I was wondering, on Subarus, if the timing belt brakes, does it distroy the valves? Some types of engines can survive broken timing belts and some can't. I am not sure where subarus are in this area. Thanks.

All 2.5L ARE interference engines.

 

All DOHC are interference (someone told me the SVX was not, but I have NO experience with that engine)

 

The 97 & newer 2.2's are ALSO (redesigned heads w/o HLA's. Heads look just like the 2.5 with the sparkplugs going into the center of the valve cover.

90-96 2.2's have the sparkplug going into the head at an angle from the top, These are NOT interference engines.

If I'm wrong, you can correct this thread. But this is what I know, and have experienced as well as seen.

As far as i know ALL of the EJ motors are interference meaning is your belt brakes: Enging out heads off and new valves. EA OHC ( EA 82) if there belt brakes just replace the belt and carry on driving. however i do believe that there is one and only one EJ 22 model that are non interference, i however have only ever seen one. Thats what i know hope it helps.

Subaru did not make any interference engines until 1996, starting with the 2.5.

 

From what I understand, yes all 2.5's are interference.

 

All DOHC Subaru's are valve-valve interference (the valves won't necessarily hit the pistons, but will hit each other). The SVX is technically interference being DOHC, but since one cam is gear-driven off the other, a gear would have to break or shear off teeth for timing to be off between the cams, which is near impossible.

 

The 2.2 was noninterference until 1997 when the Phase II version came out.

This is good news, because I am looking at a 1993 Legacy, SOHC, 2.2L. Sounds like if the belt brakes, it won't be a total loss. Cool. Thanks.