a smart move.

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CB > AestheticsInMotion 07/04/2019 at 15:38

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“We need to replace the headgaskets and the engine.”

What the actual nonsense is this.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > AestheticsInMotion 07/04/2019 at 15:42

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His Stigness > AestheticsInMotion 07/04/2019 at 15:47

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It needs the headgaskets replaced and then the engine replaced?

Huh? 

AestheticsInMotion > His Stigness 07/04/2019 at 15:49

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Case study: dealership trys to take advantage of a woman who doesn't know anything about cars

AestheticsInMotion > CB 07/04/2019 at 15:50

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There’s a really good Subaru dealership about 13 miles away.

And then there’s the one down the street from me

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > AestheticsInMotion 07/04/2019 at 16:16

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I’m going to laugh if all it needs is a new radiator cap.

Boxer_4 > AestheticsInMotion 07/04/2019 at 16:17

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Definitely bring it somewhere else for another opinion. Head gaskets leaks on the EJ253 when they do occur tend to be external oil leaks rather than the internal coolant leaks more common on the EJ25D. I’d love to hear their justification for needing a new engine. Radiator I could see if there was leaking at the end tanks, but I wouldn’t have the dealer perform that.

I briefly read your previous post; as I understand it, you only touched the overflow tank, not the radiator? My personal experiences with my 09 Forester (with the same engine) and other models between friends and family is that you usually have to add a cup of coolant to get up to the full cold mark about every 6 months. Also, I’m thinking the belt squeal may not be related. How are the conditions of the ps belt and ac belt? I recently replaced a ps belt on a friends 2003 WRX due to squealing.

As for the drips of coolant, could it possibly be at the water pump? Was it changed when the timing belt was changed? What about the thermostat?  Could it  be stuck open? How is the engine heat reading?

RacinBob > AestheticsInMotion 07/04/2019 at 16:29

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If you want to have fun, try one of these and report back.

https://www.thedrive.com/reviews/28593/best-head-gasket-sealers

AestheticsInMotion > RacinBob 07/04/2019 at 16:31

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So I just pour that in the windshield washer tank and rev the engine to fuel cutoff? 

RacinBob > AestheticsInMotion 07/04/2019 at 16:36

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No, Silly. You add it to your gas tank and it works from the inside out. 

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AestheticsInMotion 07/04/2019 at 16:45

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I think Carter Subaru would have given a less BS answer.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > AestheticsInMotion 07/04/2019 at 16:53

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Well continuing to drive a vehicle with no coolant (which causes no heat) will usually cause the engine to overheat and blow the head gaskets.

Now having said that, that first shop sounds like complete scumbags for trying to charge that much for a headgasket replacement AND a replacement engine at the same time.

Reminds me of one past experience where I took my moms car in due to a leaking heater core and they wanted to charge me for a new heater core AND ‘re-coring’ the existing heater core... in addition to trying to pad the labour charge heavily.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > AestheticsInMotion 07/04/2019 at 16:57

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I concur with what Boxer_4 wrote. On this style EJ , the head gaskets usually leak externally; you’ll see drops of oil on the driveway and smell oil burning. I’ve had it happen to me. They typically DO NOT leak internally and certainly wouldn’t burn enough coolant to run the system dry.

I agree with everyone saying rad cap and/or t-stat, coupled with a big old air bubble in the heater core. Mayyyyybe a bad water pump; they usually go around 120k miles.

The belt squeal is likely the AC belt. They go more frequently than the PS belt, for some reason. Replace them both, they’re dead simple. 

His Stigness > AestheticsInMotion 07/04/2019 at 17:12

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Oh most definitely . And while most women will double check before spending that kind of money, and thus tell everyone they know about that experience all it takes for them to make a shit ton of money is to get one person to say yes. That’s how these people stay in business.

But still, HOLY SHIT!

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > AestheticsInMotion 07/04/2019 at 17:20

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Timing belt and water pump ever done on it? From what you described it sounds like a possibility. Hard to spot leaks.  Dealer ass hats. Why I think I’ll stick to buying used cars.

wafflesnfalafel > AestheticsInMotion 07/04/2019 at 17:21

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boo...  

gettingoldercarguy > AestheticsInMotion 07/04/2019 at 17:22

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Pacific import auto is great

dogisbadob > AestheticsInMotion 07/04/2019 at 19:00

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The head gaskets are what make a Subaru a Subaru

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > His Stigness 07/04/2019 at 22:02

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Maybe suggesting a used engine and putting new head gaskets on before install? Best guess at justifying this. But of a stretch though.

His Stigness > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 07/04/2019 at 22:36

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I doubt that was what they meant with those prices. I just looked it up and the head gaskets are only nine hours. 

Dusty Ventures > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 07/05/2019 at 00:09

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Out of curio sity, did you find a solution (short term or otherwise) to the oil leaking short of replacing the gaskets? Asking for a friend...

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > His Stigness 07/05/2019 at 02:46

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I didn’t really think that was what  they meant, but worth looking at anyways.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Dusty Ventures 07/05/2019 at 06:48

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Not really. I used 5w-30 oil and just kept it topped off; changed every 4-5k miles (it was losing about 1qt in that time). The problem wasn’t dangerous; the oil doesn’t drip onto anything other than the exhaust and ground.

I’ve since moved on to a BMW the leaks oil from everything EXCEPT the HG, so...progress?

thejustache > AestheticsInMotion 07/05/2019 at 11:56

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Head gasket AND engine... wow.

I had 2 places (dealer and private shop) tell me the saabaru I used to have needed the head gaskets replaced. I was pretty sure it was just leaking oil from the valve cover gaskets. I drove it for another 2 years/75k miles before hitting a deer... so I’m pretty sure they were wrong? lol

Dusty Ventures > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 07/05/2019 at 22:04

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My long term solution is to go full retard and have my friend who builds rally car engines rebuild mine, and crank it up to about 340 at the wheels in the process (did I mention this car has 207,000 miles on it? If you’re gonna go stupid you might as well go all out stupid) . I was hoping there was something I could do in the interim to maybe reduce the amount of oil loss. Or at the very least get it to not drip on the exhaust, which makes me nervous.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Dusty Ventures 07/05/2019 at 22:28

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Dude. I foresee rebuilt heads in your future, which, I mean, might as well do the gasket. Even if fully 100%, idk if a stock non-turbo EJ could handle that kind of power. The turbo EJ has a different HG that’s more stout.     

Dusty Ventures > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 07/05/2019 at 22:57

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Mine is the turbo. And yet she has become incontinent.