Crank journals after overheat.

[RoscoeOutback]

Hello all. Stock 2008 Outback 2.5 XT. I am original owner, and just passed 130,000. The turbo came apart at 109k and I had the dealer replace it and do timing belt. I normally do my own wrenching but lived in an apartment complex that gets bent out of shape when I check the oil in the parking lot....so to the dealer she went. Big Mistake. But I digress. I am preparing to pull my motor to do head gaskets after a serious overheat during which I made a poor decision or two to “keep going” just a bit too long and overheated to the point of stalling the motor at a light. It was not quite in red zone but I suspect it should have been and my gauge was having a heart attack or something. The needle just touched the red line and then droppped a bit before it stalled.

 

Blew the radiator apart...I mean the whole top end separated from the core. So now to see if it can be saved Motor comes out, Will send the heads out for expert assessment and valves . I feel pretty good about doing this myself. I’ve rebuilt a few motors and it has always worked out. And I have learned a great deal on these forums about the Boxer.

 

Here is my question: While I have the motor on the strand, I plan to turn it over and do the rod bearings and the crank bearings. Do you suspect I should plan to have the crankshaft machined? Is 130,000 miles of evenly mixed city/highway driving, in and of itself, enough to wear the journals on these Subaru cranks to the point thy need work? Oil changes were pretty good...,full synthetic and usually between 4000-5000 miles. Never had to add oil between changes.

 

And is the overheat a factor in the bottom end? If there is any oil contamination, it was not for more than a few minutes. And if you suspect that the crank will need work, how much grinding will these journals take before they come out of spec?

 

Secondary question: the heads...if i need to have them milled, how much can they be shaved before they are toast?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

 

“Here! Put on this blindfold and take this stick. The land mines won’t scare you so much”