Engine rebuild vs. replacing gaskets/seals?
 

At 205,000 miles my SVX is coming to a crossroads. First off, it is not a question of keeping it or getting rid of it/parting it. I will be keeping this car and restoring/upgrading as things need it/money is available.

I usually do my own oil changes but about once a year I have it done at an independent Subaru shop that is very good with SVXes and have them do a whole check up on the car. I just don't have to knowledge to check everything they can.

So here's where I'm at with my latest checkup:

Valve Cover Gaskets leak oil - medium = $503.00
Front Crankseal and Camseals leak - medium to heavy = $498.52 with Timing Belt

There's a few other things but that's for other threads.

A couple of questions here.

One would be, just fixing the issues listed, are these the types of things that can be done by a smart person via a "how-to" situation. For example, I am not a mechanic and could not even tell you where these parts are, but I have successfully changed spark plugs, fuel filter, and a few other thing based solely on following well documented How-To's posted here.

The other would be, at what point is a "engine rebuild" warranted? What does that even entail? Is an "engine rebuild" basically replacing all the seals (which it seems like I would be halfway there), or is there some other stuff done like machining, etc?

I guess I'm just wondering if I actually had these jobs done, how much farther is it to the status where you can basically say the engine has 0 miles on it?

Sorry for my ignorance. :lol:

An engine rebuild usually consists of all new bearings, rings, seals cams/lifters. I really don't know for sure what that'd run in parts, but I'd bet on it being WELL over $1000. If your car still runs strong, and doesn't smoke out the tailpipes, I'd say save your money.

What does seem to be in order is a reseal. While the parts themselves aren't all that expensive, the labor required is. To truly do it right requires pulling the engine.

That said, if you live within range of one of the Toms, I'm sure thay'll treat you fairly on a reseal job.

MacGyver, the valve covers, in my opinion are right up there with changing the oil, really all you do is remove the spark plugs and remove the bolts securing the valve cover to the cylinder head and your good to go, take off the inner seal, install with new and you are done. Removing the engine is NOT required. The front seals require a little more mechanical know how in that you have to remove the accessory belts, remove the camshaft sprockets (are a PIA without the right tool), so more or less this job is a bit more time consuming and labor intensive.

On the bright side, if you do the valve covers yourself it won't be as much of a sting when you have to shell out the $500 to have the front seals done.

I don't know of many engines that have had to be rebuilt. They are a very strong engine and with the proper maintenance (which yours gets) it should go many more miles before you need to do that. I would say that the valve covers could be done by you but the others may need to be done by the shop. Some of the members down in OR have done the valve covers and have said that it is a fairly easy job. You could talk to them at the maintenance meet. :)

I agree that you should just re-seal the engine unless it's burning oil, chronically overheating for no apparent reason, or making scary noises from deep within. To get a true "zero time" engine would involve a complete teardown, machine shop work, a magnaflux-type examination of the engine internals to be reused, along with the cost of parts mentioned above, at a minimum.

dcb