You guys were super helpful in the last thread so I thought I'd ask some more questions

Well for those who missed it before, I drive an 04 outback sport which just rolled over to 186,000 miles yesterday. I've had her since 2006 and put over 150k of those miles on myself. Of course with her advancing age, every trip to the shop makes me go oh god oh god oh god this is going to be it, a 2k repair bill that I can't afford. Well *knock on wood* so far so good...she is alive and well and still getting 27+ mpg when I go on long road trips

I've admittedly beat the hell out of this car. I drive fast over muddy roads with lots of potholes, drive on all kinds of terrain I probably shouldn't (but have only ever gotten stuck once in wet cement, long story).

Anyway I have a list of recommendations for repair and prices and I want to make sure I'm not getting ripped off. I know a little about cars because of my friends, and because I've now owned two trucks with over 200k miles (in addition to this car) that have needed a lot of work...so I have a general idea of how much things should cost/how important various things are.

If you guys don't mind weighing in on whether or not these are good prices AND on possible other things I can do to prolong the repairs/questions to ask/anything else I would REALLY appreciate it. I am in love with this car and am in no position to afford a new one but she's really well maintained (shop owners love me...if it makes a weird noise I'm in there going umm help!) so I'm hoping she'll last many more miles

So right now she's in the shop getting the oil pan gasket repaired to the tune of $199.99

Most recently I got:

new water pump and thermostat & gasket (and wiper blades which I could have done myself but meh)- that was $470

They also recommend: Steering Rack-N-Pinion $890 (does that seem really high? I got the whole power steering system in my truck replaced for about 1100 a few months ago)

Also: Valve Cover Gaskets $270 ...what part of the car does that pertain to?

It is leaking power steering fluid according to them. I have a bottle in my car and haven't had to refill it as of yet. I was going to put some leak stop in it, that worked really well on my truck which I drove around for 2 years with a power steering fluid leak so my understanding is that as long as I keep the fluid levels topped off I'm okay? I don't mind checking it everyday and topping off if it'll save me a grand. A few hundred bucks I can spend, $900 is a little harder to swing :/

I've been using Lucas fuel injector cleaner which has really helped my gas mileage (and quieted the engine down)- is that a good product to use?

Any advice you guys have for keeping an old girl like her on the road would be great 186k and she's never left me stranded, or even hinted like that was ever a possibility and I'd like to keep it that way!

(PS I realize I must be an enthusiast because I had to really hold back from going on and on about how awesome my car is, and compared to many of your guys' she isn't that epic :P)