Hi Scotty, Congrats on the move to the new location. I may do the same due to oppressive NYS King Como!!
I recently saw your video on the history of Subaru and the Boxer engine. Very informative and useful, thank you.
I was interested in hearing more about the Boxer engine as the seven we have had in my family ALL developed head gasket leaks between 70-100K miles. These are mostly Forester models between 2001 and 2009, the 2018 is still low mileage.
Questions:
- Is this a problem with the Boxer engine design? I have heard of the same issues with other models, outback, impresa etc.
- Do any of the oil additives such as Barthal smoke stop, or Blue Devil head gasket fix actual help or hurt?
I love these cars for low cost of ownership and ease of maintenance, except timing belts. Most have been driven well over 170K some over 200K.
Thanks for all you do, incredible help to those of us that still believe in working on their own stuff!!
Cheers
Tim Spires
Rochester, NY
This is the design flaw of those engines and I do not think you can do too much about it to prevent.
You talked about the cost of ownership and ease of maintenance. I do have a suggestion:
Buy a Toyota or Honda to see how much better they are regarding these points.
Good luck.
@yaser
Have a 2005 Honda Ridgeline, love it. Had a 1982 Toyota pickup, drove until died 170K, same with my Acura Integra GS. All good.
They made changes in the head gasket, the non-turbo was lamenated and it would delaminate. The turbo wasn't and didn't fail as much. Hence, rebuilders always used the turbo head gasket (if they knew). Again, the new ones aren't like this.
The other issue is the oil rings, they could have been better (arguments on piston material, lands and oil return holes being better exist also but if the other issues are addressed, this is minor imo for everyday driving).
And gravity, the boxer doesn't get any assistance with gravity removing oil from piston skirt and cyl walls, which helps a lot imo (I always recommend parking on as level of ground as possible as the oil can weep past rings, into cylinder and be part of the cause delaminating the head gasket.) They also improved the pan by putting in baffles to decrease oil starvation due to hard driving/cornering.
All these issues lead to oil consumption and consequent cat and O2 failure.
With all this said, they are much better today as these issues have been addressed (to a degree) but not fixed as they all still use/burn oil (haven't knowledge on last few years tho).
And no, I don't think an additive will really help, just if you rebuild, use newer style parts, mods, etc when rebuilding.
But I do see the appeal (wife loved hers) and they are a good vehicle for some applications.
@hillbilly
Thanks for info. Yep, good in snow, decent towing, overall good vehicle, would like better mpg though, 19mpg
Hello,
I include a link for your information below,
If you car has a blown head gasket, a can of additive is not going to fix it,
Some of these additives just Congeal the oil which is not a good idea.
Link1:- https://scanneranswers.com/the-truth-about-subarus-head-gasket-problems/
@dvkala
Thanks, very interesting, explains my issues. I just have had oil leaks so just watch the level, oil is cheap. Replacement estimate $1500. Nadda , drive until it dies.
Hello,
Yes, keep an eye on it and drive on.
Happy to Help.
All the Best.