Head Gasket Replacement Questions...

[ian.mulhern]

I picked up a used '16 EB, manual with a 3.55 rear end that someone traded in on a new WRX where I work. I've had the car about 4 weeks and noticed the coolant tank was pretty much empty this weekend. It took about 1/3rd gallon of coolant, and again today it was low and took about the same to top it up. I pulled the plugs, they all looked pretty similar. Stuck a scope into cylinder #2 and it was steam cleaned, plus you could see the coolant I just added dripping into the cylinder. Bummer.

The car had 106k miles on it when I got it. And It has 107k now. It threw a CEL for a misfire on cylinder #2 the second week I had it, but it went away about a day later after I ordered some spark plugs. I kept driving it. This weekend I noticed the CHT went up to 230 idling after a drive, which is what led me to the low coolant in the first place.

I don't know if this thing has been overheated. What are your thoughts on just replacing the head gasket? Can I and Should I have the cylinder head resurfaced? Do you think ARP head studs and a BC head gasket would do the trick, or could this engine be a lost cause? At this point I'm babying it until I get a few parts this week for my E46 drift car that I will have to daily drive. Thoughts on a head gasket job @ 107k, unknown previous overheat, still driving it to work for a day or two. Thoughts on cylinder head re surfacing?

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[ice445]

Gasket seepage is common on these motors at higher miles. I wouldn't be too worried about it having been overheated. Toss a gasket on it and get the head checked/resurfaced and send it.

 

[Buldawg76]

I would disassemble and inspect both head and block surfaces for flatness. If head needs surfaced take as little material off as possible to make it flat. If block deck is not flat the only real fix is new block but depending on how warped the block is, you may get some more life from it by surfacing the head and installing a gasket and ARP studs but will eventually fail again.

Best option is a new built block from Engineered motorsports solution (EMS) from Jessie Ringley.

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