1998 Subaru Outback: engine overheating

Filed Jun 13, 2010 · Engine · 81,000 miles · MI

Engine overheating every half mile with engine reservoir overflowing. After $1300 of replacing thermostat, timing belt, belt tensioner, water pump, flushing the cooling system, and compression tests, I was told I had a blown head gasket. I was told the replacement would cost an additional $2,200 at least.

Filed Jan 15, 2009 · Engine · 179,000 miles · CA

Overheating, water leaking, head gasket problem.

Filed Jan 14, 2009 · Engine · 161,461 miles · TN

Engine began to overheat only when being driven, does not overheat when idling. I have replaced the thermostat, water pump, and timing belt but it still overheats. While doing research on the internet, I found the carsurvey.org site with many references to this being a known issue, a head gasket problem. Based on the number of similar complaints, subaru has a design problem that should have been recalled or at least a warning of some type send out. What can be done about this issue?

Filed Aug 31, 2007 · Engine · 110,000 miles · OR

We bought a 1998 subaru outback in 2004. At approximately 110,000 miles, we experienced a catastrophic overheating of the engine due to a faulty head gasket. The overheating caused approximately $3,000 worth of damage to the car. The head gasket, radiator, thermostat, water pump, oxygen sensors and (2) catalytic converters all had to be replaced. We have since learned that this is a common problem for subarus of this vintage. There are hundreds of anecdotal reports of people having this exact problem on the internet, and our mechanic tells us he fixes at least one of these problems per week at his shop. Clearly, this is a defective product.

Filed Jun 22, 2006 · Engine · 91,056 miles · CA

Driving a 1998 subaru awd legacy outback. On june 6, 2006 while on a short trip in vehicle, returned home to see smoke (not steam) coming from engine block. The vehicle had overheated, and had been suffering occasional loss of power while driving prior to this time (approx 1 week). Drove approx .5 mi to dealer next day to get checked out along with 90,000 mile service (mileage on vehicle was 91,058). Dealer called to inform that he had found leaking head gaskets with leaks at the valve covers and hydrocarbons in the cooling system. Informed that head gasket would need to be replaced and the head resurfaced (potential replacement of block but this was not needed nor was a valve job) and that we should also replace water pump, timing belt, and engine shield as long as the engine is out. My research on the web indicates that this problem is epidemic, local mechanics I've spoken with say that this is a very common issue and that subaru america will not step up to the plate. I called subaru, with my complaint and while admitting no responsibility offered $500 credit toward repairs which eventually came to more than $3000. Replaced parts include head gasket, head resurfacing, seals, water pump, hoses, thermostat, timing belt and tensioner, separator plate. When I called again to ask them to step up on this issue they failed to offer additional help. As I understand it a blown head gasket can lead to a cracked engine block which could indeed lead to a very serious problem. A simple web search on this issue found dozens of similar complaints of this very serious and expensive problem.

Filed Mar 2, 2005 · Engine · NJ

While driving vehicle overheated. This happened three times. When taken to get serviced the third time it was determined that it was due to the head gasket.*ak

Filed Feb 6, 2005 · Engine · VA

Head gasket failure in subaru legacy outback 1998. Engine overheated which lead to lead to smoke coming out under the hood and subsequent warping of engine heads. I hard to replace gasket heads but I am told there is no guarantee this would not happen again since there is an apparent design flaw in the 2.5l engines.

Filed Jan 3, 2005 · Engine · 145,000 miles · VT

Legacy outback with 2.5 l engine began to overheat with coolant boiling over into resevoir. The car was taken to repair shop. They replaced thermostat, tested for hydrocarbons in system, pressured tested cap and system and flushed radiator. Car still overheated and was returned to repair shop and tested for hydrocarbons in the antifreeze with negative results. No problem was identified. Engine continued to overheat and was taken into repair shop while the pointer was off the top of the temperature gauge. This time hydrocarbons were identified in the coolant and problem was identified as a blown gasket. Manager reported that the week before another subaru owner had the same problem with same difficulty in identifying the cause. Repairs cost $1,400. Had a similiar report for another subaru owner but work was done with pressure on dealer after initial refusal.

Filed Dec 13, 2004 · Engine · 93,000 miles · CA

Engine overheating started 10 months ago on long trips only. Overheating was common when engine was under heavier than normal loads for long periods of time(climbing hilss, etc.). Fluid in radiator was eventually deplented leading to sharp rise in engine temperature. Lately this has been worse as only 30 miles of normal driving will cause the same symptoms. The fault turned out to be a head gasket failure on subaru r2.5l type 1 engines. The coolant was being forced out of the radiator by the slow leak of exhaust gases in the coolant around the radiator. This vechicle has been serviced since new by only the local subaru dealer. A search on the internet for subaru 2.5l engines 1996-1999 (legacy) turned up multiple hits for owners with this same problem. Failure is as low as 40k miles to over 100k for the same problem. This multi-layer gasket for the type 1 engine has be redesigned 6 times, leading one to surmise that the head gaskets are defective. The type2 engine also has this failure but this has been intercepted by subaru of america by adding a "lubricant" to the coolant, ie: block sealer. This engine should have been recalled to replace the multiple defects which subaru will only do on type 2 engines and only if the owner knows to ask for the "secret waranty". Given that there is no other choice, I plan to pull the engine myself and fix the problem. The dealer wants over $2k to do the same work.

Filed Jul 21, 2004 · Engine · 72,000 miles · CA

1998 subaru outback showed signs of overheating as temperature gauge rose up past the usual midline and cold air inside car from air conditioner suddenly got warmer. I pulled over and coolant was over flowing from overflow reservoir through the cap. I drove with the heater on full power and made it to a repair facility and remove the thermostat which had seized. Replaced the thermostat and radiator cap ($30) and everything was fine until four months later (march 2004) when car showed signs of over heating again (rise in inside air conditioned air temperature from cold to warm). Took car to rallysport engineering in costa mesa, ca and mechanic could not find symptoms of head gasket failure although this is what he thought it was. He added stop leak, new thermostat, and new coolant ($150 parts/labor) and the problem was resolved although the temperature gauge reading was a little higher than it was when using original equipment (prior to november). Now, july 2004, car has almost overheated again. I took the car to south coast subaru in costa mesa, ca and they stated that it was a head gasket failure and that they could smell the exhaust fumes through the overflow reservoir. The estimate to fix the repair will be $1500 parts and labor.

Filed Jun 8, 2004 · Engine · 98,600 miles · PA

My car overheated and died on the highway. It was determined that the head gasket had failed -- it was replaced, and the engine was tuned in associated ways. One month later, the car overheated again, with coolant leaking out of the engine. Once again the head gasket was replaced, as well as the water pump, which the dealer said may have been the original problem. I have had the car back for one week now, and it's working fine. Each time the car overheated, it was soon after I turned on the A/C (and the A/C didn't work well either time -- I.e., warm air came out of the vents). My A/C is working okay, now.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine · 73,269 miles · WA

The headgasket burned through. Replaced headgasket, had heads milled. Now exactly 1 1/2 years later in april 2003 the car is overheating, everyone says the car should not be doing that, but it is. It is alot of money for a car that is only 5 yrs. Old and having major engine problems.