head gasket leak

[waikiki]

just found out today from mechanic that my head gasket is leaking..

got my 2007 legacy wagon 2.5i on aug 28 (it only had 75,000km on odometer)...since day one after buying it, I've noticed a burning plastic smell.

 

initially, I thought it was the engine shampoo or gloss that the used car dealership used for detailing...

but over a month later I could still smell it...mechanic has advised that it is definitely the head gasket.

 

needless to say I've been pretty bummed since finding out...but I've been trying to do a lot of reading on what should be done

to have the repair done properly...here's a few things that I found:

-change both gaskets

-use new head bolts

-use OEM or six star gasket

-use blue OEM coolant

 

just wondering, what other things should I inquire with the mechanic to ensure the repair is done properly...hope you guys can advise, thanks

[Notorious]

While down there, it’s common to do the water pump and timing belt with the engine out. They’re typically done around 100k.

[apexi]

Hmm... It's sort of common for our engines to leak engine oil from the head gaskets, but that wouldn't really smell like burning plastic to me. I wonder if you have some cv boot grease on your exhaust, I think that has more of a plastic type smell.

 

Is it AT or MT? If it's MT, you should do the clutch, and especially the throw out bearing too. The TOB usually comes in the clutch kit, but that's what tends to fail first, that's why I'm mentioning it.

 

I agree, might as well do the timing belt, idlers, and tensioner while you're in there too. Subaru water pumps are supposed to last a long time, but I'd still probably change it if I were you. I'd avoid gates water pumps, I hear they're terrible and fail fast and often.

 

They might automatically do valve cover gaskets and spark plug tube seals with the head gaskets, but those aren't a bad idea to do at the same time as well.

 

Honestly, my one of my head gaskets has been leaking a little oil for awhile... It's not really something I'm concerned about. It depends on how bad the leak is too. *I'd probably also do spark plugs at the same time too.

[Wasted Potential]

I hear people paying ~$3500 for head gaskets..... You can buy a new short block for $1800, rebuild your heads for $400, buy all new timing components, and transfer all of your parts onto it, and be in it for around $3k, plus labor...

 

It is ironic, that buying and building a direct replacement motor is cheaper than the dealer trying to pull it and change some gaskets (they probably won't include decking/machining if it needs it for that cost). Sometimes, it is worth going over board for a couple hundred more... Or just buy a known running long block for $2k-2.5k..

 

I had an '05 2.5i 5 speed at 180k miles with leaking head gaskets. Did not fix it, just drove it into the ground. For how much you may put into it, you might as well drive it into the ground as well and rebuild after catastrophic failure.

[BarManBean]

I hear people paying ~$3500 for head gaskets..... You can buy a new short block for $1800, rebuild your heads for $400, buy all new timing components, and transfer all of your parts onto it, and be in it for around $3k, plus labor...

 

It is ironic, that buying and building a direct replacement motor is cheaper than the dealer trying to pull it and change some gaskets (they probably won't include decking/machining if it needs it for that cost). Sometimes, it is worth going over board for a couple hundred more... Or just buy a known running long block for $2k-2.5k..

 

I had an '05 2.5i 5 speed at 180k miles with leaking head gaskets. Did not fix it, just drove it into the ground. For how much you may put into it, you might as well drive it into the ground as well and rebuild after catastrophic failure.

 

This only makes sense if you do the labor yourself. THe $2500 (give or take) for head gaskets is $200 worth of parts and fluids, with all the rest being labor.

 

I generally agree with the "drive it to the ground" for an '05 with 180k miles. Doesn't make sense to do repairs that equal the value of the car.

[MilesA]

...Doesn't make sense to do repairs that equal the value of the car.

Sometimes it can make sense. By doing the repair you can continue driving a perfectly good car that you already know all about, and avoid sending it to the junkyard for scrap. The value of a car is not really what you can resell it for. It is how much it would cost you to replace it with a car that would meet your needs and you would enjoy driving.

 

You can avoid car payments, interest, high depreciation, higher insurance and higher transaction costs every time you trade cars.

 

Resale value is irrelevant unless you are going to be selling the car or collecting a payout from the insurance company.

[waikiki]

thanks all for the replies...used car warranty covered some of the cost of the head gasket repair,

and the dealer was kind enough to pay half on the remainder.