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subnz

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Posts posted by subnz

  1. 10 hours ago, Stevo F said:

    I’ve got a similar question with my 2005 Impreza Sport. On mine the whine disappears almost entirely with the FED fuse on, but it does have some vibration felt at 45-50 MPH. My mechanic says differential bearings and to keep driving it, but wondering if it’s a.u-joint

    Failing universal joints on rear drive shaft usually cause vibration,  particularly noticible at 45 -50 mph as you mentioned,

    so check both front and rear joints for side play and also check carrier bearing on drive shaft as well.

  2. Failing bearings in diffs whine continuously --  the whine increasing in pitch and volume as speed increases.

    Worn diffs still whine not being driven so disconnecting the driveshaft / FWD fuse may not  isolate the whine - it may lessen it.     You have answered  that question by being on or off the throttle and and not making a difference to the whine.

    If its the rear diff,  the whine  will be obviously coming from the rear.   And front diff  whine from front.

    Agree also - failing universal joints etc in drive shafts  vibrate  - most noticable at a  constant  55  / 60 mph -  maybe less noticable on a trailing throttle decelerating (under engine braking) - balancing changes due to side play / wear in joints

  3. If its not a fuel issue then, after investigating the obvious  -  fuel filters /gauzes   fuel pump / pressure etc.

    Then agree it could be a  hi tension leads (ignition)  issue.

    These can break down under load and performance becomes progressively worse when  these  get  warmer / engine approaching running temperature. (when failing)

    Have had two different vehicles that have done this ie failing leads / coil  (not Subarus)

    Another thing to consider is carburetor icing.     Is the diaphragm operated flap  on the air cleaner intake  working correctly?   ie to pick up warm air when required  to prevent icing.  Was the vacuum line reconnected /air temp sensor?

    If it has a manual  summer / winter flap lever  on air cleaner intake,   try setting it to winter position.  This is what my  87 Brumby   (Brat) has.

    That diverts  air intake off engine - warmer air to prevent icing.

     Icing Symptoms:    jerking, surging,    loss of power,   getting worse as more throttle applied,   coming to a stop

    - another type of fuel starvation.

    This could explain  the momentary improvement after stopping with the heat in engine bay melting icing

  4. IF   guideline are followed regarding cooling system maintenance for EA82s -  as stated in owners /service manuals.

    EVERY 2 YEARS   -  change coolant . remove radiator hoses  , and  heater hoses at firewall to flush out  heater core as well (with garden hose)

    Flush radiator  and engine separately as well with garden hose.

    replace thermostat  / radiator cap if necessary.

    If these guidelines / recommendations are followed then there should be few if any issues.

    Both my 2  ea82s had cooling system issues and it was due to neglect / lack of maintenance from previous owners.

    As these are prone to overheating and consequently blowing headgaskets (particularly EA82T with extra heat generated with turbo)   if regular maintenance is overlooked  / neglected.

     

  5. I would assume that because the of the position and the firing of the spark plugs from the top - 

    the thrust side would be on the bottom for all bores / pistons.

    But not sure considering the clockwise rotation thing and the difference between left and right sides , if any ????

    I would still position the ring gaps as per the diagrams as we have previously discussed in the manuals.

    None of the gaps are are positioned  directly near the bottom or top sides.

    30 degrees below / above the centre line (either side ) is far enough away from the thrust areas,  top or bottom,  in my considered opinion.

     

     / 
     

     

     

  6. Looked at my Gregorys manual for  EA82  and the diagram there,  for piston ring gap position was similar to the second  diagram (above)

    that you posted. 

      ie the 2 compresion ring gap positions  -  both  30 degrees  below centre line - left for top  and right for second.

    and the 2 side rail gaps for oil ring at 30 degrees above centre line - left for top and right for bottom side rail.

    The top (1st) diagram that you posted are the ring gap positions for the EA81 according to Gregorys manual also

  7. Agree also if not a fuel issue or not a blocked cat.

     

    It could be a coil / distributor / leads etc issue.

     

    If it runs ok when cold then gets progressively worse when up to running temperature and when under load (hills)

     

    Look at coil (these can break down and fail under load and when warm also with intermitant random inconsistant misfires )

     

    and also look at obvious stuff like rotor / distributor cap / and all 5 high tension leads - to spark plugs and coil to distributor

    and low tension wiring / distributor module etc

     

    High tension leads can break down under load causing misfiring getting worse under load and when warm / hot (like failing coils also), particularly if old or are of cheap replacement quality.

  8. Radiators work by transfering heat from  water / air /  refridgerant   that was hot in the first place that needed cooling.   

     

    Their surface area with airflow is for dissapating heat away -They don't work well in reverse.

     

    Most roof mounted solar heating systems use long lengths of black hose coiled back as forth to create surface area  to induce heating.

    • Like 2
  9. Agree anything with a phase 1  EJ 2.2 (non interference)  engine  with a manual transmission.

     

    If I had bought a Legacy of that age  ie 90 - 95   it would have been 2.2 GX manual D/R  Wagon (available here in NZ)  These here have a good reputation for longevity.

     

    But Legacy low ride height made me keep my 86 GL wagon till 2009 when structural  rust around windscreen put it off the road  (regular 6 monthly compliance road testing for older cars  strict on rust here in NZ)

    Then bought 1st Outback.

  10. Completely original and clean vehicles should always and can bring the highest prices.

     

    As soon as they are modified from original  (including repowering with larger later engines)  the price should come down accordingly.

     

    You only have to look at the original unmodified   American classic car values  market as an example.

    • Like 2
  11. Agree check  T belt timing  -    there should be  one cam sprocket with mark at the  top and the other cam sprocket with its mark at bottom  (180 degrees of difference  with crank  on its timing mark.

     

    If it still doesn't run it is also possible that the distributor   could be 180 degrees out of phase with engine or also agree leads connected up in the incorrect firing order.

    • Like 1
  12. Agree keep engine between 3000 - 4000rpm for cruise   best for power / economy / longevity.

     

    Most modern Japanese OHC 4 cylinders engines need a minimum of 3000rpm before they start to work properly  ie start developing reasonable  torque  / hp.  Have had two EA82s.

     

    EA81  OHV  (old school tech  dating back to steam engine)   need less rpm to do the same thing ie   best  between 2500 - 3500rpm.

     

    Have had 2  still have one of them  - bomb proof  simplicity / reliability  so long as don't over rev them.

  13.  Agree that  there could be an internal coolant  leak via a tired headgasket into a combustion chamber and coolant consumed out the exhaust.  Had an EA82 that did this.

    Agree,  Fluorescent dye in coolant and use of a fluorescent light will confirm this (on exhaust tail pipe) -   or if the leak is elsewhere.

    Recently another member on this forum had this similar issue with a Forester XT  confirmed with fluorescent dye use / light.

     

    http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/165851-loosing-coolant-leak-or-burning/

     

    If there are leaks with radiator etc  there should be some evidence of  coolant colouring  in the location of the leak despite it  being evaporated.

     

    Head gasket failure can happen with older cars also particularly if they haven't had a good history of regular oil/filter  and coolant changes

  14. Failure to follow simple guide lines /  recommendations in owners manual.

     

    Failure to fix things when warning signs are given.

     

    What kills Subaru engines  1  failure to  check oil level regularly  / change oil / filter at required intervals (dependant on use /season)

     

                                                2 failure to check coolant level  regularly (including taking off radiator cap and looking in there too) 

                             

                                                3 failure to change coolant / flush cooling system every 2 years as recommended in owners manuals. 

  15. Headgasket issues in EJ2.5's has been well documented recognised and experienced universally.

     

    THe early  EJ25D  (DOHC)    was the worst with internal headgasket leaks  leading to overheating if not recognised  and compromised big end bearings  if over heated.

     

    The later EJ251  /  EJ253  (SOHC) (1999-2012)  weren't as bad  but still had predominantly external  oil / coolant leaks -  fixed with resurfacing heads and using MLS (turbo)  multi layer steel head gaskets.

    This is universally recognised as the best way to do a better more successful headgasket replacement job on EJ2.5's

    • Like 1
  16. The high tension leads ie  1   coil to  distributor and the 4 cap to spark plugs leads  could be tired also  - wouldn't hurt to replace these. (can break down under load and when get warm also  - similar to a failing coil)

    As you mentioned - check condition of distributor cap and rotor as well.

    .

     

    Also as I suggested in previous post here,  it would be worthwhile taking the distributor apart  ie taking off the plate holding coil/s and check the operation of the centrifugal advance  weights and shaft (perhaps sticking needing lubrication , located under this coil plate) and the operation of the vacuum advance unit  as well. 

     

    It may be  easier to take the  distrubutor out to do this, but before removing -   leave rotor on and mark exact position its pointing to (with tipex or  whiteout is good) so that when replacing it, the rotor is in the correct position for ignition timing.

    You will have to reset ignition timing if removing / moving distributor and or removing coil plate  - with timing light (  20 degrees BTDC for SPFI  -  timing light on no.1 lead)

  17. The copper washers are even reusable indefinitely, if you anneal them between uses, that is.

     

    Agree have  never ever replaced one of these.

    Also     agree the problem is that the drain plugs are over tightened and crush the washers. 

    - it's only a drain plug and only needs to be nipped tight with a ring spanner holding it in the middle.

    -Not a socket and bar / torque wrench

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