This is part 1 of a 5 part multi-part series I recorded replacing the head gaskets on a 2003 Subaru Outback, 2.5L 2458CC H4 FI VIN: EJ253
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not South Main Auto Repair..
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not South Main Auto Repair..
hey buddy how far off is this from my Sooby she is a 2003 Subaru Forester 2.5XS … um more deatials if you need but engine is a EJ251… I am doing it myself… well yeah I am with my uncles help… but mostly by myself.
several tools especially made for the harmonic ballancer bolt removal tool as well as the cam shafts. sometime have to weld nut on camshaft bolt to get it out its an allen socket….
Thank you
What air ratchet is that one? looks like a pleasure to use with that setup
Gotta respect a dude who still uses air tools. Old school all the way. Good video!
Wish i could watch but those air tools are making my teeth hurt.
Very straight forward job @SouthMainAutoRepairLLC
Whoa a young Eric O working on a vehicle I like but is scared of.
It's now wonder this costs well over a grand to have this done.
I am a self taught mechanic and a Subaru lover. I have done the head gaskets, timing belts twice thanks to YouTube.
My method is to pull the engine. With all the things to come off and the way it is put together it comes out easily I was able to have the motor on a stand in 4hours with basic tools.
Happens alot. The trick seems to be to use the turbo charged version head gasket. Not the graphite gasket.
There aren't mechanics like you where I live. Too bad.
Güzel 💯😀🌹
how the hell does he keep track of what bolt went where 🙂
How do you do a head gasket leak test on a Subaru with the leak test kit? Meaning how do you determine which head is leaking?
Even if you go to the dealer use the best parts money can buy, the engine's inherent design is a ticking bomb. The timing belt is so long that is causes internal stress friction that would not exist if it were shorter plus the bolt pattern of the heads isn't right and the gaskets need a total redesigning basically everything of the engine's heads are not designed right to suite a horizontally apposed engine configuration. Look at million dollar cars with Boxer engines
I really want a Subaru for the awd to deal with snowy conditions and light off road use but am worried about the classic head gasket failure they can suffer. Are they worth owning?
Anyone try steel seal? Anyone?
I hope people use Subaru oem MLS gaskets for the turbo.
Subaru – Japanese Yugo
Hello Sir, I have a 2002 subaru forester overheating. Been doing extensive research can't see putting 1500 into car is a head gasket sealer worth a try and if so…which one? Thank you.
This video series gave me the confidence to replace the gaskets on my 01 Legacy. Been watching your channel since mid-2010s. I just pulled both heads today, dropping off at the machine shop tomorrow. Thanks, buddy!!!
I also used a 3/8" drive Earthquake XT impact from Harbor Freight to do this job (I bought it years ago), as well as socket wrench and regular wrenches. I highly recommend an impact for this job. I tried loosening the crank pulley bolt with a regular socket wrench but was having trouble. I then used the Earthquake XT and that zipped the bolt off no problem! Same with cam bolts. I'm about 15 hours into this job so far, for reference. Just take your time!
I would only use Subaru oem MLS head gaskets used on the turbo. Thanks
I am a retired Diesel Truck Mechanic of 50 years and enjoy watching your Channel.
I've done several of these engines before on our personal vehicles and have found the best way is to just pull the engine and do the job on an Engine Stand. It easy to R&R the engine and leave the A/T in the car. The time spent R&R the engine can be justified by the ease of doing the rest of the job. I think you can do a better job at the same time.
I've done the Head Gasket/Timing Belt/Water Pump/Machine & O/H the Heads routine and found that it was better to replace the entire Engine with a Long Block Assy from "The Japan Engine Co. The reason is simple! These Engine are "USED" and imported directly from Japan with approximately 50,000 miles and have an Warranty! It hard to complete with these benefits. I install one of these engines (8 years ago) and did the Head Job on the other, both cars with around 130-150,000 miles. It was more Cost Affective to spend nearly the same amount of money in less Downtime and wind up with a much lower Mileage Engine and Warranty! Of course I still did the Timing Belt and Water Pump Jobs.
is this a SOHC EJ253
Is that rust below the windscreen ?
Just a small correction, I believe this is actually an EJ251 because of the drive by cable TB and different intake manifold.
This series should be in a mechanics textbook (TedTalk or Master Class, now, I guess) to try to explain the realities and challenges of a running a reliable independent shop… phone ringing, people stopping in, all of the scheduled work done on time, and then the big job you decide to take that ties up a bay for more than a day. The motoring public will be completely screwed when independent shops like this cease to exist!
Just bought an 09 Outback with 75k miles on it, and after a month of having it noticed oil leaks, and yup, head gasket. Good ol Subaru.
About two years ago at around 110K miles on my 2011 Outback 2.5L H4 I had to replace both gaskets. Never done this before so I watched your videos 2 or 3 times, plus I had taken a lot of pictures while working on the engine. Took me almost 10 days to finish the job 🙂 Result? 50K miles later (!) it still runs perfect, no issues, just made roundtrip from Chicago to SF and back. Right now at 170K on the clock. It's like a family member. So yeah, thank you so much for doing this tutorial. Not only it helped me to repair engine, but I got hooked A LOT on doing repair myself so I bought a lot of tools and been working on all my cars myself since. Thanks!
Read the gasket looks like a bowl of nachos after a frat party
A mechanic told me he keeps a carton of suburu head gaskets in store
I'm watching closely. I've got this job in my near future. Lol
My wife bought a 2017 Subaru Forester in May of 2017. It now has 3383 miles on the odometer and it is always garaged. Ow long do you think it might last. The mileage is true, We just take the chevy when we go anyplace.
that is an ugly engine bay. Engineers looked at it and thought, "yup, thats good enough."
My ex wife just got a 1990s Legacy wagon w/ 200k plus on the odometer. After she got it she wanted to see what I thought of it .The first thing I noticed was that in the back of the wagon there was a fresh set of head gaskets and other gaskets waiting to be installed .😨
I wish she would have had me come along to take a look at it before she bought it .
It's a basket case and needs a bit of work but overall it sounds good and runs .No oil in the radiator fluid or vice versa but that doesn't necessarily mean that it doesn't have a head gasket leak .
I was hoping it wouldn't be too much of a job to replace them but after seeing this video I'm definitely having second thoughts about it .
From what I've read it seems like these Subaru boxer motors were prone to having head gasket leaks pretty often .
Eric new to channel…I just purchased a 2000 Subaru Outback 2.5…in your video in today’s cost what would that job expect me to do in parts and what would it cost for u to do…like your work ethic…thanks for doing videos!
What is the best torque wrench to buy to do the job? Both torque ranges needed and ability to reach everything?
You have to be mindful of putting a screwdriver in your back pocket. Excellent for making holes in upholstery.
Why it’s the alternator and AC compressor seat on the car, when you was pulled out before.?
HIghly doubt five years ago when he did this video that he thought he'd have half a million subscribers by now.
Ah yes. The 100,000 mile headgasket change Subaru's always require.
Thanks, Eric for taking the time to teach us and run a shop at the same time. That can't be easy.
in such big jobs, sometimes even if i know the car, during disassembly i'm used to take note, step by step, of every single component/hose/connector i take off/detatch, how many bolts/nuts/etc & type, special tools needed. then re-track that same list bottom to top, in reassembly operation, plus check-list before calling the work completely done.
sounds stupid silly long and boring. & it is. but it repays once you have torqued down a bunch of stuff and you can't fit a bracket or a hose behind. it helps a lot especially when there are multiple big jobs, and days to wait for components to be machined. the times i kept those 2 or 3 oil stained rugged A4 also helped me with other jobs on similar engines (iirc, head first car, timing belt second car).
almost never delivered back a car to a customer, after a big job, w/ spare washers still in the tray since. almost…
greetings from Italy
"Intake PERSONifold", you sexist pig!
🤣
But a Subaru would have alot higher mileage when they enter the repair shop then Honda.
hola soy de chileno y me gustaria saber el tipo de aceite de caja que usa el subaru legacy de 2.2 automatico y cual es la cantidad que nesecita. y saber donde ud vive tienen los focos delanteros y si ud los podria mandar a mi pais gracias muy buenos sus videos se aprende mucho
I get Idea it a mess. To work Subaru
2020 keep going man