I have owned this car for over 20 years, the famous Legacy RS twin turbo. Garage just told me there is a small oil leak on one of the head gaskets, quoted me $4,500 to replace both head gaskets, I can't afford to do this. They said I could just put up with it as long as I check the oil and water regularly, might get another two years out of it, waah.
tygertung,
Jan 13, 4:27am
It might be easiest just to remove the engine first and then replace the head gaskets. You could always just change one gasket if the other is still alright?
meow_mix,
Jan 13, 4:31am
They said they always replace the head gaskets in pairs. I'm just gonna see how much more life I can get out of the car.
marmar1,
Jan 13, 4:33am
Could it not be cheaper to just replace the whole engine? This what my mechanic told me about my 3.0ltr.
meow_mix,
Jan 13, 4:41am
Dunno where you'd find a good '93-'96 EJ20H engine, there's so few of these cars around now. Not gonna bother fixing it, it has other problems too, some rust and the primary turbo is past it's best.
sw20,
Jan 13, 4:51am
You might have to learn real quick how to fix it.
marmar1,
Jan 13, 4:54am
Oh well, guess running it till it dies maybe the best option.
mechnificent,
Jan 13, 5:10am
A small oil leak won't kill it. Just make sure it doesn't run out of oil.
But are they sure it is the head gaskets ? They are prone to cam cover leaks.
mechnificent,
Jan 13, 5:13am
And that job really, even with a valve grind which I'd recommend, only takes about twelve to sixteen hours. It's not that hard with the engine in or out.
Perhaps get another quote.
meow_mix,
Jan 13, 5:13am
They are very sure it's the head gasket, they also said something about the rocker cover leaking as well. I will talk to them tomorrow when I pick it up.
poppy62,
Jan 13, 6:08am
I'm practicing Restraint!
gunhand,
Jan 13, 6:19am
I do not think your "private life" has anything to do with motoring let alone a Subaru, unless you are practicing restraint in a Subaru? hopefully a wagon.
gph1961,
Jan 13, 7:00am
its a fine line between pleasure and pain
intrade,
Jan 13, 7:41am
you have to remove the engine anyhow you cant take the hads off my mate budda did try and it takes fk all time to remove the engine anyhow on these. compared to a modern heap.
bigfatmat1,
Jan 13, 8:15am
4.5k seems awfully steep. Then again they prob quoting cam belt, waterpump, rocker gaskets, plate behind flywheel, headgaskets and lifters. I would get it fixed if its tidy. They are a good car and worth alot in japan.
serf407,
Jan 13, 8:22am
Sell the car to the rally people if the rust is not too bad.
I had change from a grand about six years ago from Zeph when he replaced the cambelt, water pump, tensioners, coolant etc all done properly with the correct bits on my BC5 RS Legacy. $4500 sounds very expensive. I would have thought $3k tops.
bigfatmat1,
Jan 13, 10:12am
cambelt kit for my later turbo sub is around $500 cost takes about 2 hours to do the job max. I think its steep but we dont know what the the estimate is allowing for in a older rs when engine is out you would prob wanna replace lifters 16 of them at around $50 each
mechnificent,
Jan 13, 6:29pm
The garage is scared of the job and so's pricing themselves out of it or making sure they've got enough to make it worth "the risk".
meow_mix,
Jan 13, 8:02pm
Just picked the car up from the garage, drove it home thinking what a nice car it is and how sad it will be to see it go. The garage is Motor Doctors in Wellington, they said they have done heaps of head gasket jobs on Subarus so are familiar with them, they said on the phone it could be $4,000-$4,500 but that was just a casual quote. They said the oil leak is fairly minor and is just "weeping" but will get worse over time, no sign of water in the oil or oil in the water at this stage, they think I will get another couple of years out of it.
ronaldo8,
Jan 13, 8:16pm
Ring Subtech in Auckland, that price is ridiculous.
ronaldo8,
Jan 13, 8:22pm
Head gasket failure is common enough on that gen, Was design issue with the gaskets themselves long since resolved. more than common honestly, you've done well. Rocker seals allso have always been a pita, be sure to replace the lot, the seals are cheap
tygertung,
Jan 13, 9:11pm
Could one just tighten the head bolts slightly, or would that be a bad idea?
kingfisher21,
Jan 13, 10:06pm
Bingo
s_nz,
Jan 14, 5:02am
I think it is hard to justify $4000+ or work on a 20 year old car that has other issues.
Personally I would look at listing is, disclosing the small oil leak. That kind of car has enough of a enthusiast following that a buyer may be willing to do the head gasket replacement themselves, or just live with the oil leak. Don't be in a hurry, but if somebody offer's you good money I think it would be an opportune time to upgrade.
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