# 2002 Subaru Legacy - Head gasket

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-subaru-legacy-head-gasket/174209>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** engines, subaru\
**Created:** [January 16, 2021, 12:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-subaru-legacy-head-gasket/174209 "2021-01-16T00:59:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![unknown40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d6d6ee/32.png) [@unknown40](https://community.cartalk.com/u/unknown40)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 12:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-subaru-legacy-head-gasket/174209/1 "2021-01-16T00:59:43Z")

</div>

I keep hearing about head gasket failure. Should I expect a problem

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 1:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-subaru-legacy-head-gasket/174209/2 "2021-01-16T13:08:07Z")

</div>

At 19 years old anything can fail. No need to worry about it, just set aside money for future repairs. Make sure your are performing preventative maintenance at or before the time/mileage intervals specified by Subaru. Check your oil on a regular basis. Watch your gauges.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 2:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-subaru-legacy-head-gasket/174209/3 "2021-01-17T14:40:53Z")

</div>

+1 to Purebred’s comments, but I want to follow up with a question for the OP:

Does your Legacy have the standard 4-cylinder engine, or does it have the optional 6?

I ask because, while there is a chance of head gasket failure on a 4-cylinder of that vintage, the 6 does not suffer from that possible problem.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 3:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-subaru-legacy-head-gasket/174209/4 "2021-01-17T15:06:06Z")

</div>

Motor is known to have headgaskets issues.  
It’s 19 yrs old. Thought of different car?