I saw a 2005 outback xt limited for 4000 with 169000 miles.  It's a manual and everything I want but the seller said that its engine needs work.  Oil burns and the turbo doesn't work.  I'm not sure what all is wrong but he said he replaced the turbo and it wasn't the issue.  I'm just curious if this model has issues with oil starvation to the turbo or something, or how easy it is to find a replacement engine.  I'm not sure what engines would be compatible. 

It's very common for the legacy gt's and Outback xt of that year to have bad motors and turbos.

Probably one of these:
Excessive blow-by

Piston ring land cracked

Turbo seals

Valve seals

Edited October 8, 201411 yr by Ibreakstuff

Usually the turbo goes, and then very quickly after, the rod bearings go because of oil starvation.

Not from oil starvation. The turbo fails due to a plugged filter inside the banjo bolt on the oil feed line to the turbo. It then dumps all the metal shavings into the bottom of the passenger side head which then goes into the oil pan. Once it's circulated through the system, the metal shaving eat up the rod and main bearings fairly quickly. I've also seen it score the crap out of the cams and cam journals before it starts to knock.

 

Be prepared to spend $1200 on a stock turbo and another $4k+ for a new engine.

Edited October 8, 201411 yr by Caboobaroo

so scrap that idea lol.  Thanks guys