How much does it cost to replace a head gasket on a 2004 Subaru Forester?
Unfortunately, when a Subaru undergoes head gasket problems, the head gasket must be fixed for the car to continue running. The cost to repair a broken head gasket averages $1000 for a Subaru Forester, and the average cost of a head gasket repair in general is $1,100-$1,200.
Can a head gasket cause coolant leak?
If a head gasket has failed between the water or oil passage and the outside of the engine, the result can be a simple coolant or oil leak. The other issue is that leaking oil could get on the hot exhaust leading to acrid smoke, and possibly fire.
What happens if you drive with a leaking head gasket?
While driving a short time with the start of a head gaskets leak won’t damage your engine, you never know when your head gasket will fully fail and dump coolant into your combustion chambers or onto the ground. The longer you drive with it damaged, the more you risk the damage being severe.
How far can you drive with a leaking head gasket?
Typically a car will last no longer than a month with a blown head gasket. This is the average and your engine’s life may differ depending on how bad the leak/perforation in the gasket is. The head gasket keeps the internal pressure that the engine holds.
What causes a head gasket to leak on a Subaru?
You may notice oil leaks between the head and the block of the engine. Many Subaru cooling systems route their heater core in such a way that the heater will blow cold air when you have air in the heater core. Assuming the cooling system was bled correctly, air in the heater core is almost always caused by a head gasket leak.
Can a blown head gasket cause an oil leak?
A blown head gasket can manifest in several ways. On first generation Outbacks and second generation Legacy models, the gaskets tend to leak externally. You may notice oil leaks between the head and the block of the engine.
How can you tell if you have a head gasket leak?
If you notice a thick cloud of white smoke out of the exhaust that persists after initial startup, you probably have a head gasket leak. However, just because you don’t notice excessive white smoke doesn’t mean you’re leak free. Does the underside of your oil cap look like black coffee or a Starbucks Frappuccino?
Can a Subaru Tribeca have a head gasket failure?
Head gasket failures are less common on the Subaru 3.0 and 3.6 L H6 models like the Tribeca. They are also rare on the turbo models such as the turbo Baja, Impreza WRX, and Impreza WRX STI. The black carbon deposit on the bottom of cylinder #4 (right) is a textbook symptom of a head gasket leak.