Top end or bottom end?

[Doppleganger]

See what you guys make of this. Had a blown HG but car ran perfectly. Had heads rebuilt. Installed them and gave it a go. Started perfectly and idled smooth and incredibly quiet. Topped off the coolant and ATF. Had it running with heat on high to get the air out. After about 3 min a slight tick was heard (not uncommon with a cold valve train). Then this started -

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Sounds like maybe a rod but not as bad as one either. Very loud. Idle is still solid and smooth. Its in the right side so going to pull things apart this weekend.

Dunno.

 

[nvrenuf]

Ouch!

I'd say pull plug wires to locate the noise to a cylinder but that may also set off a lot of codes.

Edit: Since the heads were rebuilt, maybe check with the machine shop about any valve adjustment work they may have done.

 

[DoubleDingo]

This being an interference engine, if it was the piston(s) contacting valves or something like that, I have a feeling it would stop running. Could it maybe be an exhaust leak? The engine itself sounds smooth. I am curious what you find, as I also have a Forester.

 

[TotalyHucked]

That sounds like a rod knock to me

 

[Doppleganger]

I dont think the SOHC motors are interference - I know the DOHC ones are though.

Idle is smooth and solid - just this banging. Only upside is its on the passenger side and that can be accessed much easier while still in the car.

 

[DoubleDingo]

What I just read 1997 and up shoc engines are interference engines. I hope it's just a bad exhaust leak.

 

[Doppleganger]

If it is a rod bearing, it was at idle for -maybe- 2 min total when it happened, so (hopefully) minimum damage if any. I know a guy who spun one under boost - he pulled the pan and replaced it in the car and it was fine til he sold it 3 yrs later. Going to pull the head on that side this weekend and see if anything jumps out. Plan B is to pull the motor again, pull the pan and check those bearings out.

I like these cars ok, but was always concerned with the number of these things I saw in ads with 100k or less that read "needs a motor". If only Toyota still made a wagon.

 

[Doppleganger]

Found this........

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You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Frankenchevy]

My sister has had not so great of luck with Subarus. Had an engine replaced in her forester under warranty. Now the current engine is pretty clattery.

Dad had a new forester with a manual transmission in 2018 that he bought to flat tow behind his diesel pusher. It consumed oil from day one. Was able to get the dealership to lemon law it. At first they told him it’s consumption on the high side of normal. Close to a quart every thousand miles at less than 20,000 miles, give me a break.

Then again, my buddy had an old gl wagon when we were in high school in 2001 that had pretty dang high miles and ran okay.

Oil control in a boxer is an art form.

Anyhow, that sounds like it’s running on three cylinders. Was a spark plug fubar’d on reinstallation? Firing order? Compression test?

 

[Doppleganger]

My sister has had not so great of luck with Subarus. Had an engine replaced in her forester under warranty. Now the current engine is pretty clattery.

Dad had a new forester with a manual transmission in 2018 that he bought to flat tow behind his diesel pusher. It consumed oil from day one. Was able to get the dealership to lemon law it. At first they told him it’s consumption on the high side of normal. Close to a quart every thousand miles at less than 20,000 miles, give me a break.

Then again, my buddy had an old gl wagon when we were in high school in 2001 that had pretty dang high miles and ran okay.

Oil control in a boxer is an art form.

Anyhow, that sounds like it’s running on three cylinders. Was a spark plug fubar’d on reinstallation? Firing order? Compression test?

Plugs and wires (and coil) are all new. It started this racket about 2min after its second start. It ran just fine before - even with a bad HG. First start and 2 min of the second start it was smooth and very quiet. Even with this noise, the tach is solid and steady. No CE lights either.

I cant imagine ever boosting one of these egg shell blocks. I know I wont own another, but gotta get this going as we are down to 1 car ATM.....not good.

 

[Ricko1966]

Did you change the oil before you started it?

 

[Doppleganger]

Did you change the oil before you started it?

Um.....yes. The motor had been pulled to do the heads so everything was drained/replaced.

 

[TotalyHucked]

Man there's alot of Subaru's that I love the look and sound of, but the engine issues have always scared me off of owning one. Someday I may very well give one a shot though

 

[DoubleDingo]

Have owned two, no problems with either one. Great cars. But I am also talking about the pre-CVT cars. Back before the CVT you could rev the engine to seat the rings, valves, etc, and they didn't require water-thin-oil to run. My Forester, 2007 XT Limited, the PO threw everything at it, and I am not talking about parts to fix it, I am talking about WRX turbo, all kinds suspension parts, tire/wheel combos, took it to the track, raced the twisties around SF. He thoroughly enjoyed the car. I didn't want the WRX turbo or mapping, so he took it back to stock so I didn't have to swap everything out every two years. When I went to buy it, he picked me up at the hotel and drove me to his house to complete the paperwork. Getting on the freeway he was in it hard, accelerating around a 25 mph circular on ramp pushing 50 and climbing, me and my girlfriend's son were both hanging on, the car never broke traction, never lifted a wheel, just took off planted to the roadway. It doesn't use oil, doesn't burn oil. He switched from the 5w30 it calls for, the Rotella 5w40. The new cars with their thin oil and no way to seat anything, there is nothing to do but pour oil it because it's going to consume it.

@Doppleganger The new tensioner seems to have fixed it. Is that correct? Are you going to install a new timing belt as well?

 

[TotalyHucked]

Have owned two, no problems with either one. Great cars. But I am also talking about the pre-CVT cars. Back before the CVT you could rev the engine to seat the rings, valves, etc, and they didn't require water-thin-oil to run. My Forester, 2007 XT Limited, the PO threw everything at it, and I am not talking about parts to fix it, I am talking about WRX turbo, all kinds suspension parts, tire/wheel combos, took it to the track, raced the twisties around SF. He thoroughly enjoyed the car. I didn't want the WRX turbo or mapping, so he took it back to stock so I didn't have to swap everything out every two years. When I went to buy it, he picked me up at the hotel and drove me to his house to complete the paperwork. Getting on the freeway he was in it hard, accelerating around a 25 mph circular on ramp pushing 50 and climbing, me and my girlfriend's son were both hanging on, the car never broke traction, never lifted a wheel, just took off planted to the roadway. It doesn't use oil, doesn't burn oil. He switched from the 5w30 it calls for, the Rotella 5w40. The new cars with their thin oil and no way to seat anything, there is nothing to do but pour oil it because it's going to consume it.

@Doppleganger The new tensioner seems to have fixed it. Is that correct? Are you going to install a new timing belt as well?

That's exactly the generation I'd like to have, early-mid 2000s WRX. Saw a ~05 I think? white one in Atlanta yesterday. Stock big wing and all, just slammed on coilovers and nice wheels with some small, tasteful what I would call "export" flares that looked right at home. Broke my neck trying to get a better look lol