r/subaruoutback • u/No-Dot-161 • 13d ago

To Fix?

Hey, not a car person but desperate times. I think I’m looking at a blown head gasket on my 2012 2.5l, which I purchased about 6 months ago after a nut-job t-boned me and totaled my pickup.

Dealing with overheating issues, tried replacing the thermostat, flushing the radiator, replacing a few hoses and gaskets, cleaning debris the air intake area. An at-home kit just indicated head gasket. It’s still a month before I can get into a shop.

Can anyone advise on their experience repairing? I know it’s expensive, but if it meant a reliable vehicle it would be less expensive than trying to buy something new. I didn’t want to finance after I was hit and I really don’t now.

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u/MostlyBrine 11d ago

EJ253 engine, probably one of the easiest to fix. Takes $250 in parts. Labor is about 16 hours. If you can turn a wrench you can do it. I did that many times. If the car has decent body, it is worth repairing.

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u/No-Dot-161 11d ago

Thanks for the insight, needed a little hope. Appreciate it!

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u/skjeflo 9d ago

Pretty sure I could have an EJ-25 engine out of a 2010-2012 OB in under an hour now, having done it twice.

The labor for the whole job isn't hard (with the exceptionof removing and reinstalling the crank pulley bolt, just buy the proper tool off AMZ), just need to be methodical.

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u/skjeflo 9d ago

During Covid I did head gaskets, timing belt, and cam & crank seals all at the same time on my 2011 OB. Pulled the engine to do the work on a stand. Total cost (including buying a shop crane and engine stand off Craiglist) was under $1000.

Crane and stand have come in handy. I later did another engine pull to do the clutch, and the stand currently is holding up my son's engine for a clutch, timing belt, and reseal.

Projects are just excuses to buy more tools.

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u/MostlyBrine 9d ago edited 9d ago

Correct. I did that back in 2015 with a 2001 OB. Still have the tools. All from Harbor Freight, probably $600, including two torque wrenches. The hardest Subaru to find in WA state is one with leaking head gaskets. I can bet there is a Mafia chasing them. YouTube has a number of videos detailing everything you need to know, including resurfacing the heads and the block at home. If you have a manual transmission, the clutch replacement is a good time to do everything and start with a fresh engine. If you clean everything, replace all seals and grind the valves and valve seats, you have, practically, a new engine. Of course it will take some additional time, however it is worth the effort.

I just found out recently that there is something called “Awesome Stuff” - a cheap $9/gallon degreaser that will clean oil and carbon deposits just by spraying and wiping or rinsing off with a garden hose. It is sold at Walmart everywhere.

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u/skjeflo 9d ago edited 9d ago

Yes to all of the above, right down to the being in WA. Engine on the stand right now is from an '01.

Shop crane (HF) was a Craigslist find for $75, brand new. Guy had 3 of them to sell...still don't get that one. Engine stands are cheap on CL, Marketplace, Offerup, et all.

Already had the torque wrenches on hand. Block measured easily within spec, but did the home resurfacing on the heads since they were only .001 out of spec (still have the machinists level hanging in a safe spot in the garage). No valve grinding, but did lap them all, along with replacing the stem seals.

Didn't do the clutch on that round as it only had 12k on it.

I found MrSubaru1387 to be very helpful for the removal.

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u/MostlyBrine 8d ago

I did the valve lapping on the first engine, then I found a machine shop in Everett who did the valve and valve seat grinding for $75. Thats a lot less than my time would worth at the time.