nimart Posted December 9, 2017 Share Posted December 9, 2017 I just acquired an 03 2.5L Legacy wagon with 42k miles. As expected it runs like a top. It has been well maintained in regards to oil changes at the dealer every 3500 miles but it has never had a coolant change and it's still on the original timing belt. The coolant (green) is low. I know these models can have head gasket problems. Would running on low coolant make it more susceptible to these problems? Also, should I have the timing belt changed since it's 14 yrs old or at 42k miles, can I go to higher miles? Is the engine an interference or non-interference engine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osei Posted December 9, 2017 Share Posted December 9, 2017 Flush coolant system. Add new coolant. Get "conditioner" from Subaru for this series of engine. Interference and change the belt and all the idlers and tensioner. Interval is 10 years or 100k, WECF. And welcome. Download an FSM for future reference. O. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RumbleRumble Posted December 9, 2017 Share Posted December 9, 2017 Change that belt! It's rubber it can dry out and break. It obviously hasn't been driven so the bearing lube can dry up as well. Spark plugs, trans fluid,rear diff oil and coolant should all be changed every 30,000k miles as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimart Posted December 10, 2017 Author Share Posted December 10, 2017 Change that belt! It's rubber it can dry out and break. It obviously hasn't been driven so the bearing lube can dry up as well. Spark plugs, trans fluid,rear diff oil and coolant should all be changed every 30,000k miles as well. Actually I know quite a bit about the history of this car and although it has such low miles, it's been driven consistently and has not been sitting in a garage un-driven for long periods of time. The first owner put about 1500 miles a year on it for the first 7 years. The second owner also drove it regularly and put about 5000 miles a year on it. Spark plugs, trans fluid and rear diff oil have all been done as well as brake fluid. Oil was also changed twice year for the first 7 years and every 3500 miles thereafter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RumbleRumble Posted December 12, 2017 Share Posted December 12, 2017 4 miles a day is barely enough for it reach operating temperature most of the time. There are two things that turn to shit when they are left sitting and inactive. Cars and people. I'm just saying low miles on a car isn't always a good thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyRuu Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 i would look into the 4 digit DOT code on the tires to make sure they are not ancient also... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YeuEmMaiMai Posted December 21, 2017 Share Posted December 21, 2017 as long as the bottle is not empty, you should be OK change timing belt change coolant change PS fluid change brake fluid change transmission fluid using Valvoline Synthetic ATF, I would go a far as to do it 3x with a 10 mile drive in between each time. fluid oxidize with age and brake fluid is hydroscopic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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