legacycentral bbs

So I just bought this car like a month ago, and now i got a nice blown head gasket. Now I've been looking around, and most shops/dealerships want about $1000-$1500 to fix.

I could fix it myself, but I don't feel like it. I could have a shop do it for the above price, but I'm just a broke tech support boy. The third option I'm looking at is an engine rebuild, where I can just find a salvage yard and pick up a cheap 2.2 or 2.5l engine and take my time rebuilding it, then a quick swap. The head gasket set is $188, but the place I can get it, I cant get new head bolts, I'd probably have to order them... plus, from what I've been told from my subaru junky friends, you have to pull the engine out anyway to fix the BHG.

I know Im new to he site and to the subaru world but does anyone have any ideas on how i can get this car running asap for a little money as possible?

1. Don't buy new headbolts. They are not required.
2. Shop online for gaskets. I get my head gaskets for the Ej22 locally at Napa for about $70 a pair. They are Victor Reinz gaskets and carry the Subaru OEM swoosh.
3. DIY. You do not have to pull it to do this job, but it makes it easier. The biggest cost is labor. You are going to have to get out of your chair and get your hands dirty if you want to save some money on this one...

will i need the hg set, or can i get away with not changing the valve cover gaskets and such? in other words, can i get the HG alone and worry about nothing else? as i said in my last post, this is my first subaru, im usually a toyota guy, asking me to tear down a 5mge, 7mgte or 2jzgte is nothing... even a ford 2.0zetec i can do.. im sure the boxer engine is nothing to worry about, its just new. if i can go ahead and just pull the head off and swap the gasket, then ill probably do that as i can get felro gaskets for $28 each.

and one more thing, what style bit will i need to get the head bolts off?

You need a 12 point 14mm socket for the head bolts.

The Ej22 is one of the few Subaru engines that you can do the head gaskets without removing the valve covers. If your covers aren't leaking, don't even take them off or mess with the gaskets...

You will probably have to replace the intake manifold gaskets, though.

You will have to remove the intake manifold to get to everything, and it's likely your stock gaskets won't be in the best of shape afterwards.

True. I forgot about those ones.

sounds good, ill just pick up a head gasket and an intake manifold gasket... ideally i should be able to pull spark plugs to find out which side the head gasket is blown correct?

I say if you are going through the trouble to pull the head you might as well replace any gasket you can
it will save you it will save you time in the future. If you don't pull the engine the hardest pat is shimmying the head(s) in and out.

So after further troubleshooting, this isn't a BHG. The white smoke I thought was water actually isn't. Last week I went through and changed the battery, battery cables, spark plugs and wires. It started fine, no smoke at all. I took it out for a test drive, it never overheated. I've checked the oil, and inside the cylinder heads, have found no signs of coolant or water in either. But after I got the car back to the house and let it sit for about an hour, it wouldn't start again.

Yesterday The car started fine, but it was blowing the white smoke again, which had a STRONG smell of gas. While looking at the exhaust I saw that the smoke was not actually coming OUT of the exhaust pipe, but it was showing AFTER the exhaust. Looking closely enough, I saw the exhaust popping flames, and the white after that. Once I blew everything out, it ran fine again, with no strong smell of gas, and no smoke. I now believe I have a fuel problem somewhere.

Talking to a buddy, what it sounds like is while starting too much fuel is getting dumped into the cylinder, causing a "flooding" issue. Letting it sit long enough, it will start again, and blow the smoke until, what I believe, all the excess fuel is blown out of the cylinder and exhaust if any made it in there. Since looking and seeing there are about 15 sensors in the fuel system alone, where should I start? I'm thinking an O2 sensor, a TPS, or maybe even a fuel pressure regulator. It could also be a combo of all of the above and then some.

This is seriously pissing me off, I've finally found a problem I can't figure out easily. I don't want to drop any more money than I already have, but I know I will have to, if I want this piece of crap to run. I probably should have just taken the route of a new engine like I planned, but now the funds won't allow for that.

Dang i wish I knew more about scoobs. All i can tell you is what I know of Rotaries.

When my second gen started doing the flooding deal after stopping it turned out my injectors were leaking. (Note that Rotary injectors are top feed and drip when they go to hell)

I fixed it temporarily by putting a switch inline to the electric fuel pump.

When off the switch wouldnt let the pump come on when I started the car (after a short stop somewhere) but once the car fired I hit the switch and all was normal.

This would only be a temporary fix of course if it is your injectors. The only reason I left the switch in after I bought new injectors was for theft deterrant

Not sure if this applies to scoobs but might be worth looking into.

Im sure I could do a "kill switch" mod, but i think on initial start up, thats when too much fuel is getting dumped in at one time. Thats why i believe it could be a sensor somewhere. the car has been running fine now for a couple days, something Id still like to figure out though. Ive been lucky enough to where i have been at home every time it hasnt started, but I'm sure that wont last forever.

scary, +1 to checking injectors. Keep at her though, she'll be worth it in the end.