Skip's Subaru Head Gasket Repair Page

This site has info about the notoriously bad head gasket in Subaru's 2.5L EJ25 engine, used in Outbacks, Foresters, and Bajas from 1996-present. The Head Gasket & Clutch Replacement link has info about doing it yourself. If is not a complete reference, merely a supplement to info provided in the factory service manual.

If you have suffered a failure of the head gasket in a 1996-present 2.5L engine, please sign the guestbook. After my head gasket failed, I wrote Subaru, and they were unaware of the head gasket failure being a "known issue." To help them realize that it is a "known issue", I started keeping the list. I think it speaks for itself.

When you sign the guestbook, be sure to let Subaru know, and include a copy of the guestbook so they can't pull the "we haven't heard of any problems" line on you. You can either call them at (800)-Subaru-3 (in the US), or write to them (again in for the US) at:

Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru Plaza
P.O. Box 6000
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-6000
Attn: Customer/Dealer Services

Table of Contents:

Head Gasket and Clutch Replacement - Describes all of the work required to replace the head gaskets and clutch. It covers pulling the engine, changing the timing belt and water pump, resealing the oil pump, and checking the valve clearance, along with lots of tips and tricks to make work easier. Also good if you are having it done and want a better idea of what is involved. None of the work was very difficult, but it did take a lot of time.

Guestbook - A log of failures. Be sure to add yours if you have had to replace the head gaskets.