Looking at a 2009 forester, only thing I'm not too sure about is the PZEV.... I know it stands for "partial zero emission vehicle" but what's the difference between that and the regular forester? Will I still be able to mod it the way I want too, or is it one of those stupid things that I can't change?

Basically Just means it has Af ratio sensors instead of regular O2 sensors, but it has 5 of them. Pretty much all of them were PZEV by that point.

 

Most mods won't make much difference. If you're doing major stuff a tune will be necessary anyway to get the best of the mods.

Actually, the pistons and block on a PZEV vehicle are slightly different.  It was a car made for the California market.  This won't make any difference (AFAIK) on mods, but as Fairtax said/implied, mods on that car are basically a waste of time and money.

Interesting that people are saying PZEV is a California market thing, but the dealer here is selling them (in Idaho).

California was where it all started so we blame them for everything. Who are they to tell is that smog is bad!?

 

Emily, In what ways are the blocks different? Something having to do with reducing friction is my best guess, bit thats more in line with piston/ring changes.

California was where it all started so we blame them for everything. Who are they to tell is that smog is bad!?

 

Emily, In what ways are the blocks different? Something having to do with reducing friction is my best guess, bit thats more in line with piston/ring changes.

 

To be honest, I'm not sure.  I haven't torn down an engine in a few years and I rarely get into the shop either since my spine surgeries.  I can ask Jason and Rick to elaborate.

PZEV started in California, but is also sold in any U.S. state that follows the California Emissions model (WA, OR, ID, etc.).  It is essentially a fancy evaporative emissions system, from what I understand.

A small clarification.

PZEV did not start in Ca. Ca had the strictest emissions standards and Subaru's response was the PZEV. This started in 04 and early 05, so this is the odd header design that Subaru first used.  Other mfg have different names.

It's  the CA emissions std that other states have adopted.

 

O.

A small clarification. PZEV did not start in Ca.

 

Ca had the strictest emissions standards and Subaru's response was the PZEV...  It's  the CA emissions std that other states have adopted.

 

Sounds like it started in California....