Next week I plan to get my leaking headgaskets and valve cover gaskets changed. I have a 2010 subaru impreza with 116k miles on it. I am getting it done at a retired subaru techs house. He is charging me $1600 for labor and parts. That includes quality headgaskets, valve cover gaskets, timing belt and pulleys from japan.
My question is: I got my timing belt, water pump and pulleys changed 3 years ago at 86k miles. The guy said that he would basically change no labor for the timing belt and pulleys because he would already be working near them and they would take little extra time to do. The guy is very experienced and will take him no time to do it so it would only cost $200 extra which is what the kit costs. Should I get them changed even though it has been done 3 years ago and 30k miles ago? Also, it seems like a good deal for the total price. What do you guys think?
Just have the work for the Timing belt and pulleys done at the same time . The chance of the belt being contaminated while the other work is being done is slim but why take the chance ?
When would the current timing belt need to be replaced otherwise? Is the car in good enough shape to last that long? If so, I’d certainly do it at that price.
You are a little less than a third through the replacement interval of 105,000 miles. At this rate, it will take another 7.5 years to exceed the 105,000 mile change interval. I suspect your owner’s manual says to replace every 7 years, and you are not quite half way there. If you plan to keep the Impreza for more than 4 years, it would make sense to do it now.
I plan to keep this car for as long as it will run. If it needs a new engine or tranny one day so be it. I would like to keep the car for another 20 years at least. The frame is in amazing condition
A year ago before I got “out of the trenches”, we were charging $2800-$3400 for a complete head gasket job, including all timing components, resurface or overhaul heads, replace rear main seal and reseal oil pan, and possibly new clutch for a standard trans. If we’re pulling the engine we’re doing the whole job right.
I’m friends with a Subie specialist shop. As a policy they no longer do timing belt/water pump replacement at 105K maintenance. They know the car will be in for head gaskets at 140-160K miles and just do the whole job at once.
A $3000 overhaul at 100k miles is 3 cents per mile.
Not something I’d look forward to, but considering gas is ~10-15 cents per mile
it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb.
OP’s mechanic imo gives good advice to replace timing belt at same time. No experience w/Impeza, but if doing a head gasket job on my 30 year old Corolla I’d probably take this opportunity to also replace
timing belt
timing belt idler pulley and tensioner
accessory drive belts (on OP’s car, this is probably an S-belt and tensioner)
valve cover gaskets
intake manifold and throttle body gaskets
front crankshaft seal
camshaft seals
water pump
spark plugs
rubber/plastic hoses that are otherwise difficult to replace, as long as there are replacements available with oem quality.
valve clearance shims as necessary (may not apply to OP’s car)
What else? hmmm …
Inspect condition of valve-train, springs, valve stem seals, etc, correct as needed.
Make sure head & engine mounting surfaces are to spec, machine shop if problem.
If pre-head-gasket testing indicated valve(s) may not be sealing correctly, and inspection showed a valve problem, head would go to machine shop for valve job.
If engine seems a bit gunked up, clear the oil passages that drain oil from head to crankcase.
I’d take a good look at the condition of the EGR valve and EGR modulator, decide if either needs to be replaced.
Visual inspection, a straight edge, and maybe feeler gauges will answer that.
I’ve no experience with these engines, but inspection of valve seats might also be in order.
Yes, I would JUMP on that offer. Do not be tempted to “cheap out” and reuse the timing belt, tensioner, etc. Have the complete job done, with a new timing belt kit, and then you should be good to go for another 100k miles. If the timing belt fails prematurely for any reason, you’re going to need a major engine rebuild, why risk it?
Personally, if I take an engine apart, I would have the head(s) reconditioned by a professional machine shop, which includes cleaning, resurfacing, valve re-grind and vacuum/pressure testing, new valve stem seals, new camshaft seal(s), etc. Of course, many people here will tell you that is not necessary, and maybe they are correct. I am not a professional mechanic, just a person who works on his own personal vehicles, so I am more concerned about maximizing quality and reliability than I am about saving a few bucks. Also, I don’t need to justify costs to a customer, or worry about making a profit.
With this as your goal, I’d check into getting the heads reconditioned as described above. If you were just wanting to keep it another couple of years, maybe just a check for flatness. But that’s not your plan.
