I know the 6 cylinder has been timing chain but today while car shopping the salesman said he thinks they changed the 4 cylinders over to chain as well. I didn't want to debate with him so I just wanted to make sure. did the the 2.5 switch over to chain in past couple years or do I still know what I'm talking about? I was looking at a pearl white 2010 forester with 45k miles for 17,200.

http://parts.subaru.com/a/Subaru_2010_Forester25L-4ATX/__6022811/CAMSHAFT--TIMING-BELT-TIMING-BELT-09MY-10MY/S12-013-02.html

 

Well Subaru seems to disagree...................

I think only a couple of years back that Subaru went with a timing chain on their latest version of their 4 cylinders. As is seen in the link above, the 2010 model still uses the timing belt.

Correct, the new FB series engines use a timing chain. The FB20 in my 2014 Impreza has one.

cars101.com will tell which vehicles get the EJ25 (timing belt) or FB engines (timing chain).   it was around 2011 the legacy/outback went to FB engine and timing belts.  Unsure when impreza/forester did but as i said cars101.com is a great resources for all of that.

my MIL's 11 Forry is a belt. 12s got a chain.

 

I think various soob models got the FB engine at different times. EJ engines have a belt.

 

so, the clue is whether the (4cyl) engine is FB (or FA) - those are the new designs with chains. If EJ engine=belt

If the oil filter is on top, it's a chain (FB). Lso, if you look at them, the belts have plastic timing covers, chains are metal. If you are looking at new, it'll be a chain.