Replacing Your Subaru EJ25D Engine
In my years in the automotive industry, I’ve learned that Subaru owners love their cars with good reason (the Subaru commercials are not lying!). Subaru’s handle well, have powerful engines, and with a few exceptions seem to last “forever.” Most Subaru’s sold in the US for from 1996 until now have been based around the 4 cylinder, 2.5L EJ25 engine in some variation.
The EJ25D was used from 1996-1999 in the Subaru Impreza (1998) Legacy/Outback (1996-1999) and the Subaru Forester). This engine was very popular – it produced a tremendous amount of power given its compact design and light weight. EJ25D’s are very fuel efficient. The upsides of this engine also caused some problems.
Dealing with Heat
The engine has a very wide bore (diameter of the cylinders) and a very short stroke (distance the pistons travel “up and down” in the cylinder). This means there is not much metal to absorb the heat the thing produces, so the cooling system must work flawlessly. Many shops report that Subaru radiators just don’t hold up well over time, and that they are too cheap to “rod out.” This means that if the radiator isn’t working properly, you’re better off getting a new radiator than working on your old one.
The head gasket is also considered problematic on the EJ25D. This engine seeps liquid out of the engine through the head gasket at times. Subaru has a chemical you can put in the engine which often times will fix the problem if it is applied early enough. If it isn’t dealt with, sufficient pressure can’t be maintained in the cooling system and the head gasket will “blow.” At that time, getting a replacement engine is a better option than having your mechanic fix the cylinder head.
EJ25D Replacement Options: Remanufactured, Rebuilt, or Used
You have a few options if your head gasket is blown on your EJ25D.
The first option you have is to buy a remanufactured cylinder head. A true remanufactured cylinder head is expensive and might not fix your problem if the block on your EJ25D is cracked. A good mechanic will “magnaflux” your block before putting the head on, but many shops don’t. If the block is cracked, you need an entirely different engine assembly. There are many different remanufacturers of cylinder heads. All good remanufacturers will magnaflux their heads to check for cracks and pressure check the head once the remanufacturing process is complete. Their process will use a seat and guide machine which produces a 3 angle seat and high quality valve seals. When the remanufacturing process is done, a remanufactured head will meet or exceed OEM standards. If you need an entire engine, a remanufactured Subaru engine is a viable option.
You could also buy a “rebuilt” head. A rebuilt head is typically, in this author’s opinion, a waste of money since the rebuild only fixes the point of failure, leaving many worn components in place. Longevity is highly questionable.
Finally, you can buy a used cylinder head or a used engine. This can be a good option if you can find an engine or head with “low miles,” since such an engine would have low wear and be “close to new.” Such an engine might not always look pretty, but it will almost always give a cost to value ratio that is very much in its favor. Tack on a lower labor cost and you’ll find that your total savings on a used Subaru engine make it very worthwhile.
Research your supplier
Whether you buy remanufactured, rebuilt, or used, there are two types of suppliers: great and horrible. Research your supplier before you buy! Check out BBB.com (the Better Business Bureau) to see how many complaints your potential supplier has, and how long they’ve been in business. If the company just opened be wary – there are many fly by night companies that open, screw enough people to get themselves in treble, close, and then open under another name. I talk to consumers everyday who tell me stories in tears that are so sad they make you want to cry with them. If the consumer would have just spent five minutes on bbb.com, they would have never thrown their money away!
Also, understand your supplier’s warranty. Many warranties require you to follow specific guidelines which are in place for your protection. If you don’t follow these guidelines you can damage the engine and void your warranty. Good suppliers will happily explain their warranty!
J. W. McBride has worked in the automotive industry for five years. He loves to save customers money by helping them find used parts. He particularly enjoys dealing with used Subaru Engines.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J._W._McBride
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Tags: automotive, mechanic