Subaru Impreza - Forester - Outback Engine Removal AT HOME With (Mostly) Basic Hand Tools

Today we're removing the engine from this 2010 Subaru Impreza 2.5L non-turbo. As you can probably guess, the head gaskets on this Subaru are worn and leaking. Leaking Subaru head gaskets are well known to fail over time. Unfortunately, there is very little room to replace head gaskets while the engine installed. Therefore, it's far easier to simply remove the engine and replace the head gaskets. Fortunately, it's quite straight forward. I'll show how to remove the engine with basic hand tools - no cordless or air tools required! Regarding the engine hoist, you may be able to rent one. You can try purchasing an engine hoist from Harbor Freight or Northern Tool. I was able to find a used engine hoist from Facebook Marketplace.
This guide will also give you a very good idea on how to remove the engine from other Subaru's. The 2.5L engine is used among many models; including the Subaru Forester, Subaru Outback, Subaru Legacy and others.
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Screwdriver Set: amzn.to/2ZvuKxP
Subaru Quick Line Fuel Disconnect Tool: amzn.to/2x9pXY2
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Note:
Any attempt to repair automotive parts and/or systems carries risk of personal injury. Always adhere and follow safe practices when working on vehicles. Such as, safety glasses, jack stands, no loose clothing, etc. No guarantee or warranty is implied. Use the information in this video at your own risk. Carsntoys is a member of the Amazon Influencer Program.
Publication, reproduction or distribution of this film is strictly prohibited.
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[@davidosborn3002]

This was excellent! Practical and easy to follow. I followed this procedure step by step as I pulled the engine out of my daughter's 2013 Forester. Went totally according to script!

[@o.c.stiggs5377]

My hat's off to you for tackling this job! The head gaskets on my daughter's 2010 Forester were replaced by a reputable independent Subaru specialist garage (I avoid dealerships like the plague) with 105K on the clock. Head gasket issues, timing belt rather than chain, and general boxer accessibility headaches, if I had it to do over again I would have gone with a Rav 4, no doubt about it.

[@wingedhorsegarage473]

That tip, using the socket and extension to give yourself more leverage, was worth watching the video . Thanks for the great content!

[@solutionnetwork]

ⁿ oops 00000000⁹o po 9p 9oò😊

[@Rein_Ciarfella]

I agree! I have several pipe extenders I’ve made to fit various tools, but no shorter ones, which is exactly what this is. I love being able to use tools for multiple tasks. Correction - the word is “torque”, not “leverage”.

[@ImportDriver]

One of the best, must detailed videos I found. Very helpful! Thanks!

[@jorgemay3833]

You are absolutely a great Teacher !!!.

[@76rmyers]

Thanks for the detailed video. I am parting out a 2015 Forester and even though it's a bit different, this will help me when it comes time to pull the engine

[@rj4007]

Thanks very much. This is my first time trying anything like this

[@Glenn_123]

Great content!! Really enjoyed this one.

[@lignivle]

Good job, bro. Appreciate the video . Good heads up and excellent step by step guide. Doing my engine this week .02/27/2024. Will update when iam done . Also replacing timing chainnandnguides water pump and spark plugs .. doing lower and upper control arms, all stabilizer links front and rear .. 4 hub bearings brakes and rotors all around. I'll donthe mounts next month all fluid changes front dif rear dif Trans rear rear . And new gaskets before installing the engine.. Great car has 198k on the clock. Timing chain went, and it did havoc on the top end. Got one with 148k ... gonna do all the lil things . Tlc... All and all, thanks a million great vid and tutorial.. much appreciated

[@lignivle]

Oh yeah and all 4 struts ..

[@oldtimer6528]

Excellent video. Thank you for the thorough explanation

[@CarsNToys]

Glad it was helpful!

[@frankarrieta9211]

Thank you for posting. It was a very informative video. Good tips and tricks.

[@jeffjohnson6252]

EXCELLENT, clear video. Thanks & Subscribed.

[@yehtutnaung7164]

thank you for vivid explanation

[@techyguy1]

Great video. You did a fantastic job. Kudos from Canada

[@cheryllearoyd7982]

Good video, thankyou. A couple of points, not sure you need to remove exhaust headers just let it hang on the tailpipe, just need to clear the head exhaust studs. The pitching bracket needs to be undone to allow transmission to tilt and engine mounts clear the cross member. Jack the tranny til the engine mounts are clear of the crossmember, the pull engine straight forward. Thanks for tip on the torque converter wanting to leave the building. Its not build quality from subaru causing head gasket problems, its actually the composition of the head gasket material, it was not suitable long term. Always replace the gaskets with subaru oem multi layer steel ones, problem solved.👍 Ps the corrosion on that engine hurts my eyes.

[@romeroarlen8689]

THANKS FOR the best great video.....very explain ,,,,,,,,,,I'go work on my impreza this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@thelert]

Well done Sir, thanks for sharing.

[@mrshrober]

thanks for the video - never pulled a subaru engine before but with the video - it turned out to be pretty basic.. other than splitting the engine from the trans, that was 30 minutes of micro movement and colorful language...thanks

[@JohnDoe-uk7jy]

Pulled an engine out in just 38 minutes?? Just joking, awesome and informative video as usual.

[@eddiemarek6306]

Great videos! It's amazing how your impreza seems to be about 6months behind mine as far as repairs go. Had to have my head gaskets replaced last February. Just had to have the fuel pump done, so watch out!

[@CarsNToys]

Wonderful. Thanks for the heads up!

[@343gltyspk]

Just a note from a fellow old Subaru owner: Those grounding straps may have just been corroded through. Mine looked almost identical when I checked a few years back, and I'm certain the engine has never been pulled.

[@bpetnoi1472]

Oh my friend you must have sore knuckles often. When pushing something like a breaker bar I never close my hand over the bar. I always just push with my palm. That way if the socket slips one is much less likely to crush their knuckles against some hard or cut them on something sharp. An old wrench clued me into that understanding over 35 years ago and my knuckles have suffered less injuries as compared before he wised me up.

[@Rein_Ciarfella]

I agree completely! Also consider pulling rather than pushing - sometimes more control in that direction. These are basic tool use procedures that help not only with effectiveness but safety. Above all else, guard not only your eyes and ears, but your hands. You’ll be happy you did when you get to be 76 and your hands still work and feel fine. Ask me how I know! 😉🔧👍

[@tonij4073]

Man ur the best thank you.

[@danielramos779]

Muy bueno el video!

[@Jims003]

Thank you!

[@fucha]

bro ur vids are awesome! i have oil leak. no milky resedue, no black/white/blue fumes from exhaust. not lossing coolant, just loosing oil. when I do pull the dip stick i have oil almost half of the stick. im not sure if my head gasket at fault or the valve cover. the dealer quoting me 5k for an entire engine reseal? what r ur thoughts? im still rocking my 2010 impreza 2.5i. dont know lot about cars but i can dable with breaks, oil, spark plugs. thanks brotha

[@joedoyle1169]

You need to remove the dog bone from the bell housing so you can jack the front of the transmission to allow you to slip the rear of the engine off the two studs at the bottom of the bell housing!

[@CarsNToys]

Thank you. The dog bone was removed.

[@lanecaldwell8911]

Bet those ground straps just deteriorated away man doesn’t mean it’s been out

[@JonathanVaucher]

Amazing vid as usual ! 2008 Impreza 2.5i Hatch MT Sport here with 99000 Km. Will use this vid as a reference for the future when my turn comes. Hopefully the head gasket get bad from usage but not just from old-age (12 years) but low Km. Are you going to use the multi-layered steel (MLS) gaskets from the WRX/STi instead of the crappy mono-layer graphite composite one from the N/A model ?

[@CarsNToys]

Thank you. I used Felpro gaskets.

[@fozmods8359]

You made this look too easy. Thank you. Saving this one. I plan on doing head gaskets on my forester ASAP! It’s gonna be a major pain if I leave the engine in..I’d rather just remove the engine like you did. how long does it take the machine shop to do their thing? I’m worried about having my car out of commission for weeks waiting for on machine shop.. I’m guessing it’s not possible to do whatever they do at home?

[@CarsNToys]

Machine shop had the heads done in two days.

[@michaelfrank2951]

apparently Pittsburgh makes the longest wrenches you can buy. longer than Snap-On, Matco, Cornwell, and Mac.

[@dylanbabcock2523]

I’m seriously interested in how long it too in real time to pull this motor! Please let me know, as I’m going to be doing the same thing and I want to make sure I have time to do it. A day?

[@christophermoore935]

How did you get the lower nut on the starter off? Since you didn’t show it in the video. If you ran into problems with removing that nut. Such as the nut being rounded on 2 sides how would you remove it?

[@rudinoer6934]

Thank you very much for sharing/showing. I watched a couple of your videos and you explained things very clearly. I have '05 forester with high mileage but runs very well. The Correct CEL has been on the says PO400 (faulty EGR) I replaced the EGR and cleaned the related parts (hoses etc) but it didn't fix the problem. Can you tell me based on your best experience what might be the culprit here. I also replaced the CAT a few years back, but it's not a genuine part, does it have anything to do with the PO400 code? Thank you very much. All infos are welcome.

[@CarsNToys]

Check the throttle body and manifold absolute pressure sensor. Is the throttle body secured? Regarding the map sensor, you can take a reading with a sophisticated scan tool and verify it's working correctly. Here's a video I did a few years ago showing on how to test and replace the sensor on a Subaru - kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4S1Z6N_jd-popI If all is okay here, there must be a blockage or leak somewhere.

[@rudinoer6934]

@@CarsNToysThank for your response. I think it's secured, but I will check again.

[@yanz104]

Why do you have to remove the torque converter bolts when you pull the engine? My 2011 for forester has star shaped bolts instead of standard hex really dont want to buy more sockets that all barely use

[@samokidam8306]

Amazing video! By any chance do you happen to have a 2008 Impreza Hatchback EL15 R Service Manual or know where it could be found? Thanks

[@CarsNToys]

I'm afraid not. Hope the video helps! Cheers.

[@samokidam8306]

@@CarsNToys All the videos help a lot!

[@sothea73]

Hi dear my car have code p1107 for ssangyung kyron 2009.do you help me?i do not know what is problem?

[@coldluis]

You don't have to remove the catalystic converter from the exhaust to pull the engine. Saves you some time.

[@CarsNToys]

Thank you. I wanted to remove the rattling heat shield since I was there. Cheers.

[@coldluis]

@@CarsNToys cool! I just removed mine, it was very annoying l.

[@cheryllearoyd7982]

Correct

[@martins4118]

The 1997 Nissan Maxima was much more reliable

[@CarsNToys]

Absolutely.

[@Excaliber0285]

nevermind the earth leads being cut to know the engine had been out before, but the header gaskets to the engine werent genuine Subaru either, just cheap ebay gaskets

[@sov19871987]

Yeah.... I am so disappointed in subaru for a simple, cheap, garbage gasket.