ej18...anyone running an open timing belt?

[LPGsuperchargedBrumby]

i'm going to do my timing belt and was woundering if anyone is running a SOHC EJ with no timing belt cover as my front covers are pretty shot....as in held on by zip ties because they are all broken around the bolt holes.

 

is there any reason why i couldn't or shouldn't run an open belt (besides getting a stone in the belt)?

[scoobyclimbs]

I don't recommend it..

I would try some Gorilla tape the stuff is amazing even sticks to water covered surfaces.

Another way is to get some plastic epoxy and remold the broken bits & pieces together again . Use the gorilla tape to help hold pieces together while you let the expoxy set.

 

I would try to get another used cover... beats having your EJ18 becoming an interference engine..in a catasrophic way!

 

Cheers

[idosubaru]

i have an EJ18 (and multiple other subaru engines) without timing covers. they aren't needed.

 

with hard core off roading, like high center in snow and trudging through mud/water - then maybe you have a reason to keep the covers. but in hard core stuff even the covers can easily break and lodge into stuff...that's just how it goes in off roading.

 

this is a highly opinionated topic. you can search and read all the arguments/threads about it from the past...which will all be recounted here.

 

those that have never done it attach whatever reasons sound convenient to them....even though their experience is 100% anecdotal.

 

i've actually seen damage from timing covers. they get hit, crack, come loose, or pushed into something and rub against the belt or rub a hole in an ATF line. where i've never experienced any problem in running open belts on multiple cars for many years. so in actual experience (not arm chair theoretical anecdotal stuff) - covers are worse.

 

i would listen to those doing it and that work on dozens of subaru's a year rather than those concocting stories as to what could happen.

 

one person claimed failure with open belts. a search of his threads showed he drives like a maniac..and admitted to it when i asked him, he said it was his fault. anecdotal and easily could have been a problem even with covers driving like that (see explanation above).

 

it's also harder to check things and do maintenance with the covers there, that's an enormous maintenance and time benefit.

 

real world experience is overwhelmingly positive - arm chair opinions are theories that rarely, if ever happen.

Edited November 16, 2008 by grossgary

[s'ko]

the ej18 is a non-interference motor.

 

i had open t-belts on my BRAT for 10,000 miles now. mainly b/c the end that i got didn't even have the rear mounting pieces. zero problems. never really taken it wheeling but its kinda hard to see how just road debris can find it's way in there with a 5 inch lift. going through really deep water could get sticks or other things that float, like lead or churches in there, but other than that, i should be ok.

 

 

 

I plan to put then on someday maybe if usmb crashes again.

Edited November 16, 2008 by s'ko

[mikeshoup]

I would only worry about running them if it was an interference motor. On those, you don't want to take a chance. My EJ25 will run covers forever.

 

However, on a non-interference motor like the EJ18, go for it. I've ran a few EA82s without covers, never had problems with rocks, sticks, etc. This is after driving on numerous gravel roads and other "potentially hazardous" areas.