Subaru Question, 2.5l motor and head gasket?

[2Shoes]

I have a 2002 Outback 2.5 with 158,000 miles on it and the head gaskets have never been changed. It doesn't leak oil or coolant and I don't see a reason to have them changed just yet but I do plan on having it done when I do the water pump and timing belt in a few months. This car has been driven as a commuter for the past 10 years and still drives like a new car.

 

[IdaSHO]

Ive said it before, and Ill say it again... ALL EJ25's are prone to headgasket failure. And I simple will not put up with such a motor, so Ill never own one.
Right now Im saving my pennies for the 2.0 powered impreza 5-door. 4-doors, room for the dog, and 36mpg sounds great to me :ylsmoke:

There are some fundamental reasons why the 2.5EJ is much more prone to headgasket failure than the 2.2EJ

The cylinder wall thickness, for starters, is much thinner. There simply isnt enough surface for the gaskets to do their job correctly.

Here are some pics:

2.5

And the 2.2

 

[Jimmeh]

My sister has a 2000 outback with 160,000 miles on it. No headgasket issue as of yet. My mom just got a 2005 with 140,000 miles and supposedly the head gasket was changed when a new timing belt was installed. My dad and I both have first generation Legacy sedans with I believe the 2.3? (I just got mine so not to familiar with it) with almost 300K each and the only gaskets that are bad on both cars are the valve cover gaskets. Dads car has been driven very hard, mine was my moms prior to me purchasing it from her, and was driven light for the last 100,000 or so miles.

Can't speak for the head gasket issue, as I have never been much of an import car person. I do remember dad working on my sisters outback once, having had the motor torn apart, but what he was doing I am not sure (we share a 2 car shop, and at the time was rebuilding my Ranger whilst he was working on the Suby). But, knowing the family are Subaru freaks tells me that minimal problems will be had, so I am pretty happy with that.

 

[IdaSHO]

Old legacy's have the EJ22 (2.2) Arguably the most reliable OHC motor Subaru has produced.