No bueno!! Subaru Specialties (Scott Dana Boyd)

[butcher bergs]

Edited due to verbal agreement with an affected party.

[butcher bergs]

Please flag

https://vermont.craigslist.org/pts/d...051805834.html

[tsorfas]

Please flag

https://vermont.craigslist.org/pts/d...051805834.html

Taken down

[Paul_E_D]

So I shouldn't call that guy for work on the new STI?

[butcher bergs]

Call him and tell him I said hello.


Got a few more if anyone feels like participating.


https://newlondon.craigslist.org/pts...040037368.html

https://vermont.craigslist.org/pts/d...029450902.html

https://newhaven.craigslist.org/pts/...029455290.html

[Bonk!]

flagged - the last one is already removed.

[Gixxer]

So I shouldn't call that guy for work on the new STI?

I mean, he does wave the core charge!

[TheIglu]

This is a fun game.

[butcher bergs]

Flag please

https://westernmass.craigslist.org/p...053354785.html

[butcher bergs]

And another

https://providence.craigslist.org/pt...054007293.html

[Gixxer]

Has anyone messaged him fucking with him?

[Gixxer]

Sooooo...... I know I should consider the source... but can you just replace the head gaskets with aftermarket ones and that resolves the 2.5 issue?

[butcher bergs]

No.

You will want to check the heads for warping or you risk another head gasket failure

[ZX-12R]

Is this the same guy? https://nccourtsearch.com/nc-court-r...--scott--dana/

[butcher bergs]

Yes

[Tricky Mike]

Well, at least he's consistent?

[Gixxer]

No.

You will want to check the heads for warping or you risk another head gasket failure

So my mechanic said the 2.5 engines head gaskets fail between 80-130 usually, and the problem is when they start to go they still run fine so damage is done driving with it like that.

Sooo do you just replace them early like every 70k, or buy one with 60k or less and just replace the head gasket with an aftermarket one and treat it like you should be able to treat a jap car?

[Paul_E_D]

I don't know, but I bought a 150k full warranty on the STI for this very reason. We fully intend to drive it like we stole it until something fails. The shortblock was just replaced 10k miles ago for the ringland update, so it should be 70-100k before we find out. At that time, we will have the warranty to lay back on. Seemed like a no brainer.

[butcher bergs]

So my mechanic said the 2.5 engines head gaskets fail between 80-130 usually, and the problem is when they start to go they still run fine so damage is done driving with it like that.

Sooo do you just replace them early like every 70k, or buy one with 60k or less and just replace the head gasket with an aftermarket one and treat it like you should be able to treat a jap car?

The failures come down to a few things, IMO. First was a design issue on the original gaskets offered by Subaru. Couple that with the general lack of maintenance on the part of the owners and the original gaskets would fail.

Once the warranty repairs arrive, I'm guessing repair shops and dealerships alike would not check the heads and would simply install more gaskets. Well, if the heads are warped, it will be a matter of time until another failure happens.

I've owned several of the N/A Subaru engines and have never had a head gasket fail. This includes the 2009 Legacy i that went 200k on the original engine/ gaskets, etc.


Paul - on the STi, air/ oil separator is what you want. Headgaskets aren't the issue on the STi....at least not in my opinion.

[tls25rs]

I don't know, but I bought a 150k full warranty on the STI for this very reason. We fully intend to drive it like we stole it until something fails. The shortblock was just replaced 10k miles ago for the ringland update, so it should be 70-100k before we find out. At that time, we will have the warranty to lay back on. Seemed like a no brainer.

The failures come down to a few things, IMO. First was a design issue on the original gaskets offered by Subaru. Couple that with the general lack of maintenance on the part of the owners and the original gaskets would fail.

Once the warranty repairs arrive, I'm guessing repair shops and dealerships alike would not check the heads and would simply install more gaskets. Well, if the heads are warped, it will be a matter of time until another failure happens.

I've owned several of the N/A Subaru engines and have never had a head gasket fail. This includes the 2009 Legacy i that went 200k on the original engine/ gaskets, etc.


Paul - on the STi, air/ oil separator is what you want. Headgaskets aren't the issue on the STi....at least not in my opinion.

I'm not 100% versed on the STI 2.5 motor but I thought the head gasket issue was with the NA 2.5L motor but did not affect the STI powertrains. Pretty sure there are some on here that are, were, or know people who are Subaru Techs that might have the inside info on this stuff

[Paul_E_D]

Yeah. It was more the ringland issue with these.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[butcher bergs]

I'm not 100% versed on the STI 2.5 motor but I thought the head gasket issue was with the NA 2.5L motor but did not affect the STI powertrains. Pretty sure there are some on here that are, were, or know people who are Subaru Techs that might have the inside info on this stuff

The EJ25D, 251, 252 & 253 were all known to have head gasket issues to some degree. I've owned cars with the 252 and 253...again, no issues.

The EJ255 and 257 only had head gasket "issues" when people decided to leave the OEM head studs installed but still crank up the boost, which resulted in lifting the heads off the block.

[Garandman]

Think all those ads are now flagged?

So my mechanic said the 2.5 engines head gaskets fail between 80-130 usually, and the problem is when they start to go they still run fine so damage is done driving with it like that.

Sooo do you just replace them early like every 70k, or buy one with 60k or less and just replace the head gasket with an aftermarket one and treat it like you should be able to treat a jap car?

When we had two ‘97’s we started hearing about this problem.

Combustion products will show up in the coolant first. You can have it tested, or what we did was to periodically check the color in the overflow tank. When it changed, we had the head gaskets changed and the heads did require some work. There is some other maintenance

That was at 140,000 miles. We sold that car to a relative with 189,000, who traded it in with 245,000 (and we believe it was driven to 289,000). Five of eight friends with late 90’s OBW’s also had head gaskets changed or had failures.

We liked the vehicle but not that maintenance expense so in 2006 we bought a new 3.0R. The sixes (and turbos) don’t have any unusual head gasket problems. They also had the far more sophisticated VTD AWD system and five speed auto. We are still driving that with 239,000 miles.

In 2016 we bought a 2014 3.6R. That was the last year with VTD and the 5EAT. 2015+ has CVT (or their “HD” CVT for the 3.6R) and no longer has the planetary center differential of the VTD. So it’s probably the last Subaru we buy. CVT mpg gains are clear but Im still skeptical they last as long as conventional autos, and are more expensive to repair.

[Gixxer]

Think all those ads are now flagged?
When we had two ‘97’s we started hearing about this problem.

Combustion products will show up in the coolant first. You can have it tested, or what we did was to periodically check the color in the overflow tank. When it changed, we had the head gaskets changed and the heads did require some work. There is some other maintenance

That was at 140,000 miles. We sold that car to a relative with 189,000, who traded it in with 245,000 (and we believe it was driven to 289,000). Five of eight friends with late 90’s OBW’s also had head gaskets changed or had failures.

We liked the vehicle but not that maintenance expense so in 2006 we bought a new 3.0R. The sixes (and turbos) don’t have any unusual head gasket problems. They also had the far more sophisticated VTD AWD system and five speed auto. We are still driving that with 239,000 miles.

In 2016 we bought a 2014 3.6R. That was the last year with VTD and the 5EAT. 2015+ has CVT (or their “HD” CVT for the 3.6R) and no longer has the planetary center differential of the VTD. So it’s probably the last Subaru we buy. CVT mpg gains are clear but Im still skeptical they last as long as conventional autos, and are more expensive to repair.

If only Toyota or Honda would implement an awd system to rival Subaru’s, this would be a non issue

[butcher bergs]

Think all those ads are now flagged?

As of today, certainly.