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Subaru Impreza Engine Problems

298 messages,  Last post on May 20, 2013 at 6:51 PM

You are in the Subaru Impreza Maintenance & Repair Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Impreza, Engine, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 28 of 30

#268 of 298 Re: Anyone else burning oil? [isellhondas] by xwesx

Oct 04, 2011 (2:38 pm)

Replying to: isellhondas (Oct 04, 2011 12:11 pm)
That's exactly right! Honestly, it all depends on the nature of the issue. Oil in the engine dramatically reduces friction (of course), so even a small problem that is ultimately fatal can go a long time before it comes to that due to the extremely low levels of friction. This is especially so if the car is "gently" driven.
 
My wife keeps saying, "please be gentle with it - it's a new car." I reply, "Why? I'm not abusing it, so if something's going to break, I want it to happen now - not when it is out of warranty!"

#269 of 298 Picked up the Impreza yesterday! by isellhondas

Oct 08, 2011 (9:53 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Oct 04, 2011 2:38 pm)
Honestly, this Subaru Dealer could not have been any better!
 
They were fast, friendly and quick to provide a loaner they didn't have to provide.
 
I taked to the Service Manager and as I expected, it lost a rod bearing which did a lot of damage.
 
I asked him how common this was on Subarus and, although he did his best to reassure us it was an odd occurance, he did say that "we do replace a few engines". He alluded to the boxer design and said that "for the most part" the head gasket problems were pretty much solved.
 
It's going to take a long time for our son to have his confidence restored. Getting off a dark rainy freeway full of traffic wasn't a fun thing to do.
 
Again, top marks to the Subaru Dealer in Bellevue WA!

#270 of 298 Re: Picked up the Impreza yesterday! [isellhondas] by dino001

Oct 11, 2011 (6:55 pm)

Replying to: isellhondas (Oct 08, 2011 9:53 am)
Actually, loaners are "standard of care" in my neck of the woods. The only limitation is call in early. In case of a longer repair, a rental car is provided, tab picked up by Subaru.
 
A a former (still former?) Honda salesman you may not be aware, but Subaru is a half-notch higher than Honda when it comes to post-sale customer treatment: 3/36 B-B, 5/60 P, 3/36 roadside, mainenance service loaner (need to reserve due to limited supply), car rental for overnight repairs, even their creaks and rattles, wear and tear is 3/36K (including break pads - only problem you would have to wear them to 1 mm, which is kind of hard). And it's all included in the original price - at least with my local Subaru dealer.

#272 of 298 Re: Picked up the Impreza yesterday! [isellhondas] by nippononly

Jan 23, 2012 (6:48 pm)

Replying to: isellhondas (Oct 08, 2011 9:53 am)
Now you have me worried!
 
In the last six months I just discovered my '09 OBS is going through a lot of oil - 2 quarts in the last OCI, which is 5K miles, and it was low again when I took it for the oil change. So at the last service (the 30K mile service) they did whatever it is they need to do, and now I am supposed to bring it to them the next time it needs oil, which will be in 1000 miles or less going by my experience with it so far.
 
Unlike those posting above, I have never had a Subaru that consumed lots of oil, even my '84 never needed extra oil between oil changes, although it did use a little.
 
And unlike the Bellevue dealer, my dealer pretty much sucks, so this could go badly. I will say this though, if the engine fails and needs to be replaced, particularly if it strands me somewhere, I won't be keeping the car.
 
The only question then would be whether to buy a '12, whose looks and much improved interior and fuel efficiency have my interest piqued, or to walk away from the Subaru brand forever. I like the quirkiness of Subarus, but having a dependable and long-lasting car is more important to me than having a quirky car with a boxer engine.
 
Wish me luck! :-/

#273 of 298 Re: Picked up the Impreza yesterday! [nippononly] by ateixeira

Jan 24, 2012 (8:42 am)

Replying to: nippononly (Jan 23, 2012 6:48 pm)
The FB series engines have separate fluid lines for the block and heads, so the head gasket problems should be a thing of the past. There are far fewer holes/seals in the gaskets now.
 
FB engines go in the new Impreza and 2011+ Forester.

#274 of 298 Re: Picked up the Impreza yesterday! [ateixeira] by nippononly

Jan 25, 2012 (9:05 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 24, 2012 8:42 am)
Too bad my 2009 isn't an FB then.
 
My '09 is what, an EJ? But I'm really hoping that just as people said at the time when I bought the thing, the head gasket problem was already behind them well before that year.....

#275 of 298 Re: Picked up the Impreza yesterday! [nippononly] by ateixeira

Jan 26, 2012 (7:56 am)

Replying to: nippononly (Jan 25, 2012 9:05 pm)
EJ25, yes.
 
The gasket material itself was much improved, but when they got a chance for a clean sheet design, they kept that in mind.
 
I have an 09 since mid 2008, just oil changes so far. Wife loves it, won't even discuss trading up for a new one.

#276 of 298 Re: Picked up the Impreza yesterday! [nippononly] by isellhondas

Feb 01, 2012 (9:44 am)

Replying to: nippononly (Jan 23, 2012 6:48 pm)
Well, if your Subaru is using a quart every 2500 miles, that's not such a bad thing and it's probably well within what Subaru considers to be acceptable.
 
Even a quart every 1000 miles is probably within specs I would think.
 
Any car can blow an engine and I wouldn't write off Subaru because of some oddball occurance.
 
Still, our son's Impreza has fallen short of what he expected.

#277 of 298 Re: Picked up the Impreza yesterday! [isellhondas] by nippononly

Feb 04, 2012 (1:43 am)

Replying to: isellhondas (Feb 01, 2012 9:44 am)
I'm sure it's well within what every automaker considers acceptable, but it's not what I consider acceptable.
 
Never had a Toyota do that, never had any of my other Subarus do that. But I have driven about 1500 miles and so far it only seems to be down less than half a quart, so that's something.
 
Thing is, if it's a quart every 3000 miles now, what will it be when the car passes 100K miles and is well out of warranty? I always keep cars longer than that....

Messages Page 28 of 30

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