NVAKeith Posted September 9, 2016 Share Posted September 9, 2016 At the end of June during a gas stop I popped the hood to check the oil as I do every couple fill ups (I've never had to add oil, just a habit from owning an oil guzzling Audi long ago). I was greeted with this crusty coolant reservoir. http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x135/NVAKeith/LGT/94A6CA89-8E77-44B7-A945-4416794A25DF_zpsvifgklyb.jpg It has never looked like that before! I checked the reservoir level and it was at full. I was going through my mind for reasons why it would have overflowed. My first suspicion was that my oil change mechanic must have topped it off during the last oil change. I stopped by to ask him and he didn’t recall topping it off. So I left thinking he may have inadvertantly put windshield washer fluid in there, mixing up the two adjacent yellow-capped reservoirs of blue fluid. A couple weeks of commuting went by and the reservoir level didn’t change much and it didn’t overflow. I was set on my theory that windshield washer fluid was added to the coolant reservoir so I changed the coolant at home with fresh super blue. After changing the fluid it was obvious something was wrong. The reservoir would overflow on highway drives and the fluid level in the reservoir was erratic as in it was different when I would randomly check it. That’s when I realized that the radiator had an air pocket in it and when I refilled the radiator directly and topped off the reservoir, the air pocket in the radiator would come back within a couple days. In denial of the obvious problem, I tried replacing the radiator cap to rule out that it was letting the system suck air on cool down, but that didn’t help. While idling after driving on the highway I could see air bubbling into the coolant reservoir from the radiator overflow hose. Looking back, I suspect the radiator had a big air pocket in it when I had changed the coolant (I don’t know as I didn’t fully pop the cap before opening the radiator drain) and the radiator had lost enough coolant that it wasn't overflowing on my commute but still had enough left to keep the engine cool. I dropped the car at the dealer and they confirmed it was the head gasket. They drove the car monitoring the coolant temp and said it wasn’t overheating but the combustion gasses filling the radiator was enough to justify tearing it apart. They had the heads checked and they were fine. Once apart, they could see one small spot where the head gasket was leaking. In conclusion, got new head gaskets under powertrain warranty; only 1,800 miles left on it! Had them do the 60k service and replace the clutch while it was apart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBPeik Posted September 9, 2016 Share Posted September 9, 2016 So glad to hear it was under warranty. Funny how your story and chain of events sounds exactly like what I went through. I was just out of warranty though. Glad all is well with the car now. Did they install studs or just redo the head bolts? My someday I will be done with it thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTEASER Posted September 9, 2016 Share Posted September 9, 2016 I added "GT" to your thread title. GTEASER's 2012 Legacy GT - Sold GTEASER's 2009 XTeaser - Sold GTEASER's 1992 Legacy SS - Sold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scal aGTact Posted September 9, 2016 Share Posted September 9, 2016 Same scenario here, head gasket failure at 80K. Luckily just within the gold warranty window. Dealer has the car now, and just sent the heads for resurfacing. I'm wondering if I should buy the ARP head stud kit and ask them to install it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBPeik Posted September 9, 2016 Share Posted September 9, 2016 If you ever plan on turning up the boost then do studs. Not sure if the dealer will let you, but I would check for sure. My someday I will be done with it thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NVAKeith Posted September 9, 2016 Author Share Posted September 9, 2016 So glad to hear it was under warranty. Funny how your story and chain of events sounds exactly like what I went through. I was just out of warranty though. Glad all is well with the car now. Did they install studs or just redo the head bolts? Head bolts. I didn't ask about doing studs, should have, but I was just holding my breath that it would be taken care of without drama. Back when I had my WRX my tranny needed new syncros and the local dealer service really didn't want to touch it. When I finally got them to fix it I had to sign something stating that if they found evidence of abuse when they opened the tranny that I would have to cover the bill, etc. For the head gaskets the same local dealer cancelled my appointment twice due to techs calling in sick. So I ended up at a different dealer out of town for this, and I'm glad I did, they were awesome. They did ask if I wanted to upgrade the clutch, but since I'm not going stage 2, I was fine with a stock replacement. http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x135/NVAKeith/LGT/BA2BA978-9BE2-45A1-A02B-2DB2B9D41C20_zps18s3y27y.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrxwhit Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 Just horrible, makes me want to cry as I've blown 2 head gaskets on my old bugeye, 2nd time I decided to part out the car. These boxers are always a time bomb and throwing 23psi of boost at it scares me everyday I drive it... This is just horrible horrible horrible!! Do we know how many LGT's have failed here on the forums? I've only heard of a few... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTEASER Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 Continually updated list of 2010-2012 LGT owners who've done head gaskets. 2010Leggy @ 105k miles Swannee225 @ 75k miles Sarang @145k miles solgt @ 78k miles acumenhokie @ 55k miles redstriker @ 24k and 85k miles Slider BBPeik MoralHazard @135k miles and 2 others that I cannot recall their names as they are not on here very much at all. GTEASER's 2012 Legacy GT - Sold GTEASER's 2009 XTeaser - Sold GTEASER's 1992 Legacy SS - Sold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarang Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 Sarang @ I wanna say 145k miles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solgt Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 I can think of about 5 or 6. 2010Leggy @ 105k miles Swannee225 @ 75k miles Slider BBPeik and 2 others that I cannot recall their names as they are not on here very much at all. Me @ 78k~ish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redstriker Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 I have had 2 head gaskets go out on me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLlegacy Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 I have had 2 head gaskets go out on me The left and right? Or two seperate instances of HG failure? Mileage and mods? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acumenhokie Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 List of 2010-2012 LGT owners who've done head gaskets. 2010Leggy @ 105k miles Swannee225 @ 75k miles Sarang @145k miles solgt @ 78k miles Slider BBPeik and 2 others that I cannot recall their names as they are not on here very much at all. Rookies! acumenhokie @ 55k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redstriker Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 The left and right? Or two seperate instances of HG failure? Mileage and mods? 2 separate instances. First time is was around 24k with only a OTS stage 1 tune. Second time was this year that I got fixed back in July at 85K miles on Stage 2 with supporting mods. Although, that was partly due to the First replacement of the head gasket and the dealer I went to at the time didn't do it correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLlegacy Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 Same gasket failed or did they replace both like they should? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redstriker Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 Same gasket failed or did they replace both like they should? The first time it happened, they replaced both gaskets as they should, but they didn't bring the heads back into spec and didn't mill them down at all. Thus causing them to go again later on due to being heavily pitted. Second time, a different dealer did it correctly and sent the heads to a machine shop to be brought back into spec. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrxwhit Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 Ok, how many stage ll guys nearing 100k or over with no issues?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLlegacy Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 Just went stage 2 almost at 70k miles. Probably gonna do my timing belt and tensioner this fall along with tsk3 and clutch. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsanford1029 Posted September 20, 2016 Share Posted September 20, 2016 Did anyone who had them replaced at the dealership have issues with the warranty voided due to ecu tuning? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLlegacy Posted September 20, 2016 Share Posted September 20, 2016 While a good question, I don't think you would have a legal argument against Subaru. Increased cylinder pressure will decrease headgasket life, it's not if but when. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgoodhue Posted September 20, 2016 Share Posted September 20, 2016 Tuning is going to void the warranty, to many parameter that can be adjust coukd cause the head gasket to blow. (Too aggressive timing, lean fuel mixture and increased boost pressure would be the main culprits.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsanford1029 Posted September 21, 2016 Share Posted September 21, 2016 Crap... Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLlegacy Posted September 21, 2016 Share Posted September 21, 2016 All those #ynansb (you need a new short block) aren't just to look pretty. Time and pressure kill anything mechanical...Me personally, I would get a rental for a week or so and then get a built short block then rebuild on that. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsanford1029 Posted September 21, 2016 Share Posted September 21, 2016 Well I see that subaru has had this head gasket problem since 1999 so maybe I would have a routine experience. Possibly they would overlook the tuning due to so many years of failures. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLlegacy Posted September 21, 2016 Share Posted September 21, 2016 On turbo motors not so much...they usually give out from head lift. You can always unmarry the AP and play dumb...but that is a risky proposition as well. Your car could be blacklisted in Subaru's system, which wouldn't go over well with a potential trade or new buyer. Best to accept the eventuality of having to pay to play! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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