Subaru EJ253 SOHC Cylinder Head Installation

[@cajunaggie9815]

I like to add a line to the top of the head bolts (with a paint pen) to see how much I've turned the bolts. Makes a good visible reference. Another great video. Thanks.

[@JeffSmith-qu2di]

Glad you put this out. I'm putting the heads back on mine tomorrow morning. Thanks for this video torque spec and sequence.

[@jasonp410]

Just got my heads back from the machine shop and using your vids to take notes. Gonna try to reuse the head bolts but bought new ones just in case. Thanks for all the help!

[@MrSubaru1387]

Hopefully you bought Subaru genuine bolts and not Fel-Pro bolts..

[@jasonp410]

@@MrSubaru1387 yes i did through your Amazon link. OEM. Quick question tho: on the 07 what would you consider the final torque number to be? Unfortunately dont have an angle gauge to tell exactly what 90° is at but also dont want too loose or to break them.

[@MrSubaru1387]

@@jasonp410 doing this in car, or engine out?

[@jasonp410]

@@MrSubaru1387 engine in. Got the a torque wrench (central brand) but it doesn't have the angle like your snap on

[@619guy202]

@@jasonp410 you finish your car?

[@richardwilliams8667]

Mr Subaru thanks for the clarification on the updated torque specs. So many different versions out there. One question - do you think that the first three steps you dropped are not to do with pre stretching the (new) bolts but more to do with bedding in the new gasket? Seems to me the torque applied in first steps is not going to stretch a bolt? Just wondering if that is a known factor or an assumed factor in dropping the first steps in the torque guide? Great video I will be be doing this job soon. Also there is a Subaru MLS HG 11044AA633 do you know the difference with your recommended part?

[@banker9player9]

Mr Subaru please help me, how do you clean the block prior to putting machined heads back on?

[@sleeks9939]

I get the mix up on reusable head bolts or to use new ones. The service manual doesn’t mention any of that. Plus Subaru forms are all over the place with that questions. 🤣😂

[@wyomikey65]

Great video! Did they revise the torque specs?? I remember it being 11 lbs,25 lbs , 80-90 degrees x2.

[@MrSubaru1387]

They revised them 3 times I believe.

[@moonsapling]

I am running out of antifreeze fluid relatively fast. What may be causing the issue? We are speaking about the 2.0 engine on the 1st gen Forester. The one that is 125hp.

[@MrSubaru1387]

Coolant leak, blown head gasket, etc. Can't say without seeing the car.

[@moonsapling]

@@MrSubaru1387 thanka for the answer anyways!

[@thundergun15]

Hey dont you mean 2.5 engine with 165hp thats what google says i have a first gen forester from 2002

[@MrSubaru1387]

Non USDM Foresters had a 2.0L.

[@skylinegt4487]

Awesome video man! Does your torque wrench also measure how many degrees you rotate it?!

[@MrSubaru1387]

Yes. This is the Snap-on Techangle series. Measures torque and angle. The wrench has a built in gyroscope.

[@BJPr12]

Interesting.. I wonder if Subaru changed/decreased the Heads final torque specs in these model years. For my ‘01 Forester(99-02), the FSM stated 90+90 degrees(no more than 180), on yours(06-08 models), it stated 45+45(no more than 90). None of the bolts screeched, nice!

[@MrSubaru1387]

Yeah, spec did change, I believe after 04.

[@BJPr12]

MrSubaru1387 Phew.. that’s a relief lol

[@cajunaggie9815]

I'm doing a set of heads now. The old spec was 25 ft-lb for the center bolts and 11 ft-lb for the outer ones for the initial torque, then 90-90 (no more than 180 deg). The new one is 31 ft-lb for the preliminary torque on all the bolts then 90-45-45(center only) with the last two not to exceed 90 deg. (still less than 180 total) Should work out to about the same final torque as the old spec.

[@BJPr12]

Cajun Aggie Cajun Aggie As MeSubaru1387 indicated, if you are reusing the head bolts, you need to bypass the PRE torque sequence, otherwise you may over stretch the bolts. Last thing you want is a seized or broken bolt inside the block. I also made sure to pre lube the holes with oil as well as the bolts. Then I turned the engine to drain the excess oil, then I installed the bolts. If your bolts begin to screech, do not continue, back them out and add a bit more oil. I had no issues at all this way.

[@cajunaggie9815]

@@BJPr12 I meant the torque listed in step 4 of the sequence (4:50)

[@kennethfalck7404]

I have a 20 05 Forester LL Bean with the EJ253 BXSAB engine. I want replace all the gaskets. What is the Gasket kit # that inclu des the MLS head gaskets? Does the kit come with any parts that my machine shop would need to rebuild the head?

[@tokyotopp]

Does a 98 97 2.2 sohc engine use the same method?

[@weeekwo3245]

hmm, somewhere in the forums someone said the dohc-version hg fits on the sohc heads and is more resilient to corrosion; can i get ur input? thanks!

[@MrSubaru1387]

I believe the new MLS gaskets on the SOHC are the old STi head gaskets.

[@TytoMobile]

Great videos, they've really help me figure out the repair landscape as a first-time Subaru owner. Question: I need to get my head gaskets done, the dealer recommended that my garage use the SLS coated gaskets or Fel-Pro, but I dont want to have to redo my heads again. I told my garage to use the MLS, but they're concerned about torque specs. Should they use the same torque specs for the MLS gasket on a SOHC EJ253 as they would with the crappy coated gaskets? Does the difference in torque spec between the DOHC and the SOHC have to do with compressing thr gasket, or with the difference in combustion pressures and compression ratios?

[@MrSubaru1387]

Use the Subaru genuine STi MLS gaskets. You the normal torque spec for your engine in head install. Have the heads machined.

[@TytoMobile]

Perfect, thanks so much! I'm really impressed by your response time! I'm going to have them do the timing set also, since the writing's gone from the belt, even though it looks okay. Cheaper than replacing a valvetrain or heads! Edit: The STi gasket from '09 has different coolant & oil gallery cutouts from my '09 SOHC EJ253, the one you used here matches the coolant galleries on the crappy coated gaskets for mine. Subaru's fitting tool seems to think the one with different cutouts will fit, but the one with the same cutouts won't. Odd. Another edit: I'm just going to use the one you used here.

[@1rolmos]

Are all these specs the same for ej251 sohc?

[@kennethfalck7404]

thanks

[@MrSubaru1387]

You're welcome!

[@joel.3112]

Isn't it better to go with felpro or six star? Headgaskets rather then Subaru brand? What's your suggestion please?

[@MrSubaru1387]

No. Never FelPro. Only use Subaru MLS gaskets.

[@joel.3112]

@@MrSubaru1387 Thanks

[@Chris-Fennimore]

@@coreym3201 Hmmmmm.... Interesting, now you got me wondering too. I used the new Felpro MLS gaskets too, on my '04 Outback. No issues after 15k.

[@MrSubaru1387]

I've seen FelPro and Six Stars fail. I haven't seen the new MLS Subaru gaskets fail. The Subaru gaskets that failed were the original design, single layer, coated gasket. Those are discontinued and have been replace by the new design MLS gaskets.

[@joel.3112]

@@MrSubaru1387 I was not aware of that, iam sure glad I ran that comment over to you. I would rather use OEM, MLS anytime once again thanks for your time have a good day sir.

[@WickedCrispy]

Can you stick an EJ257 WRX / STI short block in with the SOHC? Will everything line up? I know the subframe / crossmember would need to be swapped.

[@growingup4487]

wrx sti block is got different water jackets and crank and rods and pistons it's the not the same

[@BeardedWrenchh]

Where do you stand on having the heads machined? Most people nowadays say you need to send the heads to get decked. But when I worked for Subaru doing these gaskets we never sent our heads out. Just cleaned and reinstalled.

[@MrSubaru1387]

They have to be machined. Subaru did them cheap and fast, that's why they always failed again.

[@jangonzalez5627]

I want to saw red svx fixing video

[@MrSubaru1387]

Me too. 😔 💔

[@noodlesromanoff1597]

Thanks for your videos- I have done a lot of my own work thanks to you. Appreciate the help- I cant see anywhere in the FSM where it says the torque sequence is for new head bolts. Would it be an issue if I followed the service manual using original head bolts? I remember your video saying they can be reused, and the manual doesn't say to replace them- was just wondering why the manual would list specs for new head bolts?- Thanks again from Australia!!

[@baggersvancelegendof835]

I am going to be replacing the head gaskets on my 2010 forester this wknd. I'm curious as to where did you get the info that you skip the part about the torque angle sequences? It doesn't say anything in the FSM.. thanks

[@MrSubaru1387]

From experience. You only do the first part of the sequence with new head bolts, to stretch them. Old bolts are already stretched.

[@baggersvancelegendof835]

@@MrSubaru1387 seems logical. I suppose I'll follow your advice. Hope this goes well. Thanks for all the vids. Has been a real big help preparing for this job.

[@brianskinner4328]

This maybe a stupid question, but are the ej series the same. I was wondering since the torque pattern seemed more even torque than the other ej25's. That's why I was curious

[@MrSubaru1387]

The installation specs/sequence were revised by Subaru around 04-05.

[@JonathanLopez-zm1rv]

What year is this engine

[@MrSubaru1387]

2005

[@JonathanLopez-zm1rv]

Same engine as in 10-12 legacy/outback and same torque sequence