Tearing Down A TRASHED Subaru EJ255 Turbo Engine!

[@elihernandez330]

As Eric's insurance agent I am astounded by his ability to heat up the bolts with only his breath to stay in compliance with our terms. I will definitely not need to investigate him.

[@jeffryblackmon4846]

Congratulations on a healthy baby and mother and let's not forget Dad, who's doing lots of extra chores nowadays. Aren't diapers fun? That engine has enough salt to serve a small town's needs all winter long. In lieu of Eric's breath, a modern heat gun puts out a lot of BTUs as well. As you expose these more-complex engines, I'm more appreciative of my slow-revving V8s with carburetors and VW air cooled engines. Have you opened an inline 6 cylinder engine? I enjoy seeing all the tech inside these engines as well as your banter. You're appreciated! 😀

[@mikefoehr235]

Eric must be a shaolin priest....he studied the dragon 🐉 and Kung fu

[@mikekuschka998]

Have you confirmed that with his doctor?

[@n10cities]

@@mikefoehr235 Practically a natural-born kung-fu genius!

[@twisted2291]

@@mikefoehr235 No... He just had some ghost peppers during lunch. LOL

[@peterdupont7559]

I had a Impreza turbo - the costliest engine I've ever had when it came to repair and maintenance.

[@MyCatIsSmarter]

@@sharedknowledge6640 My turbo subaru had burnt valves at 91,000 miles. I should have sold it sooner

[@zeroyon4562]

How?? They’re easy to work on and relatively cheap compared to some cars. We get quite good life out of them here in NZ, maybe because the Subarus here are all made in Japan?

[@TheRipePunani]

@@sharedknowledge6640 Timing belt, water pump, tensioners etc. are all common wear items for any motor with a timing belt. It's not just a Subaru thing. Labor depends on the model, some models don't have as much space so radiator removal is necessary but some have enough room that you can do the entire job right there in front of the car. Head gaskets are annoying for sure, that's a motor out job for sure. Spark plugs are easy on the SOHC models, the DOHC models are a bit more of a pain but with the right tools (lots of little wobble extensions) and if you develop your own process it's not as bad as some make it out to be. The only things you really need to remove are the airbox, battery and depending on the model an air pump or washer bottle. All are easy to remove and reinstall. The problem with these turbo EJ25s is they're very finicky with oil (weight and quality) and hate abusive drivers. Not just lack of maintenance but abusive driving like lugging the motor in a high gear (bye ringlands).

[@adamra187]

@@sharedknowledge6640 Yup HG went on EJ255 at 93k. All repaired now and moving it out the door.

[@Pmpautogroup]

So happy that my core lived up to the hype I threw it's way. Thanks for the plug as always!

[@emilschw8924]

Thanks for giving Eric the opportunity to show us another teardown. Really appreciated.

[@owensharp8568]

Really glad you got him this one. Thanks!

[@Pmpautogroup]

@@maxwell431 That was not running when it got to us.

[@samuel5916]

Any advice for a new Subaru owner? I’m a bit concerned because I know so little about them. Didn’t realize how different their engines are. Just picked up a 2010 Outback with 250K on it. 😂

[@802Garage]

@@samuel5916 Wow 250K it's broken in! If it's an H6 all you need to due is diligent maintenance, as with any car, especially oil changes. Don't use 0W-anything would be my advice, use at least 5W-30. Make sure you get the coolant changed once in a while too, like every 50K miles. Same with auto transmission fluid. At least a drain and fill every 50K. Timing chain should go foreverish. If it's a 4 cylinder, you have one of the last of the naturally aspirated EJ25 years. If it hasn't had a head gasket done, then likely it's good to go long term and you got a gem. If it has been done, then it seems it was likely done right so don't worry. Rules are the same, diligent maintenance, timing belt should be due at 300K, but check when it was last done if you can. Keep the battery terminals clean and make sure your ground straps are all in good shape. Enjoy!

[@mnewln1800]

That windage tray looks like it was designed to hold chunks of loose metal. Great job Subaru!

[@allenbeaulieu7077]

Congrats Papa Eric! Great to hear everyone is fine! Excellent video as always buddy. Man, that’s some serious damage to that engine. Thanks for letting us ride shotgun. Big Al.

[@NuclearPineapple]

This is the best tear down in a long time. An unusual engine with some of the most catastrophic damage we’ve seen yet! Keep up the great work

[@wafflesnfalafel1]

As a certified risk underwriter for a national carrier, I admire your commitment to avoiding open flames in your shop. :) Love the vid sir, thanks. Particularly interesting as an owner of multiple subies including a turbo. And congrats on the new family addition.

[@michaelgilmore341]

You should record these in front of a live studio audience, so funny. Love the "sleight of hand" comments! I have worked on cars off and on since my teenage years when I would help my stepdad fix the family car on the weekends. Never thought it would be this funny and entertaining to watch. Kudos to you for making it this way!

[@Donald_Shaw]

Congratulation to you and your wife on the birth of the second addition to your family. Thanks for the engine teardowns videos, Eric. You always post an interesting video.

[@probaina]

I've had a 2005 legacy GT with the turbo engine like in the video for 14 years. I've programed the factory ECU for a bit more boost but not push it too hard, just an extra 30 hp and 60 ft/lbs of torque. But it's completely stock. I've always changed oil every 5000 miles with Rotella T6 synthetic and high quality filters. Now it has 130,000 miles. All I ever had to replace where two injectors, a worn out clutch, starter, PS pump and struts. Mostly maintnace items.. I live in Alaska and our winters are quite harsh but this car has been great and has never left me stranded. Although I do have to admit it's orientation makes it a huge pain to work on sometimes. After watching this video I would never want to rebuild one. The design seems very pointless compared to the simplicity of an inline 4.

[@electrofreak0]

Every time I watch this channel, I feel like I need to go get an oil change, even if it's just been done 😂

[@jamescole6846]

I wrote that a few episodes back. it probably doesn't need to be changed but I will go check it every few weeks after watching one of these just to make sure it's nice, clean, clear and up to the fill line. The oil in this engine was black.

[@angelo_giachetti]

Makes me think of my last oil change. When was it!

[@craigweis6576]

Every 5,000 w/ filter

[@jakepurches9162]

I got my oil changed after seeing the Dodge V10 carnage due to oil starvation!

[@aderi31415]

I had my oil changed yesterday. I feel like I need to go back.

[@Grandpa82547]

I had to replace an EJ-25-whatever came in an 01 Forester. My wife insisted it was my job to check her oil every time she bought gas. Sounded like a bad rod bearing. I was curious to see what it looked like inside, but I knew it was not worth fixing, so I junked it intact. I'm glad I didn't have to tear it down. You just did it for me. Thank you!

[@mwaynem]

Congratulations on your new addition to your family. I have 4 children and 6 grandchildren and another one on the way. Our work is our passion and more importantly we work to support the the ones who matter most. Thank you for sharing. Keep them coming.

[@koskey06]

That was the first thing my dad told me.....checking your oil and changing it atleast 2 times a year on a normal use family car, will save you a TON of headaches and money! Even just making sure your oil is topped off if you can't get a oil change right away will save you! Cuz a full system of old oil is better than a low system if new oil....

[@joeblowe7545]

Very well written.

[@ralphlyons8020]

Congrats! And thanks for doing these tear downs. We enjoy watching it on Saturdays.

[@centurybug]

I'm excited for this one! I've been driving a WRX with the 205 for a couple years now, I love these engines!

[@namegoeshere2903]

🤣 ..oh wait...you're serious. 😒

[@joshuathomas4934]

They are really cool. They can be absolute tanks that go for hundreds of thousands of miles. Annnnnnd they can be shit boxes that go for 20k and spin a bearing. Seems to be mostly poor tuning and detonation screwing up the side to side tolerances of the rod bearings allowing them to deform.

[@clifbradley]

Eric is a dragon! Who knew?!! Congratulations on the baby. Hey you should do the engine that came in the Fiero of you can find one. The V6 version. I heard they were awesome. Barring that, a V12 from a Bentley

[@nicholasvinen]

W12?

[@clifbradley]

@@nicholasvinen Yes W12. I don't know why I put V. I do know better.

[@V8Power5300]

A 2.8 60deg V6 should be easy. The 3100, 3300 and 3600 Gm V6 engines are the same family

[@netrioter]

Lol.. a GM 2.8 yawn. Its a garden variety 90° V6 ..suck spark bang blow. It came in everything..not just the Fire-O

[@netrioter]

O.G Bentley...before they got bought out and ruined by VW, had a Rolls Royce 6.75 L. V8. a great engine, unfortunately, everything attached to it failed

[@gregjobe6552]

Congratulations on the addition to your family! My 8 year old son and I enjoy watching all your videos. Especially the ones with all the carnage

[@seandunne7977]

I’m dying at your “heat breath”. Congrats on the addition and good to hear everyone is healthy. What is that light that you use? I want one!

[@semperfi6838]

Out of all tear down videos, yours are the Best! ...showing close up details and great neritive !!!

[@taylorsutherland6973]

As a mechanic in Maine.... that Fuji looks about right! Oh and the wonderful exhaust wrapping around the oil filter, yup, great job guys.

[@samarthur8385]

Having start a new job this year that means I work with building up older VW air cooled boxer engines, I have alot of appreciation for this teardown. Especially the splitting the block part and getting pistons out and in. Would love to see an old type 1 beetle or type 4 2L van engine. Or another mazda BP if possible, loved the last teardown

[@markscully2342]

no point doing a tear down of a vw flat four air cooled engine, anyone can do it and the rebuild with an adjustable spanner and a screwdriver!!!

[@gergatron7000]

I have a brilliant idea. Just make the entire engine from the same steel that they use in the wrist pin... Engine will never break

[@edifyguy]

Haha, except that it will be so heavy they'll have to put stiffer suspension in the front and it'll steer like a pig and get worse mileage. I'm assuming you were joking of course, but all-steel (really mostly steel) engines certainly have been made, but they are more and more uncommon for the reasons I listed.

[@billincolumbia]

Just like how they should make airplanes out of the same material they make the black boxes out of!

[@jamesgeorge4874]

I just pulled an EJ255 today, the shredded timing belt said "abby belt" . It broke at 2 years and 35,000 miles. Buy quality parts people. Especially for such a fragile engine.

[@khazdor]

congratulations on the new young one. Glad everyone is doing good.

[@honkie247]

Congratulations to you and your wife. May all of your lives be long and happy.

[@Westkhost]

As a Subaru owner from Pennsylvania, I'd like to take a moment to confirm this is the norm for crustiness outside of the car community. Pennsylvania roads, or the deer trails we pass off as roads, are notorious for killing cars. Rims, suspension, engine components, body work, really all of it. The glass suffers from the anti skid used through the winter too, coal trucks kick it up badddd. I know from the two windshields I've replaced. Nothing is sacred in PA when it comes to winter and your car. But hey... we have autumn colors... so there's that I suppose.

[@christopherweise438]

This Wisconsinite knows exactly what you're talking about.

[@802Garage]

Same in Vermont. People from other states say Subaru rusts bad because they don't realize up here, everything rusts bad. This is just where Subaru is most popular. Wait until I show people how bad domestic trucks rust!

[@jacobrzeszewski6527]

I’m from Indiana, so we understand. We also have the added bonus of not having vehicle inspections. So I literally get to see trucks rusted in half driving down the road with hardware store brackets and screws holding them together.

[@mattcat231]

As a fellow Pennsylvanian, i definitely agree here!!!

[@johncoops6897]

As an Australian, I truly can't work out why you don't just move away from such a hell hole 😂😂

[@erikdouglass4153]

EJs tend to starve the front two pistons if down on oil especially under repeated hard acceleration. Oil gets pushed to the rear of the motor. Spun an EJ20 under the same circumstances, was only down 1/3 quart.

[@trupatriot1776]

Congratulations to you and your wife. Another carnage filled video, love em.

[@danielmoreno804]

Congrats on new baby Eric glad to hear everyone is doing well

[@anthonyruby5040]

Congrats on the addition to the family! Would love to see some old engines on the channel like the 225 slant six and the nissan z24😄

[@samwilson8047]

He's gotta find a non-running slant first. Good luck with that. HAHA!

[@stevenborgogna]

That's my engine! Thanks for tearing it down. It really helped me get a grasp on component location and whatnot. Yes these are high strung engines. If the oil is not maintained properly it will let the magic smoke out. They aren't forgiving in that sense like a 22r. That said, mine is bone stock over 180,000 miles, and does need the spark plugs replaced. Yes they are on order. It burns/leaks about a quart of oil every 1000 miles or so, so I do have to monitor oil level regularly. That said, when you hit the throttle it gets up and goes. Thank you for letting me know about the banjo screens on the VVT lines. I didn't know about that one but already deleted the turbo screen. My goal is to get 300k out of it. 2005 Outback XT. For any of you other Subaru DIY folks out there, I like this channel kzbin.info - Lot's of advice and how to's on most jobs.

[@MyCatIsSmarter]

Good luck. My 2005 Legacy GT was nothing but trouble after 90,000 miles

[@stevenborgogna]

@@MyCatIsSmarter It all depends on how it was maintained. If the previous owner did not do the oil/filter changes at regular intervals and maintain oil level, it will kaboom.

[@bassmanbn]

Congrats on the new little one. Glad everybody is doing good. As an owner of 3 Subarus...I well, probably shouldn't admit that. Anyway, I was tearing down a Volvo turbo i5 engine the other day with the integrated cam caps in the head with like 50 bolts holding it on. I couldn't help but think of your channel, it was great. I found that cylinders 2 and 3 had something go through them and the pistons and heads were hammered pretty good. It would have made a great tear down video.

[@James1095]

Those Volvo i5 engines are fantastic. Unfortunately a lot of them met their demise due to the timing belt breaking. People balk at paying a mechanic $1500 to replace the belt on a car that isn't worth a lot more than that, but if you maintain them they'll run forever.

[@vermili0n]

That dragon breath seemed to work great. Need to try that trick myself !!!

[@martinpavlik4200]

That's the piston that went a missin'! Always look forward to your teardowns. Thanks for putting together great content!

[@charlesfriend9557]

@ Martin Pavlik, Gotta love those FORGED PISTONS! Looked a bit beyond Shot Peened to me!!!

[@trose7620]

Got to get some stripped bolt head removal sockets, they're a daily staple in my shop. Great invention, sold on first use. That motor looks like it was recovered from under the morton salt mine in Ogden UT.!!

[@Paramount531]

I'm just not a Subaru fan, and this video helped me stay that way.

[@Whateva67]

😂buddy, comment of the week

[@bryede]

They were great engines back when everything was simpler.

[@jamescole6846]

I had a buddy back about 12 years ago that was driving a brat that had almost 400 grand on it and I was always impressed by subaru for that but not have this tear down. What a pain in the ass engine to work on.

[@4rct1c9Ic3m4n]

@@jamescole6846 In that case, you should see tear down of an Audi.

[@bigglyguy8429]

I loved my Subaru, which ran perfectly until a drunk driver rammed it. I think it's very obvious from all the clues here that this engine blew from hydrolocking, some idiot hooning on a beach is my guess, from the salt water damage and a shattered piston. Fun fact - ANY engine will self-destruct if it sucks in water at hig-revs.

[@Dunkaroos248]

I had a 255 and a 257 and they were both good to me. Both tuned with bolt ons, but, and it’s a big but, they got religious oil changes at 3k with full synthetic, factory filters and top tier gas.

[@christian6381]

Audibly laughed at "they never go bad" 😂

[@whalesong999]

I wouldn't want one of these, especially since retired and limited budget. Marginal design to me (retired mechanic here).

[@pjford1118]

Strange when I was a dealership mechanic in the 80's Subies were up in the top range for reliability. They were also the easiest cars to service, I had R&R the engine down to 45 minutes.

[@whalesong999]

@@pjford1118 I hear that. I owned SAABs and kinda looked at the Subarus of the day as similar and also desirable. I don't see that now with these later models.

[@namegoeshere2903]

Even Subaru fan boys 🤣 when he said that.

[@lilmoeszyslak4810]

My 03 bugeye runs great, i do all the services myself. I heard that the new ones use silicon instead of gaskets for the oil pain and the excess silicon causes the oil pick up to clog and grenades the engine

[@itguy46176]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I have family and friends with similar mechanical experience. I have zero exp with engine break downs, repairs, and rebuilds. I have a 2012 wrx with the ej255 and im educating myself on whats best to take care of it for longevity

[@edifyguy]

"Piston McNuggets" made me laugh out loud. As someone who has a very similar engine in a 2004 Forester XT sitting in the woods this is very good info for when the time comes to make it roadworthy :) It runs and drives, and hopefully it won't have any serious problems, but seeing its anatomy is very helpful.

[@logicalguy488]

I agree with you 100%, all my vehicles and my kids vehicles i have always changed the oil more than required and we have never had engine failure. All our new cars I change the oil at 1000 miles then at 3000 miles then 5000 miles then every 5000 miles after that and they never break down.

[@Backroad_Junkie]

Congrats on the deduction! Amazed at what you have to go through to get these H-4's apart. It's another, "What did this sound like when it detonated" thing. Must have made some loud noises, lol...

[@jacobrzeszewski6527]

I’m not sure if deleting a piston could even make these things sound any worse than they do from the factory.

[@johncoops6897]

@@jacobrzeszewski6527 - And yet most aftermarket exhausts make them sound worse. Horrid sounding things, they are!

[@ferrumignis]

@@jacobrzeszewski6527 Never understood the love for these things, sound awful, fragile, hard to work on.

[@owensharp8568]

@@ferrumignis The sound alone is enough to put up with all the problems. However, the JDM EJ20 is a much stronger engine in general, the 25 is known for a lot of issues.

[@ferrumignis]

@@owensharp8568 They sound awful though, like a giant duck with terminal flatulence. I had a Civic that burned an exhaust valve and at idle it sounded almost exactly like a Subaru.

[@beaviswashere8009]

Congrats on the birth of your child! Great to hear everyone is healthy ! Love your videos and as I always remind friends and family "Check and Change your Oil!!!! " 😀😀😀👍👍👍👍👍

[@802Garage]

Yep looks like all the neglected northeastern Subaru engines I've seen, and I've seen a lot of them. Contrary to internet memery, they can be great engines in general and they are quite easy to work on. Subaru in general is one of the easiest brands to work on according to me and many mechanic friends. All the misinformation comes from people who have never worked on them because, let's be real, they aren't as common as other brands and most people never do more than spark plugs themselves. Agree with you on Alan bolts. One trick I saw is welding a spare Subaru axle nut to them and using a 32mm socket, hahaha. Hot breath you've got there! My first suspicion with these engines is blown turbo due to neglect or because the banjo bolt oil feed filter you mentioned has clogged and starved the turbo. Yours was probably on the second turbo and the filter was removed. There are things to know about these cars to keep them alive long term. Exhaust studs usually come out of the heads at least. Part of the reason Subaru has a reputation for rust is exactly what you see here, rust. They were, for decades, primarily sold only in the northeast and in snow mountain areas. If a brand is almost exclusively sold in areas where cars rust badly, the brand will have countless examples of rusted cars. In my experience, every brand rusts out up here in the Vermont mountains. Subaru is no worse than most. So this engine looks like hell, and people will blame Subaru, but it's just a result of the environment. I obviously know you know Subaru. Engine looked quite clean and nice inside. Wondering if the scoring was from the catastrophic failure or if it was damage over time. Could have been neglected and then owned by someone who actually changed the oil regularly. Given the modified intake, makes me wonder if it was a typical throw an Accessport on it, turn it up, and pop a piston or rod deal. In the end, oil issue makes sense. Most common reason for any engine failure really. Gotta keep it lubed! Clearly at the end it's revealed you and I had a lot of similar thoughts. I was writing this while watching. Fun teardown. If anyone read this whole comment, try working on a Subaru sometime. You'll like it!

[@jeffryblackmon4846]

Thanks, but I'll pass on working on a Subaru. Loved your comment.

[@johncoops6897]

I'd never own one, let along work on one. No thanks.

[@802Garage]

@@jeffryblackmon4846 If you've never tried, you would be pleasantly surprised. I am not joking when I say every mechanic friend I have agrees they are far easier to work on than most brands. The only regular things that are a bit harder are spark plugs and timing belts, and even those are basic. Stuff like accessory belts, starter, alternator, power steering, AC, exhaust, axles, sway bars, radiator, the list goes on and on, all easier than most brands. Working on a longitudinal engine is just so much nicer than a cramped transverse engine stuffed up against the firewall and tire well. Even pulling an engine or transmission in a Subaru takes half the time of many cars. Anyways, really appreciate the comment!

[@802Garage]

@@johncoops6897 See my above comment. Someone who is unwilling to try a new experience will rarely learn something new. I may not like Ford for example, but I still work on them. That's how I learned I'd rather work on a Subaru any day, hahaha.

[@johncoops6897]

@@802Garage - I am sure they are fun, however I am not a mechanic. Subarus have no attraction for me... probably a similar why I would never own or work on a Harley.

[@bobferranti5222]

I grew up on Pennsylvania so I know how bad the rust situation is on the east coast. I moved to the Pacific Northwest and was in awe of how little rust was on everything and how much easier it was to disassemble components.

[@509brown]

Thanks, Eric! Glad to hear all is well with your family. Be careful when you blow out candles, you could blast a hole in the side of your house.

[@bendeleted9155]

I got 135K miles out of mine. Never even changed plugs but the time I sold it. Still ran great.

[@73honda350]

Back around 2015, my son bought a 2008 outback with the turbo boxer. Before he bought it I warned him about the reliability of these engines. Unfortunately, it wasn't long before the engine made me look like a genius.

[@farnarkleboy]

Poor maintenance and modifications not properly done kills these motors otherwise they are very reliable. We get good milage out of these here in Australia

[@edifyguy]

@@farnarkleboy I can confirm. Don't race or neglect them and they live a long time and work very well.

[@probaina]

I've had a 2005 legacy GT the turbo engine like in the video for 14 years. I've programed the factory ECU for a bit more boost but not push it too hard, just an extra 30 hp and 60 ft/lbs of torque. But it's completely stock. I've always changed oil every 5000 miles with Rotella T6 synthetic and high quality filters. Now it has 130,000 miles. All I ever had to replace where two injectors, a worn out clutch, starter, PS pump and struts. Mostly maintnace items.. I live in Alaska and our winters are quite harsh but this car has been great and has never left me stranded. Although I do have to admit it's orientation makes it a huge pain to work on sometimes. After watching this video I would never want to rebuild one. The design seems very pointless compared to the simplicity of an inline 4.

[@DonnyHooterHoot]

You want ridiculous? You got it! You cannot show open flames but the people over "there" can post videos of steel smelting, barefoot, with NO safety gear, Amazing world!!

[@Mis73rRand0m]

Also i am surprised at how well contained that carnage was! I expected a boat anchor from this engine, but it's a very stout design despite becoming both the blender and the milkshake.

[@ABeans07]

It's a boat anchor. Even when brand new.

[@mediocreman2]

It was a boat anchor when new, so nothing changed

[@robinbaass1825]

Congratulations to you and your wife - good to hear all 3 of you are well. As a future teardown, can I suggest you do a mini or MG from 1960s to show young viewers what engines looked like when home mechanics could easily work on them without all the complications of so called improved modern engines!

[@Cnightz]

I eant to believe that when that piston broke it had to have sounded like glass shattering. I've never seen one broke that bad before. I'm very impressed. P.S. Congrats Papi on your new munchkin 💖

[@happydays8171]

Congratulations on being a father for the second time. My old girlfriend has a 2010 Subaru Forester, she had a problem with the engine, they replaced it rather than repair it. I can see why, what a complicated engine.

[@Mittencarpentry]

Northern Michigan…. 180 inches of snow a year. Roads are covered in salt for months at a time. Rust is a way of life.

[@zokusharuuku1091]

My ej257 had cracked the block and blew a head gasket. It had forged pistons but sadly they put the stock type head gasket back on which only lasts 100,000 miles with mild modifications. I had an engine fully built with the best most expensive parts along with a whole new closed deck block put in and that lasted 6000 miles on low boost 25 psi before it spun a rod bearing. That engine cost me over $30k and now that I’m broke my Subaru will forever sit in my driveway reminding of the worst decision I’ve ever made in my life(to fix it the first time)

[@christian6381]

Congrats on your 2nd! You and few youtubers feed my love for cars till I have my own.

[@lelandrogers1078]

All of my engine rebuilding experience is from the 50s and 60s. The old flatheads and small block V-8s as well as 6 cyls were simple. I wouldn't know where to start on a modern engine they are so complex. I tip my hat to modern mechanics.

[@therealdojj]

Congratulations on the kid Plus I reckon this is one of the chocolate piston issues

[@bubblehead78]

Great video. @27:30 that'll buff out. lol. I've had four Subarus and until my 2018 I've loved them. 1980 1.6, 1990 2.0, 2002 3.0H6, and 2018 H4. I had no unusual problems with the first three. All three were southern cars. The 2018 developed a front bearing noise that drove me crazy and I got rid of the car. Just wanted to chime in and say not all Subaru engines are crap.

[@xinx-fn8973]

Judging from that aftermarket intake, this thing was beat on and didn’t have enough oil changes

[@joeblowe7545]

My guess would be some douchebag driving a WRX with his hat on backwards.

[@Paul1958R]

Eric, Congratulations on the new child! God bless. Paul (in MA)

[@dumahim]

Instead of breath, couldn't you use one of those induction heating coil things?

[@pab3783]

Congratulations dad!

[@elliotiverson4732]

You should do a tear down on the “bulletproof” 3800. They aren’t known for breaking down I would like to see why they would go bad!

[@cigarsgunsanddiesel8032]

Depends... the NA 3800's usually die from poor maintenance, the blown 3800's usually get raced to death!

[@EJ257IHI]

A lot of the Subaru engines suffered cracked oil pickup tubes, which would cause oil starvation and engine destruction. I had a 2004 STi (EJ257) back in the days and swapped the pickup tube in favor of an aftermarket one in order to prevent that.

[@terencerucker3244]

Watching you take apart that rats-nest of an engine causes me to once again, congratulate myself for never buying a Subaru. I've been tempted sure, but now I know I did good. Thanks as always.

[@budlanctot3060]

I used to be a DOT surveyor. As a part of the job, I had to do a lot of surveying of active traffic roadways. Many times, I'd hear horrible sounding engines that sounded like they were beating themselves to death. I'd turn to look, and more often than not it was a Subaru. I wouldn't take one of those things if you gave it to me. I'm amazed that other people actually buy them. SMH.

[@MyCatIsSmarter]

You really don't want a turbo subaru. My car had the engine out 3 times for major repairs

[@edifyguy]

@@budlanctot3060 I have a 2000 Subaru that my wife drives because she likes it. I bought her a 2004 turbo one which she's yet to really use because it needs some TLC. The one she's driving now is on its second engine, though the first one did NOT fail catastrophically; it developed a knock at certain engine speeds and loads because she allowed it to almost run completely out of oil, was driven gently for quite awhile with a knock (albeit with oil in it), then I dropped in a used engine. I will say that while these are very ODD engines, and at their best they sound like junk, they really are pretty tough and if you're not neglecting and/or racing them, they actually seem to last pretty well. They're very popular around here because they're an affordable AWD vehicle, and we get unreasonable amounts of snow. I don't mind them at all other than yes, they're a little cramped for surgery, and yes, many years after the engine was initially designed, complying with governmental insanity has resulted in some necessary stupidity, but I still like them. That said, I like my Chevy 350s better ;)

[@Heckleburger]

Ya because transverse V6's are packaged so well and so easy to work on as well numerous Ford V8's. Let's not split hairs here this is one engine in a small compact chassis. No matter who makes it there will be space issues.

[@Heckleburger]

@@budlanctot3060 On that mindset never buy a Honda or Toyota from the early 2000's because you will be replacing the transmission 4 times.

[@t-yoonit]

Nothing better than a Saturday teardown of an engine that ran like it had the rickets. I have a 2012 Laramie just like that smashed one in the outro but mine is black and silver and, well, not smashed. Sitting at 200k miles so far and looking forward to seeing it maybe hit 300k

[@omega1575]

Honestly I never expected that engine to be that big. Also can you do the V6 from a 4Runner?

[@TheRipePunani]

It really isn't. The boxer with double overhead is just particularly wide but it's very short and and well, flat.

[@engineeringoyster6243]

Some cars have a dipstick design that such that the oil doesn’t make a clean oil line on the stick. I had a Mini Countryman with a plastic tip on the dipstick. Very difficult to see the oil level. That car is someone else’s problem now.

[@jtjones4727]

This is part of the reason I was never a big Subaru fan. These boxer engines are just one big pain you know where.

[@CommentThink]

you're a funny guy man! I cannot stop watching your videos, and I initially stumbled upon your channel for that brz/frs engine teardown ! love your content man !

[@Flies2FLL]

"Splitting the case" is typically the end of 80% of Subaru engines-

[@PeppercornVR]

I've seen engines empty their entire sumps within 50 miles, no blue smoke or anything and the only warning you get is the transmission slipping once it finally runs past low. After filling with new oil they're usually fine and stop burning oil altogether. It pays to check the level of your oil at least twice a week and if you do find your engine consuming oil, change it. The fresh detergents can reverse certain issues like stuck rings if it's caught soon enough.

[@jnsfrahm]

I finally figured out why Eric has so many projects going on all the time. He likes talking things apart but not putting them back together.

[@PuddinJr1993]

His floor is like ave's healing bench. To the fuckin bucket she goes. Good shit goes into bins 🤣

[@drscopeify]

I don't think I ever saw you tear down a GM 4.2 l6. I have had friends, family and my current dump run car has the 4.2 and it seems pretty robust but I hate that the axle goes through the oil pan it's a crazy design worth a video I think. I have had friends have to change out the oil pan gasket and I just watched them and provided mental support lol.

[@larryhagen3788]

That engine looks like a pleasure to work on if it’s actually in a car 😉

[@jtjones4727]

Oh yeah you just know it. I'd rather beat my head against a cinder block wall.

[@znogaragego3421]

It looks like a nightmare even on an engine stand so I could only imagine working on this thing in a compact car. I heard replacing spark plugs on this thing can be fun, not. Also 4 cams in a 4-cylinder engine seem ridiculous.

[@noble6791]

@@znogaragego3421 Ive replaced the plugs and ignition coil on my 09 forester. Def not fun, at all.

[@GriogharThomasBaldwin]

It’s not too bad with experience and understanding. It’s not an inline-4, but plug difficulty is pretty straightforward if you do your homework. It can DEFINITELY get frustrating for those first trying to do this with no background.

[@Dunkaroos248]

@@znogaragego3421 it’s not that bad, use and extension and a swivel. The plugs are down on either side of the engine. Little tight on room but it’s a 10 minute job

[@bennyboyy7]

I'm not sure what ej came in the 2011 wrx but they've done something after 07 to stop the big issues. My head gaskets haven't failed as far as I can tell. It just burns oil like a typical Subaru. Looks like the turbo grenaded in the intake probably from the killer banjo bolt. It's amazing that mechanics can put all those motors back together in one piece

[@winstonsmith313]

5:17 - “Let’s try to find a ‘better’ socket…” Eric reveals one of his secrets: pound a 3/8” onto a 10mm bolt for totally delicious imperial/metric satisfaction!

[@802Garage]

Here up north where everything is rust, these tactics become the norm. I've done insane things to get a bolt out without breaking it.

[@brianl8983]

@@802Garage step 1 is always empty a can of PB Blaster on the area and then have a torch handy

[@802Garage]

@@brianl8983 Hahaha absolutely.

[@nerd1000ify]

Another handy one is for rounded out Allen heads: get a cheap torx bit that is slightly larger, align on the hex, and hammer it in! Hopefully this will swage the bolt to match the torx bit allowing you to unscrew it.

[@williammeszaros3382]

There are countries that landed a man on the moon, and everyone else uses the metric system...

[@tjw8t1]

I worked at a Subaru dealer for a couple of years as a used car tech. I lost count of how many of those came in the main shop destroyed similar to that one. Pure fucking garbage engines.

[@farnarkleboy]

Is this on Japanese assembled Subarus or USA assembled? I've heard the US assembled ones can be a bit hit and miss and Subaru USA has some odd servicing guidlines. We get Japanese made cars here in Oz and when you see problems 90% of it is operator error or neglect . Maintained properly , these are very reliable engines but they are not idiot proof .

[@tjw8t1]

All of them were the Japanese built pre-2014 WRX's and all the STI's. To be fair, it was unusual to see a newer FA20 WRX engine blown up.

[@farnarkleboy]

@@tjw8t1 We get a lot of EJ255-257's that are doing well over 250,00miles on the original engines. Maybe the demographic (probably was a bit older than in the USA ) that tended to buy them here in Australia were more mechanically sympathetic to the engines etc ? We usually see damage on cars that have had engine mods but have not been retuned , young guys mostly!

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Very informative videos! Not the first Subaru engine that I've seen die prematurely from owner neglect :(

[@TheJines123]

Yeah it's pretty bad. These cars get such a bad rap because people just do not take care of them and they take them way past their limits.

[@wayne-oo]

What a cluster F of an engine design ! Another reason to avoid Subaru !!!

[@Bullseye120]

Eric, Welcome back from your time off. Glad your family is all doing well. Great teardown as usual and thanks to Pete for providing the core.

[@troy3052]

That's a ugly engine

[@joshgunn7486]

I have one of these engines (WRX) and it's been in front of the Arch on the way to Detroit and back. Love St. Louis. Anyway, oil change interval on these are real short for synthetic, filter is small and surrounded by exhaust, and journal bearing turbo real hard on the oil. Change your oil, it saves engine lives.

[@robalexander7348]

Thank you, recommended service intervals and oil changes are so important with any car 👍 Au

[@meanodustino9563]

I stripped my 10mm hex bolts and i had no clue how to get them out. External bolt extractor actually did work with a 3’ breaker bar.

[@davidnichols2125]

Watching those trunks of metal come out was actually pretty cool I never thought I would see anything like that in my life I will be watching him for a long time he is very interesting

[@rayshutsa6690]

Eric congratulations to you and your wife on having a baby girl. Glad to hear everyone is doing great. Thanks for the teardown on a Subaru engine. The carnage was all over the enginen. Oil is the ĺife of the engine. Always enjoy your channel and content. ❤🇨🇦

[@pab3783]

Was the oil pick up cracked anywhere? Those crack in EJ motors and lead to oil starvation.

[@drunk3n_m0nk12]

That's what I was wondering. The bolts on the oil pump didn't look loose at least.

[@groosbro1]

I have a '20 WRX and because it is what it is I am almost fanatical about maintenance. I change the engine oil every 3-3.5K, trans/differential fluid every 20K. After 45K miles the engine doesn't burn any oil, and that's an accomplishment for a Subaru engine.

[@joeblowe7545]

That reminds me. Once, by chance I was behind a person test driving a brand new subaru(don't know the model, not important) . The stupid thing was noticeably billowing smoke out of the tailpipe. Now, it is reasonable to expect most brand new engines to use a quart or two during the first 5 or six thousand miles. But to ACTUALLY SEE an exhaust pipe billowing smoke was quite the shock. I know that Subarus are notorious for burning oil, but not so badly as I had witnessed. Anyway, I think all Subarus are gay anyway - no offense intended. ( I had some typos)

[@groosbro1]

@@joeblowe7545 🤣

[@cesartoledo5621]

You do read all the comments… I wouldn’t bet on it. Anyway if you do get a chance and find a Mercedes AMG M113 not a supercharged one from a year 2000 something ML55 or SLK … you think you can buy it tear it down and film it, please 🙏 ❤. Thank you Adam.

[@I_Do_Cars]

I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen a bad m113. But, I always look

[@nickd.4512]

As someone from pa and the rust belt in general, torches and pb blaster are your best friends. After that comes hammering on undersized sockets, angle grinders, drills and taps. Followed by all new hardware for half the dam engine. The rust around here is ridiculous. The only place I've had the displeasure of working on a vehicle thats worse is ny state. Everything there rusts away usually long before the engine gives up. I've done a timing belt on a wrx before, they suck. Especially because the owner had the water pump replaced but opted not to do the belt at the same time. Well it broke, and wrapped around everything. Ended up pulling the engine and replacing it. 4 bent valves, it did actually happen at idle. That one your tearing down looks like someone who loves playing in the snow owned. Good god, did the turbo literally explod?

[@rowebil00]

2012 WRX -- most reliable car I've ever driven. I went from 49k to 215k without a single issue, except a clutch and a headlamp. I even have the same (assuming OEM 'factory') battery. At 215k, it started to have a check engine light. Loss of compression in a cylinder. I still have it and plan on rebuilding because it is a hatchback in rally blue and gets all the heads turning when I'm near. It is no longer my daily driver, so I have the time to rebuild it. Maybe I'll get rid of it.

[@ve2cii]

Hi, and congratulations on the new baby. It is very possible that all/most of these engines ran low on oil because the engine was burning oil to start off with. Oil was not checked and presto!!

[@MyCatIsSmarter]

A turbo subaru will burn valves and break piston ringlands even will a full oil level

[@ve2cii]

@@MyCatIsSmarter Remind me never to buy a Subaru. Give me an old GMC 350 from 1979 anytime.

[@bradleypark1936]

"It's like engine paste"....That cracked me up. Thank-you Eric, for brightening my day!

[@kevinmcewen1760]

Congratulations on the baby. Happy to hear everyone is doing well. SCOOOOOBY!!!

[@colinsdad1]

Just sold my Forester XT sports- had 220k on it when the head gaskets FINALLY died. My son's tech school buddy bought it (cheap) and restored it to us original glory. I bought it in 2009 (!) with 20k miles on it and did oil changes every 3500 miles. I also made sure all the accessories and belts were in good shape, prior to every Winter. (I live in Massachusetts, Land Of Road Salt) Obviously, this owner did not. Even the TMIC reservoir was trashed - that red inlet tube is not factory and could get you some extra $$ selling it separately.

[@maclogan6872]

Congratulations on your second child. Enjoying the videos.

[@trose7620]

Need some rounded head nut sockets. When it comes to that stuff, they're worth their weight in gold. Love em! Time savers!!