legacycentral bbs

Curious about the engine on a 98 Legacy Outback with a 4EAT (*shudder*) is it an interference engine? is that a 2.2L or a 2.5L?

If the Headgasket went on it... would i machine the heads? would i need to?? i know usually thats what you do.. but with my EA82T i didnt.... and i raced on it... and i won!!

haha, so what do you think??

interferance. 2.5l Do not machine the heads!!! Clean the decks carefully, then just replace the gaskets. Also pour in a bottle of cooling system conditioner from the dealer. The part number is SOA635071. Its like three bucks, and the engine is designed to have it in it.

That sounds like excellent advice! thank you!

Artic is correct. You don't really want to machine the heads. The 98 did come with either a 2.2 or a 2.5 motor. Both of these motors are interference motors. The 2.2 changed in 95-96 and this change made it an interference motor - they changed the piston dish.

There are also plenty of instances, as you found, where you don't have to machine the heads if a gasket goes. Just check it with a machinist's level and if it's still flat, run with it and just clean it up.

Yep. I had the head gaskets tank on my wife's '98 LGT and it spiked a couple of times before I could get it home safely. I just straight edged the head surface and checked for any gap. None outside of normal spec. From what I've been told, you've have to get them stupid hot for a long duration before they begin to warp.

Surface cleaned them wife a die grinder and an abrasive pad. New multi-layer gaskets from the dealer & I was back in business. Haven't had an issue since.