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Well, I'm having trouble with what I should do here. I have a 2011 Subaru Outback which has developed a slow external oil leak from the driver's side head gasket. It's been going on for about 5 or 6 months now and I haven't lost any oil and just a bit of coolant here and there. No overheating. I've got a discount at a local Subaru dealer that will make the gasket job about $1400 including the trip for the heads to the machine shop.
My dilemma is whether I should follow through with the job or just get a different vehicle. The car has 114k miles and I just did the timing belt job about 20k miles ago and put new tires on a couple months back. I like the vehicle, but I just wonder if trading it toward a newer vehicle would be a better idea. Of course the $1400 is a fraction of the vehicle's present value. I'm leaning towards the repair and keeping the car. What do you think?
Well, I'm having trouble with what I should do here. I have a 2011 Subaru Outback which has developed a slow external oil leak from the driver's side head gasket. It's been going on for about 5 or 6 months now and I haven't lost any oil and just a bit of coolant here and there. No overheating. I've got a discount at a local Subaru dealer that will make the gasket job about $1400 including the trip for the heads to the machine shop.
My dilemma is whether I should follow through with the job or just get a different vehicle. The car has 114k miles and I just did the timing belt job about 20k miles ago and put new tires on a couple months back. I like the vehicle, but I just wonder if trading it toward a newer vehicle would be a better idea. Of course the $1400 is a fraction of the vehicle's present value. I'm leaning towards the repair and keeping the car. What do you think?
Absolutely!
That thing has a lot of miles left in it.
$1400 bucks is what...2 or 3 car payments on a new one?
Do it!
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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If in a rust free area yes, (Tacoma, WA is generally rust free),
Do the head / seals / water pump, and get another 100K out of this car (if you like it and can afford the dismal economy of a Subaru (they have their merits.. but economy is NOT one).. longevity, yes...
Get a few estimates from Subaru ONLY repair shops.
Oil leak is NOT a Head Gasket leak (that will be indicated by steamy white 'disappearing' smoke, and / or oil in engine coolant, and or excessive pressure / soot in engine coolant.
Consider putting it up for sale at 280k (pre 300k).
being from WA... the sales tax alone on your 'replacement' car might cover most of the repair.
Thanks. I have gotten a variety of estimates all around the Puget Sound. All the indie Subaru shops and dealers. Taking it to Hanson Subaru in Olympia. As otherwise noted above, it is indeed a gasket leak. Oil is leaking externally from the DS gasket seam - where the SOHC EJ25 is known to develop leaks. I actually diagnosed it myself. White smoke etc is symptomatic of internal leaks where coolant and oil mix, which is of course catastrophic - more common in DOHC engines, but of course both types of leakage can occur in either. I will go ahead with the repair. Thanks for your replies.
My dilemma is whether I should follow through with the job or just get a different vehicle. The car has 114k miles and I just did the timing belt job about 20k miles ago and put new tires on a couple months back. I like the vehicle, but I just wonder if trading it toward a newer vehicle would be a better idea. Of course the $1400 is a fraction of the vehicle's present value. I'm leaning towards the repair and keeping the car. What do you think?
"We have been using the Six Star Head Gasket since late 2007, with a much better success rate than the OE Subaru Head gaskets. We often see Subaru’s repaired at the Subaru Dealer or just a general repair shop leak again after just a year or two. We don’t feel this is a good use of your money, and we can serve you better."
That car isn't even halfway to the end of its service life. If you don't fix it, I'm sure someone else will be delighted to do it.
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