Subarus and head gaskets

I have a 2016 Outback 2.5. Love it. Car has around 112k miles and it runs great. [knocks on own head]

I frequently hear people criticize the boxer for head gasket problems. Is there anything I can do to help avoid this problem? 

IIRC, that a problem with the older models. It is less common in newer cars.

Head gaskets are not an issue on the timing chain engines.

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

Head gaskets are not an issue on the timing chain engines.

Oil consumption came along then.

In reply to Streetwiseguy :

Oh, it was always there....

I have a 2011 Outback with 113K; it leaks a tiny bit of oil and uses about 1\2 quart between oil changes. I don't consider it a big deal.

Yeah, that's more of a thing on timing belt models.

Subaru sells a product called 'coolant conditioner' which is a fancy name for Stop-Leak of some sort. Personally, I've always tossed in a vial of Alumaseal in cars that are known leakers. We used to add that stuff as a service interval item on Alfa-Romeo fours back when I was at the dealer.

Change coolant every 2 years.  But no the later engines are not prone to HG failures.  

Tom1200 said:

I have a 2011 Outback with 113K; it leaks a tiny bit of oil and uses about 1\2 quart between oil changes. I don't consider it a big deal.

Driver habits probably play a huge role.  I had a Forester with less than half that mileage drink its crankcase dry in 5000 miles.  I only found out about that when I went to do an induction cleaning and the engine started knocking badly over 2500rpm.  "Oh, yeah, I did have to add four quarts yesterday."

All the rings were stuck.  Only one rod bearing was damaged, rod and journal were fine.

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

While I don't flog mine I don't baby it either. Mine is a 6 speed a manual and I find keeping the motor between 2K & 4K seems to work best. The motor seems rather trashy above 5K so I seldom rev it past that. 

In reply to Tom1200 :

In my consideration, load is far more important than RPM.  More load means more pressure on the rings and more heat in the system, which keeps things expanding and contracting and flexing and when the rings are expanding and contracting and flexing, they don't seize.

porschenut said:

Change coolant every 2 years.  But no the later engines are not prone to HG failures.  

Eh? IIRC the manual suggests first coolant change at 137,500.