This has probably been addressed many times over, but im ,fairly,new to the forum so here goes. My timming belts, or at least the driver side belt, finally went. I had put out a post to see how long everones lasted. Well, mine lasted over 72K from the service history I got with the 93 Loyalle wagon when I bought her 2 mos. ago. Luckily It busted on my road going out to the highway and my neighbor towed my home. Pretty amazing since I bought the vehicle 500 miles away and only had it for a little while. So im gonna do the full service including belt kit with tensioners/pulley, seals for oil pump/cams/crank, water pump, coolant and thermostat. Everthing seems pretty straight forward except the thermostat. There seems to be 2 available . the, I believe, OE 195 deg. and a 180 deg. Which one are we using???????????

i'd go with standard OEM.

 

the Subaru t-stats are far more beefier and of better quality than aftermarket.

195 sounds correct. the 185 may be for carb models.

 

the part cross references with 52mm chevy shortblock, if you are trying to go with different temps.

 

The subaru oem thermos have a larger brass piece and the little jigller ball to vent the air bubbles.

 

I have observed over may example the original belts lasting to about 135-145,ooo miles in 86-88 subarus over n the span of several years, with the latest being an 86 3door with spfi, about 140,000 miles It was due for cam seals and water pump. It was driven semi regularly.

 

A lot of sitting and dryrot would let a belt fail after resurrecting an old soob

Get the OEM Thermostat from a DEALER. Like a Subaru brand one, not just one that "fits" a subaru from autozone or something....

 

My timing belts in my GL seemed to only last around 50K