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Subaru Boxer Engine Pros Cons
Ken, I honestly believe it's a combination of legalez and a fear thing.
A lot of auto companies got stung really badly by timing belts. At first they weren't specifying them as a 'wear item' and so it was under warranty, so was all the other parts that got munched up when they broke!!!
The interesting part is that almost every timing belt out there is made by the same company these days, so we can assume they are all made to the same standards and with similar materials, etc., however, depending on what it goes into, it is scheduled to be replaced at between 30k miles (yes 30, Volksy diesels and some small Ford gas engines) and
about 100k miles.
So the way it works is, the car companies gamble that more people will give them $$$ from belt changes, than will make warranty claims if they let go before scheduled replacement points.
However, a friend of mine has a fleet of compact pickups and cars, he NEVER changes the timing belts at recommended points. He says only about 1 in 25 of them ever go before he gets rid of the vehicle at about 300k kms (180k miles). His drivers are not gentle on the vehicles.
Sounds like a case of over-caution to me.
BTW, the Subaru engines are about 50/50 interference design and non-interference.
Best of luck.
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Subaru Boxer Engine Pros Cons
Thanks Murf. I'm not too worried about belts, since many of our vehicles have had them, but still prefer a chain. Maybe it's all in my head. I've had chain issues too, an old Opel wore through the chain tensioner every 50k miles or so and fixing that was every bit as bad as changing a belt. Still, the chains give me a warmer, fuzzier feeling.
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Subaru made noninterference engines only before 1997. All 2.5s since they 1st appeared in 1995 have been interference. 2.2's and smaller have always been noninterference, until 1997. In that year even the 2.2's became interference.
As far as reliability, these engines easily last 300k, Twice that many if things are fixed as they wear. They are on par with the best Hondas and Toyota powerplants.
As far as chains vs belts; You can now have your warm&fuzzy feeling because brand new Subarus have chains. Their 6 cyl engines have had chains for many years. Just dont expect 30-35mpg. These vehocles are more a tool than a fasion staement. All awd Subarus are more akin to a Jeep in practicalty.
Their wonderful driving characteristics are just a bonus. I believe the move to chains will prove to be wonderful if the head gaskets stay intact. If not, be prepared for a once commonplace (almost universal) head gasket replacement. If it does happen dont be surprized. It is quite normal even after the factory has claimed one supposed fix ater another. If you do buy one just be prepared for a simple and always sucessful head gasket job. Ease of head gasket replacement is one of Subaru's strong points.$300 if you do it yourself, 13-2300 if a shop does it.
As far as block reliability, the 4 cyl truely feels like a 6 cyl and it will last indefinatly as long as it is never run without oil. Rod and mail bearings never ware out unless they run out (or very low) on oil. If they do develope bad bearings, the bottom end of the engine can not be repaired. In therory yes, in reality, no. Head gaskets and waterpumps are eminantly fixable, but a bad bottom end makes the short block a throwaway.
But as far as "Citroen like" high quality engineering and quirkyness Subaru engines are among the most logical, reliable, and long-living machines ever built. The definative proof is this: google 'airplane engines subaru'. The $20-$30k engines are often made with 4 and 5 year old engines with verified low hours. To have this style of engine available in an affordable car (especially coupled with awd) is a real treat.
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That configuration is a bit more costly to build, which explains its unpopularity. As to longevity, Consumer Reports lists owner-reported repairs for all Subaru engines as "much better than average" (its highest rating). So even if it IS an interference layout, you needn't worry.
True: When mine was rear-ended a friend took the engine for his home-built aircraft.
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The use of a Subaru engine in an aircraft has very little to do with dependability, reputation or quality.
It is the only widely available, currently produced, horizontally opposed engine.
Best of luck.
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ok.
Somebody tell me what an interference engine is....
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Quote:
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ok. Somebody tell me what an interference engine is....
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If valves can hit the piston when the valve timing is off (like when a timing belt breaks) it's an interference engine.
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My Brother in law had a Suburau, I don't know what year, model, etc., but any way after the warranty the head gasket, (gaskets), went bad. He was persistent in his request, (requests), till they agreed to replace them.
Then for some reason the replacment gasket, (gaskets), went bad again about a soon as he drove it home, the folks at Subarau didn't want to discuss it. I don't know what he did with it but it dissapeared soon after and he got a different brand.
Frank.
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Many thanks, Ken.
We had a 1982 Suby purchased new in Anchorage. That car/engine combo was nothing short of amazing. I once drove it in snow so deep the snow flowed onto the hood and broke like a wave around the windshield.
Once, when my 5000+ pound van broke down, the Subaru pulled it home 4 miles with a tow strap. This was on a -0 morning and up a steep ice covered highway.
When we wore it out we bought a Justy. Not even the same car............
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Nice to see you on here again Mark.
It's funny, I drive a 4WD Tacoma and my wife drives an 07 Subaru Impreza. In snow the Impreza is amazing, the Tacoma not so much. Even in 4WD with studded snow tires and a few hundred pounds of sand in the bed the Tacoma isn't even close. Now if the Impreza had more ground clearance it would be perfect. In the next year or so Subaru is supposed to come out with a new Impreza version called the XV Crosstrek with much more ground clearance and we may trade the old one in for one of those.
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