Comments on: Making Head gaskets Last on my Subaru http://www.smart-service.com/blog/2009/09/prolonging-subaru-head-gaskets Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:29:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mike Corbin http://www.smart-service.com/blog/2009/09/prolonging-subaru-head-gaskets/comment-page-2#comment-11101 Mike Corbin Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:28:29 +0000 http://www.smart-service.com/blog/?p=43#comment-11101 Although not required, we prefer to use genuine Subaru coolant ourselves. Mike Although not required, we prefer to use genuine Subaru coolant ourselves.
Mike

]]> By: Mike Daniels http://www.smart-service.com/blog/2009/09/prolonging-subaru-head-gaskets/comment-page-2#comment-11056 Mike Daniels Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:05:27 +0000 http://www.smart-service.com/blog/?p=43#comment-11056 Mike, I was blessed to find a mechanic that is willing to work with me with respect to the use of Six Star gaskets on my '98 Outback Limited with a 2.5L. You have already mentioned and I understand the requirement for the heads to be machined to no rougher than a 50RA finish. However, his questions to me were: Is there any requirement to use a specific type or brand of coolant after installing Six Star head gaskets (you have already stated that it would not be necessary to use the Subaru coolant additive) and are the manufacturers bolt torque specifications still applicable? Mike,

I was blessed to find a mechanic that is willing to work with me with respect to the use of Six Star gaskets on my ’98 Outback Limited with a 2.5L. You have already mentioned and I understand the requirement for the heads to be machined to no rougher than a 50RA finish.

However, his questions to me were:

Is there any requirement to use a specific type or brand of coolant after installing Six Star head gaskets (you have already stated that it would not be necessary to use the Subaru coolant additive) and are the manufacturers bolt torque specifications still applicable?

]]> By: Dan W http://www.smart-service.com/blog/2009/09/prolonging-subaru-head-gaskets/comment-page-2#comment-10784 Dan W Sun, 22 Jan 2012 03:03:06 +0000 http://www.smart-service.com/blog/?p=43#comment-10784 I bought a leak-down tester and #4 is blowing air out of its exhaust, big time, and was showing almost 100% leakage! #'s 1 and 2 were at about 60% leakage, but I couldn't hear anything anywhere. #3 was showing a little less than 40%. The engine was stone cold, but, I believe, it's the differential I'm most interested in anyway, which kinda sucks! I'll get the heads off and see how the cylinders look. I take back what I said about Subaru's being easy to work on. Looking at where the valve covers are I can imagine getting them off and adjusting valves, pulling heads, etc. would be a PIA with the engine in the car! I found a machine shop that does all of the local Subaru dealer's work, which is good. Just thought you might be interested in what I have found so far. Dan W I bought a leak-down tester and #4 is blowing air out of its exhaust, big time, and was showing almost 100% leakage! #’s 1 and 2 were at about 60% leakage, but I couldn’t hear anything anywhere. #3 was showing a little less than 40%.

The engine was stone cold, but, I believe, it’s the differential I’m most interested in anyway, which kinda sucks!

I’ll get the heads off and see how the cylinders look.

I take back what I said about Subaru’s being easy to work on. Looking at where the valve covers are I can imagine getting them off and adjusting valves, pulling heads, etc. would be a PIA with the engine in the car!

I found a machine shop that does all of the local Subaru dealer’s work, which is good.

Just thought you might be interested in what I have found so far.

Dan W

]]> By: Mike Corbin http://www.smart-service.com/blog/2009/09/prolonging-subaru-head-gaskets/comment-page-2#comment-10757 Mike Corbin Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:41:05 +0000 http://www.smart-service.com/blog/?p=43#comment-10757 Hey Dan, While you have it apart you may pull the pistons to inspect the rings. If the oil is coming out of the exhaust you may have a ring issue also. When it's this far apart it never hurts to think about pulling the pistons and at least cleaning the oil rings. Mike Hey Dan,

While you have it apart you may pull the pistons to inspect the rings. If the oil is coming out of the exhaust you may have a ring issue also. When it’s this far apart it never hurts to think about pulling the pistons and at least cleaning the oil rings.

Mike

]]> By: Mike Corbin http://www.smart-service.com/blog/2009/09/prolonging-subaru-head-gaskets/comment-page-2#comment-10756 Mike Corbin Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:39:12 +0000 http://www.smart-service.com/blog/?p=43#comment-10756 Hi Dan, You can check with Delta Cams in our area to see what they have available. http://deltacam.com/ Good luck, Mike Hi Dan,
You can check with Delta Cams in our area to see what they have available. http://deltacam.com/

Good luck,
Mike

]]> By: Dan W http://www.smart-service.com/blog/2009/09/prolonging-subaru-head-gaskets/comment-page-2#comment-10741 Dan W Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:33:31 +0000 http://www.smart-service.com/blog/?p=43#comment-10741 Is there an "RV" type cam available for Foresters? I'd like a little more low end torque, if I can get it, without spending a bunch of dough. Is there an “RV” type cam available for Foresters? I’d like a little more low end torque, if I can get it, without spending a bunch of dough.

]]> By: Dan W http://www.smart-service.com/blog/2009/09/prolonging-subaru-head-gaskets/comment-page-2#comment-10739 Dan W Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:18:32 +0000 http://www.smart-service.com/blog/?p=43#comment-10739 Oh wait, I put a little oil in #4 to check for ring vs valve leakage. Still way more carbon'd up than #1 and 3 though. Oh wait, I put a little oil in #4 to check for ring vs valve leakage. Still way more carbon’d up than #1 and 3 though.

]]> By: Dan W http://www.smart-service.com/blog/2009/09/prolonging-subaru-head-gaskets/comment-page-2#comment-10737 Dan W Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:14:11 +0000 http://www.smart-service.com/blog/?p=43#comment-10737 I pulled the exhaust on both heads and there is some oil dripping out of #4 exhaust port and it's pretty carbon'd up. #2 has just a bit of oil coming out of it. #1 and 3 exhaust ports are nice and dry. Not sure where the oil is coming from, but it looks like you're right about carbon getting under an exhaust valve. I've never done anything major to a Subaru before, but they seem pretty easy to work on so far. Lots of room and they seem to be engineer'd for ease of repair. I think I'll pull the engine since it looks pretty easy to do on this car and I should change to clutch out while I'm at this. I may change my opinion about ease of repair in a few days though. Thanks for your input! I pulled the exhaust on both heads and there is some oil dripping out of #4 exhaust port and it’s pretty carbon’d up. #2 has just a bit of oil coming out of it. #1 and 3 exhaust ports are nice and dry.

Not sure where the oil is coming from, but it looks like you’re right about carbon getting under an exhaust valve.

I’ve never done anything major to a Subaru before, but they seem pretty easy to work on so far. Lots of room and they seem to be engineer’d for ease of repair.

I think I’ll pull the engine since it looks pretty easy to do on this car and I should change to clutch out while I’m at this. I may change my opinion about ease of repair in a few days though.

Thanks for your input!

]]> By: Mike Corbin http://www.smart-service.com/blog/2009/09/prolonging-subaru-head-gaskets/comment-page-2#comment-10727 Mike Corbin Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:04:00 +0000 http://www.smart-service.com/blog/?p=43#comment-10727 A 50psi difference is enough to set a missfire code. As far as why the valve burned, it may have been poorly sealing due to carbon buildup on the seat. May have been a bit too tight from the factory etc. Make sure you look at all of the valves when you have it apart. If the car has had substandard fuel it may have pitting on the valve seats and at least need them to be lapped in. Good luck, Mike A 50psi difference is enough to set a missfire code. As far as why the valve burned, it may have been poorly sealing due to carbon buildup on the seat. May have been a bit too tight from the factory etc. Make sure you look at all of the valves when you have it apart. If the car has had substandard fuel it may have pitting on the valve seats and at least need them to be lapped in.

Good luck,
Mike

]]> By: Dan W http://www.smart-service.com/blog/2009/09/prolonging-subaru-head-gaskets/comment-page-2#comment-10702 Dan W Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:12:01 +0000 http://www.smart-service.com/blog/?p=43#comment-10702 Thanks for your reply Mike. Have you seen a cylinder with low compression cause a cylinder misfire warning before? Particularly one with just a 50psi differential like I'm seeing. I'm sure it would show up if a cylinder had no compression at all. BTW, this engine is naturally aspirated. So, If do have a bad valve I'll need to determine why it went bad. Like maybe the cylinder is running lean and overheating the exhaust valve. Any other ideas on why a valve would burn? I recall hearing that engine doing some pinging from time to time, but the plugs had no sign of pre-ignition. I'll order the Six Star head gaskets. I saw them on your home page. Thanks again. Thanks for your reply Mike.

Have you seen a cylinder with low compression cause a cylinder misfire warning before? Particularly one with just a 50psi differential like I’m seeing. I’m sure it would show up if a cylinder had no compression at all.

BTW, this engine is naturally aspirated. So, If do have a bad valve I’ll need to determine why it went bad. Like maybe the cylinder is running lean and overheating the exhaust valve. Any other ideas on why a valve would burn? I recall hearing that engine doing some pinging from time to time, but the plugs had no sign of pre-ignition.

I’ll order the Six Star head gaskets. I saw them on your home page.

Thanks again.

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