I bought a 97 impreza L that had been sitting for a while. I noticed a small tick, and a small oil leak on the front seal, and had planned on doing the whole oil pump/timing belt deal. NOW there's a worse leak on the back side, that drips down onto the exhaust. It drips much worse than the front seal. I probably lose about half a quart a week. Where is it coming from?

Oil seperator plate (plastic).

 

Have to pull the engine and install the updated steel plate and bolts that don't warp and leak.

 

Possibly rear main seal also - but much less likely as they are Viton. Either way it's the same story - pull the engine.

 

GD

thats what I figured. After sitting for over a year, I may just swap the motor for one that hasn't been sitting.

I don't think that's a wise course of action unless there are compelling reasons to think serious damage resulted from sitting (unlikely). Just reseal it and be on your way. Even engines that don't sit will start leaking after many years and miles.

 

Why spend the money on a replacement engine that you will have to reseal before installing anyway? Just reseal the one you have.

 

GD

My reasoning is I drive a stupid amount of miles. If I'm going reseal and install an engine, I'd rather spend a few hundred bucks, and replace a 180k motor that's been sitting with a freshly pulled motor out of a 2003 with 70k miles.

Ej22 in a 2003?

************ I guess not huh? I didn't even think to ask if it was a 22 or 25...

Yeah if it's not a turbo it's a 2.5. You'll get a boost in power out of the 2.5 but you'll have to swap some parts around to use it and even then I'm not entirely sure if you can. I'm no expert, but I know there are some big differences between the phase one 2.2 (pre-99) and phase two 2.5 (post-99).

 

I'd stick with the 2.2 and do the reseal. There is a $3 O-ring on the back of the block that can dry out and leak. The separator plate kit is like $35, and the rear main seal hardly ever leaks, but it's only $15 or so from a dealer.

the 2.5 and 2.2 doesn't matter, they are swapped all the time. the problem is the changes that happened in 1999 making this swap unpalatable for most. it requires some digging into and working out/around some issues, it's not a simple swap.

 

EJ22's (even EJ25's) easily see really high miles, if the engine is in decent shape and properly addressed now (resealed, complete timing belt kit with pulleys and tensioner, and water pump), i would be more worried about 15 year old transmissions, starters, alternators, tensioner pulley bearings, clutches, etc than an EJ22 with 180k. but of course there's no way to know it's past history and condition positively...but that goes for most engines.

I would keep the 2.2, in am imp it is a good match. Pull the engine and do a complete reseal (TB, seals, water pump, oil pump, valve covers and spark p[lug buckets and change plugs and pcv valve) and you will be golden for many many many miles.

good info. thanks guys!

180k is barely broken in for most of the 2.2's. If they have had any normal amount of care they will just keep on going.

 

GD

Just to complement what the other people have said: the engine I put on my OBW (with their help, of course) apparently sat for 5 or 6 years, and it seems to be running without much trouble (the car itself, on the other hand... :-\ )

dose your wagon auto tranny? whats year?

180k is barely broken in for most of the 2.2's. If they have had any normal amount of care they will just keep on going.

 

GD

 

thanks partially to general disorder I was able to bring my 250k+ lego back from the dead! PROPER maintenance is KEY!!!!!! and my story is proof that even if you trust a shop and watch them do the work they can still screw stuff up! if you want it done right do it yourself along with obsessively read and check your FSM! just watch a video about head gasket torque procedure if your skeptical. torque it right every time! subaru's are very reliable and if you only repair whats broken the rest usually lasts for a LONG TIME. my goal with my impreza was 300k.... I'm hoping to take my lego to 400k, granted I recently replaced the whole timing and pump shebang