I'm trying to help a friend find a car, and was wondering what engines came in the 96-2000 era impreza outback sports and how good they are. Was it the DOHC 2.5, the SOHC 2.5, or did they have an updated version of the EJ22 in there? If that's the case, did they have the same headgasket problems as the 2.5s of that era?

 

Thanks for your help.

I'm trying to help a friend find a car, and was wondering what engines came in the 96-2000 era impreza outback sports and how good they are. Was it the DOHC 2.5, the SOHC 2.5, or did they have an updated version of the EJ22 in there? If that's the case, did they have the same headgasket problems as the 2.5s of that era?

 

Thanks for your help.

 

They had EJ22 and beside them being interference they were good motors as they always were!, they did not have the same HG problems that the 2.5's had

And the few of these that I have bought with HG issues were smokers - all of them 2.2's.

 

Not the 2.5 pressure builders.

96-2000 Impreza OBS has the EJ22.

96 & earlier = non interference EJ22

97+ = interference EJ22

 

They are nothing like the EJ25 in regards to head gasktes. The EJ22 has zero head gasket "issues", period. The EJ22's never blew head gaskets right off the lot at any mileage like the EJ25's.

 

The only "head gasket" concern are the same for any motor ever made and isn't about head gaskets at all but poor maintenance. On a 10 year old car there's plenty of opportunities for folks to not do proper maintenance, never change the coolant or wait until the car loose coolant or overheats due to a bad radiator, hose, clamp, water pump, inop cooling fans...etc. Any engine that is overheated will incur engine damage...not just to head gaskets.

 

The EJ22 is awesome for reliability, that's why my wife drives a 97 OBS EJ22. Although we're upgrading now to an H6 Legacy for room for car seats.

 

If you get one, particularly the interference 97+ models, replace all the timing belt components. Even if the "timing belt" has already been replaced, i redo the job right unless they verify all the pulleys/tensioner were replaced, which never happens.

 

Ebay has entire kits, with all new pulleys and tensioners for only $80, there's just no reason not to do it. That's one step towards excellent reliability, maintenance, and avoiding engine damage.

Are the Ebay kits OEM quality? Do they include EVERYTHING? (all the pulleys and the hydraulic tensioner unit)

Are the Ebay kits OEM quality? Do they include EVERYTHING? (all the pulleys and the hydraulic tensioner unit)

yes the ebay kits include everything. all the pulleys, tensioner, and belt. some even include the water pump.

 

as to OEM quality, that's impossible to answer and gets argued about. a bunch of us that do a lot of subaru work are using them and they are said to be from the OEM supplier, so there's a really good chance it's the same thing.

 

even those of who know what to use OEM and what not are using these kits.

 

usually (speaking of 95+ vehicles) i install Subaru belts and toss the ones that come in the kit. but i'm not saying i have any reason to do that other than $60 is no big deal to me or friends/family i'm getting cars for.