Does anyone know if the Legacy ever switched over to a timing chain instead of a belt?

 

Here's hoping...

Yup, the 3.0l H6's have chains. I belive the tribeca 3.5l do to.

Yes, but it's not as if that eliminated the need for service. Ask anyone who has had to deal with the chain tensioners and/or guides.

The 6 bangers have them. And you still have to service them every 100k miles IIRC.

The 6 bangers have them. And you still have to service them every 100k miles IIRC.

 

No you dont.

 

http://www.cars101.com/subaru/subaru_maintenance.html

 

Camshaft Belt (timing belt) 2.5L 4 cylinder

(note: 6 cyls have timing chain, should not need replacement)

the failure point on a CHAIN is the idlers, pulleys, and sprockets that hold the gears to the chain.

I have seen many timing chain cars and the sprockets centers are plastic and fail, not sure if the subaru timing spocket is plastis or what, but yeah there is not much more benefit. T-belts have a life span, as do the pulleys, bearings etc.

No you dont.

 

http://www.cars101.com/subaru/subaru_maintenance.html

 

Camshaft Belt (timing belt) 2.5L 4 cylinder

(note: 6 cyls have timing chain, should not need replacement)

 

You may not need to replace the chain itself, but the tensioner assemblies do wear with mileage, as do the sprockets, and any idlers or guides that may be used (especially if plastic parts are used).

 

It's good practice to replace tensioners and other chain guide components and at least check the chain for wear every 100k miles, even if Subaru doesn't say you need to. Does Subaru say to just replace the water pump, oil pump, tensioner or idlers for the belt engines?

My GF's Chrysler had a timing chain. She thought that wouldn't have timing chain problems for a good long time. She may have been right, but at 70,000 miles the water pump failed. Just as in a Subaru, the timing belt/chain had to be removed to change the water pump. That was one very, very expensive water pump failure. She still doesn't like talking about it.