Had a dealer tech tell me I was wasting time on a Subaru head gasket job

Last month a buddy who works at the local Subaru dealer told me I should just replace the short block instead of doing the head gaskets on a 2010 Outback with 180k miles. Said by the time you factor in machine work and labor on the heads, you're better off with a junkyard short block for $800. Made me wonder if I've been overthinking these repairs for small shops like mine.

2 comments

2 Comments

shane_perry292d ago

180k on a 2010 Outback and the heads are probably warped anyway. You'll spend a full weekend messing with the heads just to find a cracked valve seat or something. Then you're still stuck with a tired block.

green.jessica2d ago

Did you actually tear into one of these EJ25s yet or is this from what you've heard? I ask because the 2010 Outback had the revised head gaskets from the factory, not the old MLS ones that always let go. The real issue is those blocks don't like being overheated even once, and by 180k miles most of them have been. So if the coolant was maintained and it didn't puke, the heads might be fine but you're still rolling the dice on the short block rings or a spun bearing.