200k Service & Head Gasket on Forester

Paulo

Forum Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2008
Messages
14
Location
Gold Coast, AUS
G'day all,

Im just after a bit of advice for my forester..

My 2003 XS Lux (N/A) Forester is coming up for its 200k service. I have had it serviced on time since ive had it (bought around 120K) and so did the past owners but around the 150k mark my mechanic said i had a slight head gasket leak on one side. Common problem i know.

I noticed this aswell as I was going through a bit of coolant and had to top it up. But then it just stopped soon after and i havent lost any coolant for along time, or if i have its been very very minor - not enough to warrant a top up.

So at the moment im not sure if i should just leave it as is and hope that it has fixed itself or get the mechanic to do the HG at the 200k service when they will be having to do the timing belt etc??

Whats your thoughts? How much would new HG's add onto a 200k service? I obviously dont want to add another $500-$1000 to fix the HG's if they aren't broken.

Ive been quoted around $1100 - $1400 (AUD) for the service, the low end if all the bearings and tensioners are ok and up to $1400 if they need replacing... Does this sound right?

Has anyone here got an 03-04 that is still on the original head gaskets with no issues? What about the Subaru stop-leak coolant?

Any insight/advise would be good..

Cheers,
Paul
 
I would replace the bearings and tensioners anyway. When I did my 05 N/A Outback I brought in the parts from the US from the then supporting vendor on this site. Unfortunately no longer available from there, due to staff changes, but I'm sure that others on here could recommend sources. Even with the AU$ at less than 90 cents US I came out well in front. At todays prices it would be a even cheaper.
Mine is the later engine, so no experience of these gaskets, but if it was me I'd do it while the engine is out. (Not like an upright engine, where they can be done any time.) For the same reason I replaced the water pump while the engine was out. Should be able to get one from US as well, I'd think.
 
You're not going to get out of it cheaply unless you can do much of the work yourself. It will come down to do you want to save money or risk being stranded and then still having to pay the same amount of money- plus maybe more due to towing, etc? I'm in the same boast as you in some ways. I also have the leaking head gasket although at this o\point in time it is only oil. I may take it off the road mid year when it is cooler and I will take the engine out and fix it. The difference is of course I'll R & R the engine and just get the heads machined. Yes- you will need to do both head gaskets. I plan on using 13mm head studs so this issue does not come back. It will be a bit of an expense as I plan on replacing the water pump, timing belt and tensioner and possibly pulleys as well.
 
Paulo said:
G'day all,

Im just after a bit of advice for my forester..

My 2003 XS Lux (N/A) Forester is coming up for its 200k service. I have had it serviced on time since ive had it (bought around 120K) and so did the past owners but around the 150k mark my mechanic said i had a slight head gasket leak on one side. Common problem i know.

I noticed this aswell as I was going through a bit of coolant and had to top it up. But then it just stopped soon after and i havent lost any coolant for along time, or if i have its been very very minor - not enough to warrant a top up.

So at the moment im not sure if i should just leave it as is and hope that it has fixed itself or get the mechanic to do the HG at the 200k service when they will be having to do the timing belt etc??

Whats your thoughts? How much would new HG's add onto a 200k service? I obviously dont want to add another $500-$1000 to fix the HG's if they aren't broken.

Ive been quoted around $1100 - $1400 (AUD) for the service, the low end if all the bearings and tensioners are ok and up to $1400 if they need replacing... Does this sound right?

Has anyone here got an 03-04 that is still on the original head gaskets with no issues? What about the Subaru stop-leak coolant?

Any insight/advise would be good..

Cheers,
Paul
Click to expand...


2003 it is an external weeping kind of leak, not an internal. You can live with this as long as you want. I have yet to hear them get beyond a weep kind of leak. I dont know if you have Subaru Coolant Treatment available but it is worth a try.

nipper
 
Thanks for the replies guys.

Nipper i think you are right, it seems like a weeping rather than a full blown leak. Whether that changes or not will be another thing.. I may just gamble and always travel with some coolant under the front seat.

On another note, i just got the CEL light come up and my mechanic said it is the front 02 sensor. He reckons its around $600 from a dealer, $400 for bosch or similar or $200 for a secondhandy from a wrecker.. Does this sound right for a sensor??

Im thinking of looking round the net for a cheaper alternative as Barry mentioned with O/S websites..
 
I don't know about prices in AU, as they seem way higher then in the states for the same part. The front O2 sensor needs to be OE.

In the US the part lists at 200.00 and can be had from a dealer for 143.96.

Call a delaer or better yet (if this option is available) find an on line dealer in AU and price it.
 
Agreed. From what I have heard from usually reliably sources the front sensor (actually it is an AFR sensor I'm told) should only be replaced with an OE one.
 
Ok so working on list for the 200k service. Keep in mind i am trying to do everything in one hit so it will be easy driving for another 100k with little out of the book maitanence.

Heres what i have so far:

Oil & Filter + Fuel Filter
Timing Belt
Pulleys & tensioners
F & R diff Oils
Gear box oil
Water pump + Coolant
Spark plugs & Leads?
Oil pump seals?

Anything i have missed? Is the timing belt the only belt? i hoping to get all this done for under the $1600 mark.
 
Paulo said:
.

Heres what i have so far:

Oil & Filter + Fuel Filter
Timing Belt
Pulleys & tensioners
F & R diff Oils
Gear box oil
Water pump + Coolant
Spark plugs & Leads?
Oil pump seals?
Click to expand...

Thermostat
Radiator cap
Gearbox lube (manual) same as frt diff oil.
reseal oilpump

Lets change the valve cover gaskets and sparkplug bucket seals too. Gte those from subaru as non oe bucket seals do not last.
 
Thanks nipper, will add those to the list.

Im thinking of adding redline shockproof to the gearbox (manual) to get rid of a intermittent crunching between 3-4 and into reverse. Anyone here had any experience? ive read some good things about it, but it is expensive.
 
Redline is definately the way to go.. when a good gear oil is needed.

First, you should diagnose that the issue you have is oil related.

Does the 'clash' only happen at certain temperatures? Cold gear changes?

You could try draining and filling with Dexron III auto oil and check. If the gearbox feels much better, and you get no 'baulking', then drain it and fill it with Redline, and you should be right!

Other than that... sounds like it's time for the box to be stripped down and checked out!
 
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