Overheating & Head Gasket (confirmed head gasket)

[Trinedy]

Update for you all

Car has been in since Tuesday, I went in to drop off oil, filter and a few other bits and they had the engine out on the bench lining up the timing chain getting ready to take the heads off to be sent away.

I should see the car towards the end of next week - end of Nov - they estimate about 10 - 12 hours will share with you all, total time and costings etc.

Getting completed is

Head Gasket Kit - Full kit for everything rocker covers, Valve stem seals etc etc from Tradewind
Oil, Oil filter, Thermostat and thermostat ring

Estimate
$1,000 Labour
$400 Heads
Already have the Kit

Should be able to get away just under $2k if I'm lucky

slightly Off topic, anyone know how much an automatic transmission fluid flush would set me back just after cost of the oil and est hours of labour

Cheers

Will keep you updated

[jakey]

Wow that's very cheap labour, where are you located? I already have the Hg kit too, just looking for a shop now haha

[Tradewind]

The thing to be considered is the GENUINE gasket kit is better than $800, maybe even more. Now, right there you are doing a lot of dough, whereas the VR brand kit is hardly a quarter of that.

Sounds like you got a good crew on the job there

This should set the standard so far as costs for this job go

[KiDo_Tuning]

The thing to be considered is the GENUINE gasket kit is better than $800, maybe even more. Now, right there you are doing a lot of dough, whereas the VR brand kit is hardly a quarter of that.

Sounds like you got a good crew on the job there

This should set the standard so far as costs for this job go

I think a lot of workshops are thinking the head gaskets are an easy cash cow.

Remove ancillaries, drop motor, dismantle motor, replace gaskets and refit... 8~10 hours tops. Mate of mine dropped his motor on the ground in under 3 hours

[Trinedy]

Located in Southern Tassie mate, a father and Son workshop down here are doing the work for me, both top blokes, I chose them was for a few reasons
1: Very close to my work and they have done previous work on both my cars
2: Reputation is HUGE down here, they know this and alot of people at my workplace get their cars worked on by them.
3: They work a fair bit on Subaru's - while not a subaru specialist they know their stuff!
4: Price - this isnt a key factor to be honest but of course it is a factor.

I basically dropped the car off said take your time if it takes 2 weeks it takes 2 weeks I dont care as long as it's done properly.

You are spot on Tradewind, Subaru dealer down here wanted $480 PER HEAD, you sold me a kit that does EVERYTHING, Rocker cover gaskets, head gaskets, oil cooler seal, timing cover seal, Valve Stem seals and the list goes on for less than half the cost of one head gasket from the Subaru Dealer

Subaru dealer wanted $3.5k JUST for the 2 heads done nothing else, if I added my 2 weeping rocker cover gaskets and timing cover seal then the cost went to just under $5k yes $5k!!!

In my eyes this isnt $2k I want to spend, let be serious no one wants to spend this but at least I know I'm getting bloody good value out of the entire "experience" and I shouldn't have any engine issues for quite some time touch wood!!

Cheers

[MH3.0R]

You are spot on with the Subaru costs. Couple of years ago, I spent $4500 at Subaru to have mine done . Stupid prices but i needed convenience at the time (close to work etc). But at least when you get the car back, you will be enjoying the car and drive again!

Awesome country down your way. Took my 3.0R over on the ferry a couple of times now, and the last time about two years ago, did a full lap over 10 days. Best drive I have done in years.

[Trinedy]

I spent $4500 at Subaru to have mine done . Stupid prices but i needed convenience at the time (close to work etc).

Fair call no point regretting the decision whats done is done, you have the car back and happy days no problems since - I hope

Awesome country down your way. Took my 3.0R over on the ferry a couple of times now, and the last time about two years ago, did a full lap over 10 days. Best drive I have done in year

It is fantastic here, I have done the round Tassie trip a few times East coast - Bicheno is by far the best IMHO i might be biased because we have a family shack there LOL

[MH3.0R]

I do agree with the Bicheno area, but climbing out of Queenstown was my favorite. So good that I did it twice more!

[dawesy]

Think I've joined this exclusive club now sadly.
Cars done 115000ks.
2 months ago did a rather aggressive nasho run got to the end stopped let the car idle temp gauge went from half way to 3/4 checked the car, overflow bottle was full top of the radiator was cold (no fluid only air). Drove off temp came back down straight away,
Replaced radiator cap, thermostat (jiggler ripped out) coolant flush and bleed .
All was fine then on the weekend went to the parents via few twisties 240k trip half Hwy half twisties
Same thing stop moving temp goes up start again and back to normal again top of the radiator was empty, bottle was full.
Back home bleed the system again and is fine around Sydney on my daily commute ..next week gunna pull the plugs check them for signs of water in combustion
So interested in what cost you guys come back with as i feel I'm fucked as well

[jakey]

I had a Tee Key test done this evening just to triple-check that I have done HG. Yes - it failed.

My symptoms are the same as yours Chris. I can do my daily to work + back and it doesn't heat up or lose coolant (minimal).
But as soon as I drive slightly spirited (+4000k) it starts to show it's sadness.

Quotes so far are
•$4k-$6k (my trusted mechanic, who said don't bother)
•$3k (subaru mechanic off the clock)

Waiting to see if my Uncle will do it, but it's a shit time to land a love job on him.. Apparently I'm up for 1k min in parts + machining heads anyway.

Sad times

[Trinedy]

Hi Everyone,

I have thew car back, picked it up yesterday - haven't done any real driving yet - TBH too scared LOL done about 40kms LOL, Mechanic told me that both sides were blown!!

Total cost $2,330 give or take a few bucks below is what was completed, i got a few extra preventative items done while the engine was out.

Both Head gaskets - of course
Rocker Cover Gasket
Stem Seals
Oil cooler seal - think that's what it was called
Any seal that came in the Kit that Tradewind mentioned and sold me above was used and installed - http://www.carpartkings.com/victor-rein ... 54655.html

Water Pump replaced - preventative as he had the engine out.
Heads Machined BAU
6L of Oil
Oil filter
Thermostat and gasket ring
Auto Transmission Fluid flushed and replaced
Washed the car

Need to take the car back after about 1000kms to drain the water and put coolant in and he wants to go over the entire engine to make sure everything is perfect

So far i cant tell a difference in the car - and nor should I, if anything it's slightly smoother - i had a vibration between the endgine and gearbox (only slightly nothing bad) when accelerating and that seems to have decreased to nearly nothing

Jakey and Dawesy welcome to the HG club unfortunately. Thankfully I'm a member leaving it and never want to join it again LOL

Cheers everyone

[Trinedy]

Apparently I'm up for 1k min in parts + machining heads anyway.

Heads Machined = $548 for me
HG Kit = $220 delivered from Tradewind - not sure if he has anymore left but my link above has them i believe, Subaru will hit you up for at least $450 PER SIDE, what i got from Tradewind was a entire kit with both HG, rocker covers, stem seals and more - Tradewind do you still have the TXT you sent me with the picture of whats included, i have thrown out the box now and changed phones since you sent the picture to me LOL
Oil = $100
Filter $10

Under $500 in parts mate and about the same for Machining if you shop around. otherwise yes you will be up for around $1100 in parts alone for JUST the 2HG's

[jakey]

Yes, if you read my previous posts I already brought that kit from US,

Will have to shop around

[Trinedy]

hey jakey, where is the other cost coming from in parts mate if you have the kit already?

[jakey]

Tensioners and oil I believe (and if there are any seals not in the kit