matt167 Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 so possible new Subaru is now my Subaru. Its a 2001 Forester. S I think. Clean clean in and out. They say it does not get hot but its blowing coolant over the engine, so I offered accordingly and got it. I've got a ej25d short block if I need, or ill just do head gaskets and timing belt and call it good.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montana tom Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Confirm where the coolant is coming from ... could be a bad cap or the coolant lines to the intake.... might not need head gaskets. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt167 Posted October 4, 2015 Author Share Posted October 4, 2015 (edited) I planned on checking it for obvious leaks. It was actually dark when I looked at it. He had a light and I was able to check it over and test drive and it didn't get hot.. If it's not in need of a head gasket it will be a plus Edited October 4, 2015 by matt167 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt167 Posted October 4, 2015 Author Share Posted October 4, 2015 (edited) I think im gonna go to the yard and locate another EJ251 anyway. This car has 218k miles on it and the title I got with it shows 2008 issue date with 84k miles, so it has almost exactly 100k miles in previous owners ownership. Might need a clutch at some point given it's kinda stiff and probably orig.. so if I can drive the car till no clutch, and then put in a lower mile engine checked over with new head gaskets when it's time, it will be better. I could buy a set of EJ251 heads and put them on my EJ25D short block with 25D head gaskets. leave it on the stand till it's time. Heads would be $100 out of the junkyard. I'd find ones that have timing belt unbroken. seems like cutting the belt would make it so I didn't have to pull all covers and balancer, to get them out of the yard and off yard motor. Edited October 4, 2015 by matt167 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt167 Posted October 7, 2015 Author Share Posted October 7, 2015 Picked up the car last night and drove it home.. It had a violent shimmy above 45 MPH that smoothed out above 55 MPH but it didn't get hot, the heater got hot and it stayed hot, didn't smell like coolant and other than a wheel bearing I knew was howling it was ok... Took it to work this morning in hopes that the shimmy was a wheel balance issue and it was pretty far out, but zeroed out.. It now is shimmy free and runs and handles like a slot car. So this is what $1,400 got me.. It's got little rust but very presentable. , little over 219k miles but it's solid underneath. Brakes are decent and the interior is pretty immaculate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdventureSubaru Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 219 is nothing for this motor if well maintained. I've worked on a few that have gone over 350k on original motors. At that mileage it has already had headgaskets done once most likely but unless they were installed improperly, should not be failing again. Check your hoses, check the edges of the coolant manifold, temp sensor etc and be darn sure it's not a leak. If the head gaskets are not the problem just run it. These are good motors. They don't stand up to abuse/neglect as well as the 90s ej22s but are still a 300k and 400k motor if cared for. Car looks sharp. Regardless of the path to get it running well, I'd say you got a deal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt167 Posted October 9, 2015 Author Share Posted October 9, 2015 (edited) The leak spray is gone, never was even able to trace it. the guy could have spilled coolant on the fan for all I know.. It's running GREAT, hasn't used a drop of coolant and it stays right on 1/2 on the coolant gauge.. I just changed the oil today which was dark but not bad. and pulled the instrument cluster to replace bulbs that were out, to find someone borrowed the bulbs and sockets for a different car. So it's off to the yard tomorrow for some sockets.. Also, the rear hatch latch is seized open. I can't get it free so I'll grab one of those too. I have it ziptied closed for the time being I've serviced some EJ251's with over 350k miles on them, so that's why I didn't think twice about 219k being high.. without that odo reading, I could tell people it has 100k on it and it would be believable. Edited October 9, 2015 by matt167 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stelcom66 Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 Great purchase, my '02 Forester S, also a 5 speed manual has almost exactly 100k less miles but of course I paid a lot more for it 4 years ago. It runs great, I enjoy driving it. Encouraging to hear there's 200k+ mile 2.5s out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt167 Posted October 9, 2015 Author Share Posted October 9, 2015 back from yard for $25. I got 2 latches. One from a 1998 Forester and one from a 01 legacy wagon. Latches are same except for the handle release. also got bulbs a jack for $4 and a cargo net that I'm missing for $.91 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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