Reliable Motors?

[hardtail_pride]

So in my small time becoming acquainted with Subaru, i have noticed that there is a somewhat UN-reliable side to some motors. I was wondering if you could all help me pin point which motors are the worst to avoid and if looking for a new Subaru in the 2002-2006 range what is the best option. My friends mothers outback just had the infamous HG failure and 3000 motor replacement run around.

 

I hear the 2.2L is amazing and people are even swapping them into their newer outbacks. But is there a motor that is a 2.5 that is reliable with out these HG issues? Maybe there is a year range or difference between like the outbacks 2.5 and and imprezas' 2.5?

 

Thank you for any pushes in the right direction.

[idosubaru]

For the year range you're talking about an EJ25 is an EJ25, no differences between models.

 

There is nothing conclusive about EJ25 head gasket issues. 2002 is often thrown around and the quantitative support for that is Subarus extended 100,000 mile head gasket warranty on 00-02 EJ25's. Beyond that no one can tell you anything other than opinions, which are woefully and anecdotally inaccurate a lot of times.

 

There have been post 2002 EJ25 head gasket failures, but so far they few enough to be considered little more than anomalies.

 

The early Phase I 1996-1999/2000 EJ25's blow headgaskets all the time, you can find them every week for sale with blown motors easily. Don't let that affect your attitude towards the newer ones, they are far better as far as head gaskets go.

 

Suggestions:

 

Get a newer one - the later date range.

 

Find one that has already had the gaskets replaced (easy for 2000-2002 EJ25's).

 

Keep your eyes out for something with the H6 or turbocharged.

[hardtail_pride]

Cool good to know. are the H6 motors pretty reliable then? Same with the Turbo systems? I have shyed away from turbo motors because i figure they are driven a bit harder and will have probably a good amount of maintenance to do in the future as well. Any thoughts?

[uniberp]

H6's get lower gas mileage, according to epa.gov. Turbos require premium gas.

 

There is no such thing as a perfect car, in fact, the more expensive to buy, the more expensive to fix.

 

I have a 99 EJ25, an 08 EJ25 and a 97 2.2 liter and I like driving the 2.2 hard as it has 200k and seems to thrive on use.

 

Never had an H6. Not inclined. Too tight an engine bay for me.

[davebugs]

I deal mostly with the older stuff (95-2000). 2.2's are seemingly bullet proof. Especially the 95's but that's older than you're looking for.

 

2.5's - well choose your HG ussue preference. But it's really the rod knock that bothers me about them. HG's are fixable.

 

GF has a 2006 Impreza with probably 70-80k (I forget) that has been trouble free. It has a 2.5. Only comment on it was to make sure you service the tranny. I started a thread last year (IIR) about how dirty the fluid was after like 50k miles. Plugs are a PITA but not as bad as the DOHC 2.5's. I hope the HG issues are truely cured.

 

But I just don't know much about the newer stuff.

[idosubaru]

the H6's and turbo's are great motors.

 

hard to really say "turbo's have more problems" - they do have more hoses, coolant and oil lines and of course a turbo. but how many folks actually own vehicles long enough to see those things start to cause significant problems is probably small.

 

the older turbo engines - definitely shy away from, but you're talking 20 year old parts and lots of abuse to cars that aren't worth very much.