JermTheElf Posted July 16, 2013 Share Posted July 16, 2013 So I was under my girlfriend's 2005 2.5i last night and I see a drip of oil on the oil filter. I grabbed my flesh light and aimed it up at the under side of the engine. It is soaked! There is wet drips and liquid all around the head where it bolts to the block. She also has steam that can be seen at night in front of the headlights from it burning off under there, and you can smell it pretty frequently. A few questions, how long does she have? Is this common failure for the head gasket? External leak? Is it reccomended to upgrade the head studs upon repair to prevent this from happening again? Are the headgasket kits available online okay to purchase to do the job? Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators BarManBean Posted July 16, 2013 Moderators Share Posted July 16, 2013 If you can actually see it leaking that sounds like a pretty good leak. "Seeping" would probably give you some time but pretty good leak can be serious I think. Everything should be repairable now, but long term HG issues can lead to some pretty good corrosion AFAIK. Subaru HGs fail quite frequently unfortunately, although they seem to have gotten better. Here's a great couple of videos to watch on replacement on removal / installation: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PLdz-lXnQA&list=PLlgrBv7zqfLR0rqC9faI_eihKsBGn2Lp1]Subaru Cylinder Head Removal - YouTube[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddFsFfiyOvg&list=PLlgrBv7zqfLR0rqC9faI_eihKsBGn2Lp1]Subaru Cylinder Head Installation - YouTube[/ame] "Bullet-proof" your OEM TMIC! <<Buy your kit here>> Not currently in stock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JermTheElf Posted July 16, 2013 Author Share Posted July 16, 2013 I understand its a common failure. Now I can't see it leaking out as I sit there but it's clearly glistening wet, it's not just old wet stains. Do you have any knowledge about the gasket kits? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators BarManBean Posted July 16, 2013 Moderators Share Posted July 16, 2013 I understand its a common failure. Now I can't see it leaking out as I sit there but it's clearly glistening wet, it's not just old wet stains. Do you have any knowledge about the gasket kits? Only what I learned from watching those videos really and from common sense--you get what you pay for and it's a shitty job to do twice if you pick cheap gaskets. He recommends 3 types: six star, felpro, or OEM--more or less in that order. I guess OEM are composite type gaskets and slightly more prone to leaking that the layers steel gaskets like the six star / felpro. Tell her to keep an eye on the engine temperature for the time being. "Bullet-proof" your OEM TMIC! <<Buy your kit here>> Not currently in stock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JermTheElf Posted July 16, 2013 Author Share Posted July 16, 2013 I have, thank you, I have no audio to listen to the videos at work. We'll probably want to do this before the summer is over. It's a pain she purchase a used car warranty, but I'm willing to bet it won't cover head gaskets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JermTheElf Posted July 16, 2013 Author Share Posted July 16, 2013 It looks like this would be optimum: http://www.ebay.com/itm/SIX-STAR-Subaru-2-5l-SOHC-Head-Gasket-Set-2005-to-2009-Legacy-or-Outback-/151066879497?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item232c49a609&vxp=mtr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators BarManBean Posted July 16, 2013 Moderators Share Posted July 16, 2013 yup, looks like it. I would purchase from someone with more feedback on ebay though. I think you can also buy the sixstar stuff from the uploader of those videos as well. I have no affiliation, BTW--I've just been watching that series of videos and it's been REALLY informative on HGs, shortblock assembly, etc. Pretty neat. "Bullet-proof" your OEM TMIC! <<Buy your kit here>> Not currently in stock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators BarManBean Posted July 16, 2013 Moderators Share Posted July 16, 2013 Depending on mileage you might do the timing belt service as well. "Bullet-proof" your OEM TMIC! <<Buy your kit here>> Not currently in stock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laz Posted July 16, 2013 Share Posted July 16, 2013 Wait, are you leaking oil or coolant? Head gasket only leaks coolant, valve cover gasket leaks oil. You may have a valve cover gasket leak that is old. Also when the head gasket goes you will get coolant in oil and white smoke from the tailpipe. Valve cover gasket is not a big issue to replace. My 07 before I traded it in had a slight valve cover leak on the passenger side. X --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators BarManBean Posted July 16, 2013 Moderators Share Posted July 16, 2013 Yeah, VCG would be a much smaller job than HG. "Bullet-proof" your OEM TMIC! <<Buy your kit here>> Not currently in stock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JermTheElf Posted July 16, 2013 Author Share Posted July 16, 2013 It definitely would be, but I saw both oil and coolant looking fluid. Unless the valve cover gaskets are leaking their way down to the seam where the head meets the block. I am 100% certain that there was a drop of oil off the filter, and I am nearly certain I saw coolant from the seam of the block. I'll have to get back under and look again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators BarManBean Posted July 16, 2013 Moderators Share Posted July 16, 2013 The seam for head-to-block is pretty far from the seam for valve-cover-to-head. I would think it would be fairly easy to tell what is leaking. "Bullet-proof" your OEM TMIC! <<Buy your kit here>> Not currently in stock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JermTheElf Posted July 16, 2013 Author Share Posted July 16, 2013 The seam for head-to-block is pretty far from the seam for valve-cover-to-head. I would think it would be fairly easy to tell what is leaking. That's what I'm thinking. I can't imagine it running down all the way and soaking that seam fairly evenly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apexi Posted July 16, 2013 Share Posted July 16, 2013 From what I understand aren't there two large oil return passages at the bottom of the head? If so it would definitely be possible for a hg to leak oil. Picture taken from the thread below to give a general idea of what I'm referring to http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/66-problems-maintenance/51824-oil-filter-head-gasket-4.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FJuan Posted July 16, 2013 Share Posted July 16, 2013 Best thing to do is degrease and clean the whole area. Drive it around for 10 + miles with a few WOT runs to build pressure. Then check the area again to see where the actual leak is coming from. It can become a very expensive guessing game if you're not 100% positive. My wife's balls are delicious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laz Posted July 16, 2013 Share Posted July 16, 2013 Your car would be overheating if you had a HG gone bad. Has or is it overheating? X --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JermTheElf Posted July 16, 2013 Author Share Posted July 16, 2013 No overheating. It's not bad, it's leaking (allegedly) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chameleon Posted July 16, 2013 Share Posted July 16, 2013 If the HG is leaking majority oil it wouldn't cause an over heat concern. Overheating would come from loss of coolant be it externally or internally into the cylinder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FJuan Posted July 16, 2013 Share Posted July 16, 2013 Not all Subarus would lose coolant at the cylinders, in some cases the exhaust gases would blow into the coolant system creating more pressure and heat. This is what happen when my HG blew. No coolant loss internally, but the pressure and hot gasses (bubbles) would cause the resoivor tank to overflow. My wife's balls are delicious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bochuck Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 Just chewed away and hour and a half watching those two vids. Now I am that much smarter. Or dangerous. Don't know yet. Great videos though. Good luck with the HG issue. VF-52 and all associated bits tuned by Tuning Alliance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbw Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 Are you sure you're not just having an issue with the oil cooler? It is basically what the oil filter housing is screwing on to and where oil and coolant could potentially come together. a decent mechanic should be able to do a coolant pressure test or a leakdown and figure this out for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators BarManBean Posted July 17, 2013 Moderators Share Posted July 17, 2013 Just chewed away and hour and a half watching those two vids. Now I am that much smarter. Or dangerous. Don't know yet. Great videos though. Good luck with the HG issue. Haha, I feel the SAME way. I feel empowered now to build my own engine, no problem Seriously good videos though, they taught me a lot and seem to be a great crash course for visualizing your way around a subaru engine. "Bullet-proof" your OEM TMIC! <<Buy your kit here>> Not currently in stock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JermTheElf Posted August 6, 2013 Author Share Posted August 6, 2013 It is the head gaskets. Brand suggestions for new gaskets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FJuan Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 Oem or felpro My wife's balls are delicious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators BarManBean Posted August 6, 2013 Moderators Share Posted August 6, 2013 i think sixstar also makes some decent gaskets "Bullet-proof" your OEM TMIC! <<Buy your kit here>> Not currently in stock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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