6 cylinders....how reliable?

[bgambino]

I have never bought a suby with a 6

How reliable are they?

I know they have a chain

When do they need to be adjusted

When do they need a complete change---how difficult is it?

 

I don't remember hearing about HG issues...?

 

Any repetitive repair issues?

 

thanks...just curious

[1 Lucky Texan]

we have an 03

 

chains are supposed to be the life of the car

 

there are beginning to be more HG issues mentioned - not sure if the RATE of problems is approaching the 4cyl.

 

the engine is glass smooth and has great highway passing power - a little 'doggy' off the line. - probably like any typical 6 cyl.

 

some say that valve clearances might be tight at 200K miles (exhaust valve particularly).

 

we like ours overall. not many miles on it but - I like driving it still.

 

there are some well known, 'fairly' minor common problems; (acc belt pulley bearings)

Edited December 10, 2015 by 1 Lucky Texan

[ccrinc]

GREAT engine.  BUT...faithful oil changes are a MUST.   But they are very reliable when maintained properly, which includes the cooling system.

 

Changing the timing chains is not for the faint of heart.  Over 100 bolts just to take off the front timing cover.  To replace the tensioners, you must also take off the inner timing cover: another 100+ bolts!  And, they must be removed/reinstalled in a specific order, then torqued in a specific order.  I've seen the job and I don't want it.

 

Emily

[AdventureSubaru]

As durable a motor as you can get in the 2000+ years. They make great power. From what I gather, they are more reliable than their EJ25 counterparts from 2000-2006 and probably beyond, but maintenance and repair on them is more complex, tight and expensive. So there's some give and take.

 

Personally, I would not hesitate to buy/drive one. We had an 06 LL Bean with the EZ30 for a year before we got my wifes 2011

[idosubaru]

Great engines, easily rack up high miles.

 

headgaskets are the biggest concern.  they have very tricky to diagnose symptoms that can take a year or two to fully present themselves as an obvious cooling system issue.  this makes them ripe for selling, trading, and ending up for sale.  lots of people - including tons of mechanics mis-diagnose them.

 

because of this - an abnormally high percent on dealer lots have headgasket issues, the rate there is higher than an average H6.  i've seen them for sale on dealer lots with headgasket issues and of all the H6's I've been involved with buying (i help people buy subarus) - two of them have come down with headgasket issues shortly after purchasing.

 

guess where those two were bought from?  dealers.

 

If I wanted and H6 as a long term vehicle I'd be looking for a particularly kind of private seller - had the car awhile, no issues, honest, obviously not just dumping it, etc.

 

Serpentine pulley bearings fail very often - but are cheap and easy to replace.  $30 and 30 minutes.

 

A/C frequently leaks - but it's a simple $5 in parts repair - i have a write up on it.

 

The fuel pump cap tabs crack and fail - not a bad idea to replace the caps and install a better oring.

 

All three of those last issues have excellent write ups and information online about repairing or preemptively replacing them.

 

Typical oil cooler gasket and valve cover gasket oil leaks over time/miles.

Spark plugs are very tight - but easy to do with the valve covers removed - i usually just do them at the same time and the plugs are easy.

Every 100k plug i've removed looked in excellent shape, so the stock plugs last very well on a good running engine.

Edited December 11, 2015 by grossgary

[Caboobaroo]

My wife and I bought ours at 95k miles and has 153k currently. I did the 90k service, new inner axle boots and some brake work to start with. Then ended up replacing the TPS and harness for it as they are known for issues. I've also done front and rear brakes and other random maintanence stuff as well. Have not had any issues with oil leaks which they are common for but I do have a bit of an external coolant seep at a head gasket.

 

The car has been super reliable with one instance where it got a bit warm in the middle of summer, 100 degree weather, AC on and climbing a good steep incline.

[CNY_Dave]

55k->255K so far on mine, needed a crank 'pulley' and the usual serp belt bearings. Had some steel coolant lines and the oil pan rust out due to salt, too.