Dr. RX

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Yea, I'd love to go too, but having to be at work at 5 AM in the morning and driving from Sammamish to Olympia and back just doesn't work out. I'd do it if it were on a Friday.

Not every EG20G is closed deck, I have a short block in my garage right now that is a semi closed deck, it came from an early JDM Legacy. Some of the data that I have read also backs that up. On some EJ20G powered Legacy there were even open deck engines. The later engines, EJ20K were semi-closed as were the EJ205s and EJ207s. I believe all WRX EG20G engines were closed deck (1993 to 1996), the EJ20K was 97 and 98 I believe and the EJ205s and EJ207s in 99 and 00. (but I'm not real sure on the EJ205 or 207).

Well that depends, there are open and semi-closed and well as closed deck EJ20's. I'm not that familar with the EJ25, but I understand that there are both open and semi-closed decked engines, I think the STi blocks are semi-closed, the others are open.

Can't see the photo for some reason, did you delete it??

Sorry Zap, won't be there, wife is feeling weak from the radiation theropy she's going through now. Hi "Happy Birthday" to the boy for us, maybe next year.

Tim, that depends upon whether the turbo in the EA81T was replaced per the recall. If it was, then it should be that same as the EA82T. The original EA81T turbos were only oil cooled, the replacement were oil and water cooled.

OK, who has a 97 Impreza that was built between 8/96 and 12/96, please take a picture of your control panel and post it, any one with a car built after that (1/97 to 7/97) please do the same. Actually is would be best if one car were an 8/96 build and the other a 7/97 build.

My 96 doesn't have tree dials. I think Ed knows the difference, he has seen mine many times. Yes, I know you meant 'three' instead of 'tree'. Also 97 was a transition year, the early 97's had HVAC panels like the 96's the later ones were like the 98's, Ed's is the latter.

Ed, try this link, http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2498&highlight=climate+control it might give some insight because people there talk about their Impreza's too.

If these systems keep people from blocking the hills on snowy days, I'm all for them.

I believe the Legacy and Forester have some sort a stability control on the new models. It was one of the reason why they made it to the top of the car list and Impreza didin't.

Sounds like a good diaognostic plan, but you don't need a stethascope, you can you a long screw driver, just place one end against the engine in the area you want to listen to, and the other end (preferably the handle LOL) against your ear. I used that technic long before I ever got a stethascope. I do have a few more years that you do wrenching, but like I said, my experience with the EJ22s ends at the 95 model year, I haven't worked on any newer then that.

Thanks for that input, my experience with EJ22s ends at the 95 model year. One of the hardest things to do is to diagnose a problem by what is posted here on the board. The best way is to do it in person. Having lived through several EA82's, I know the valve train noise can make the worst noise you have ever heard, it can sound like the engine will come apart at any second, so I would discredit valve train noise so quickly. Pitstain, if you are still planning to change the oil this weekend, try the Mystery Oil, it can not hurt your engine, and may even improve mileage. If it doesn't solve this problem, it will still do good things for your engine. Money well spent, and if it works, you'll know what it was.

It is probably not piston slap then, because the slap usually goes away, or becomes less noticable as the engine warms up. It could be the hydraulic cam followers (lifters). If you have the time, you should pull them and soak then in a cleaner then re-prime them. If that doesn't work, then you will need to replace them. When you change oil this weekend, see if you can find some Marvel Mystery Oil and add that to the change. If the lifters are sticking, it will help free them.

I've heard that it will be a European model only, it's not coming to the USA.

Really, does it do it all the time, or does it quiet down after the engine gets warm?

Maybe I haven't been paying too much attention, but I thought the piston slap problem was only related to the EJ25 engine.

Believe me, I understand exactly what happens when oil flows within an engine. I have personally destroyed several engines due to oil starvation, even to the point of having parts break through the block. I know only too well what oil starvation can do. I believe the difference in these new lighter weight oils is that they are synthetic and have quite different lubricating properties then regular multi grade oil. I have used additives for many years to help keep surfaces sliding with less friction, these synthetics have those additives as part of them. I am currently using a synthetic, but it is also a 20W50 weight, I'm using it for the additional lubrication properties.

Duh!!! They do contact in the same way, plain bearings are just over a wider area. There is a film of oil on the ball bearing and well as the surface that it is on contact with, there is a constant flow of oil over the area of contact, so that film is sustainable. If you never saw the demonstration, it might be hard for you to visualize.

I agree, but I only put mine on (spare set of rims with Hakki's) when the weatherman hints at snow. I can't see wearing down a great set of tires just because the season changes. I use only when required.

Looks like Ed needs to keep an eye out for early Legacy auto trannies at PAP Lynnwood.

Well I guess if you can't see the relevance of friction build up with the relationship to internal wear of an engine, there is no way I can explain this test to you.

Yea, I could remember the exact weight, but I knew it was a special weight for only BWMs. If it was more readily available, I'd be running it in my car.

Found an interesting article on Mobile 1 0W40, http://www.mobil.com/Canada-English/Lubes/PDS/IOCAENPVLMOMobil_1_0W-40.asp .