[the Outback still lives, still with the 2.5.]

Ive been putting off posting this, since either: 1) I completely mis- diagnosed and exaggerated the knocking issues of my engine, or 2) Ive gotton some kind of reprieve and I will jinx myself by bringing it up. Real short version: 96 OB, 2.5, bought with head gasket issues and replaced head gaskets, etc., and then drove car all summer with no issues other than slight piston slap on cold start. Several weeks back, I posted that the engine was knocking loudly when started and asked opinions of what was happening. I had already decided that the bottom end was failing and several replys to my post made that sound like a plausible situation. Ive been in the automotive tech trade for 30 years and nothing Ive ever been around has made that much of a ominous sound without being on its way out....lol. I know that the Nissans, that Im most familiar with, have never 'knocked' that loudly without having serious internal problems, and been close to flying apart by that time.

 

Well, I decided I had nothing to lose, other than a tow bill when it blew, if I kept on driving it. And so I have. And it still scares me when I start it on a cold morning. It makes the hair stand up on my neck, man. Its just not normal. But drive that ole' girl for a few miles and slowly but surely, it becomes ALMOST quiet. It gets as quiet as it was in the summer on cold start. Still a little 'rap rap rap' but not the scary knock... I was still convinced that things were getting too loose and I was on borrowed time. (and still looking for a good deal on a 2.2 to replace my engine with)

 

Last week, we took in on trade at the Nissan shop where I work, a 2003 Forester. I had to move this car after a snow storm and got to hear it on a stone cold (5 above zero) start. It is almost as bad as my Outback! This car has 40,000 miles and appears to be a well maintained car. Its a 2.5 and I assume the bottom end is the same or similar to my car. Is it possible that Im just way too paranoid about Subaru engine noises? Is it possible that this Forester could be as 'sick' as my car (I would find it hard to believe that, the Forester is a clean car) Im actually encouraged , after hearing that Forester, that my ole Outback might stick together as is for a while. Or, as I said above, I just jinxed myself and she blows tomorrow morning... Quite a ramble there, but if you got any opinions I'd love to hear them.

 

 

i don't know what i think of the piston slap issue. two years ago i bought a 2001 OB with 97k and it had a loud tap when starting. the dealer said not to worry, they all sound that way.

25k later the tap got worse, a misfire developed and, to make a long story short, i found i had a blown HG and a toasted cylinder, scored and burned. the mechanic who tore it down thought the news was typical and surprised by how awful the cylinder looked. so was that cylinder talking to me all along?

i am now driving a rebuilt 2.5 and there is no tap whatsoever when cold. so is this piston slap the real thing or a myth. should it prompt an owner to at least check compression? or drive it until the problem declares itself?

[2.5L Paranoia]

my 2001 ej 25 is just back on the road after a head gasket failure that did not involve coolant leak, only an external oil leak. its easy to see the area of burned oil near the manifold. and now that it is fixed a funny smell is gone too.

so, keep an eye on engine temp, coolant, and oil levels, and save some money.

good luck

S

[how many catalytic converters do i have?]

i recently had 2001 legacy engine replaced - another story - and the repair bill includes 2 catalytic converters along with an oxygen sensor. there was a blown head gasket and oil going out my exhaust as part of the trail of woes. one item is listed as a direct fit converter ($186) and the other is simply a catalytic converter ($210). The direct fit converter has "e diagnostic part installation" underneath. anybody know what all this means?

[Sound Off: How many miles on original HG?]

1996 legacy 199k and going strong. everything original except clutch.

my other subaru, 2001 w 134k, just had its gasket go.

[how reliable is the boxer engine?]

before i bought my 2001 subaru i thought the boxer engine was a reliable proven engine. now, having just getting head gaskets replaced and a new engine because a cylinder flamed out (ring failure, scored cylinder and piston) at 130k miles i'm beginning to wonder.

this car, at least since 94k when i got it, has been very well cared for and moderately driven. so, how reliable are those boxers? i know they are well known for head gasket failures but i didn't expect more than that.