Subaru Repair: Suby radiator problems?, gasket leaks, radiator problems

Question
Hi there.
Well.........it's a 97 outback 2.5l engine, 150K miles on it. NO problems until far away in Calgary, AB last Sat midnight.
The car overheated for the first time I know about. My wife mostly drives it from here (Portland) to Navy base in Bremerton. Not sure she watches the gauge very often.
Anyway, I noticed very hi temp needle and shut off. Radiator ice cold, reservoir totally full. Poured 1 liter of swamp water (puddle) into radiator and drove off very slowly. Temp stayed normal the 3 hour trip to cabin in BC.
Drove a bit up there, short trips to town and temp stayed normal (at least the temp gauge).
Had to return home to Portland yesterday. Normally a 16 hour trip. Dealer in Cranbrook said typical head gasket, that we would never make it home. He said gas is blowing AF out of radiator into reservoir. He said temp guage should not be trusted. He said drive slowly and stop often to put AF back into radiator.
We took his advice within reason, stopping every 60 miles about.
Sometimes when I opened rad cap it was hot and wanted to overflow, other times no pressure and cold!
I noticed bottom rad hose always cold and seems empty by squeezing. Top always hot (normal temp I think.
Any ideas please? Could be blocked radiator? Blocked bottom hose?
I am going out to at least drain and flush b4 taking to local dealer for major head gasket job. Not sure the cost, but I have to decide it the car's worth fixing. We love it and it's great in snow.
Lastly, do the newer ones have HG problems like the mid 90's ones?
Many thanks and I look forward to your reply.
Regards,
Jeff Mann

Answer
Hi Jeff,

The 1997 has a tendency to develop internal head gasket leaks.

You can read about it here.  http://allwheeldriveauto.com/?s=head+gaskets+explained

The Dealer is incorrect, as the expansion event creates an overheating situation, if there isn't an expansion event the temperature and pressure form the cooling system wont make its way into the cooling system and cause the overheat to happen.  It ALWAYS starts out intermittent, a quick smell of your coolant overflow bottle should reveal weather or not the problem is starting.  As far as worth to fix, it will run about $1700.00 at a good shop for the basic head gasket repairs.

I don't know how much used car you can buy for $1700.00 if the rest of the car is solid than yes I would suggest making the repairs.  By the way out shop is in Kirkland Washington if you want someone to have a look.


Justin