This ENTIRE Subaru Engine IS SCRAP! So Much Damage In A FORESTER? EJ253 RIP

[@Pmpautogroup]

Pete here. Y'all are welcome. My guess is that this was a NASA experiment for the new shuttle engine program. As we can see... It failed the first test.

[@12345.......]

To the moon!!!!!! Hold your foot down!

[@thomasfletcher760]

Thanks Pete !

[@johnmoore8599]

Unscheduled rapid disassembly I think they call it. The owner should be a crash test dummy for the USAF...

[@ethanthomas1868]

Thank you Pete, that was spectacular

[@vater1760]

Thanks for the core, Pete!

[@rawdurand]

This engine gives new meaning to "internal combustion"

[@josephbidon4333]

"Imprezza"

[@ericremoe8648]

..Or rather "infernal combustion"?

[@SurelyYewJest]

Ya I think the engineers had the wrong idea about internal combustion. You're not supposed to get everything so hot it simultaneously combusts!

[@morphin8654]

​@ 0:10 josephbidon4333

[@dentalnovember]

Hey hey hey Mr. I read all comments, I check my oil every other time I buy gas. I check the oil every time I cut the grass. I look at the oil window every time I ride my motorcycle. I can’t afford new engines!

[@kiubnzeogurmuerseger]

I vote for towed in gear. To have parts light blue / green / grey, those things easily got to ~600°f+. Frankly it's amazing.

[@johnt.848]

It's the only rational explanation for total destruction, there's no way they could have driven it to cause that.

[@billchildress9756]

That was a leaker that the Dipstick forgot to pull the dipstick!?!

[@Motronic944]

I was thinking maybe money shift, but this makes a lot more sense.

[@wiskatesnow]

@@johnt.848 My dads ej253 through a rod through the block simply driving highway in Minneapolis. Maybe he ran it too low on oil?? I have no idea how that happened

[@johnt.848]

@@wiskatesnow I had a car do the same because I ignored a bearing knock.

[@rushthezeppelin]

Wow, a valve making it's way into the oil pan is extremely impressive. I literally made it's way to the opposite side of the journey. Quite a journey for a top end component.

[@CaveyMoth]

Don't stop believin' in those valves.

[@edrannou3914]

When you hear the rod knocking, you have to drive really fast so you get home before it lets go. Or at least be closer to save on the towing charge.

[@timh6977]

A mate years ago had that philosophy when a rod let go in his Holden six. Hold it flat to get closer to home! He got 16 more Kms out of it before lock up!!!

[@VikingDudee]

My grandfather had a old 70s v8 Chrysler car and it suddenly had a really bad knock, He took the head off and the rod and piston and threw it back together and drove that thing for almost a year on 7 cylinders lol, Crazy old man.

[@kenstein]

A friend of mine did this with a Subaru EJ222. It worked but he failed to take into account the fact that it was going to lock it up and leave at least 3 of 4 converter bolts inaccessible. He had to spend hours with a sawzall cutting the block away to get to them because he didn't have a way to drop the front subframe complete and separate them, as Subaru puts a goofy long extension on the converter neck to get past the front diff and you run out of room moving the engine forward before your converter runs out of dingus.

[@mattyb7736]

​@@timh6977 we had a bet after a demolition derby with an old 186 Cut the bottom radiator hose, removed the sump bung, $5 in the pot, winner takes all guess when it would stop with a brick on the gas, I won at 46 minutes. Solid old motors, got to love self limiting revs with hydraulic lifters hehehe

[@earlscheib7754]

@@VikingDudee didn't happen if you take a connecting rod off the oil will pump out of that open journal leaving no oil pressure after it. And I'm assuming he was smart enough to leave the pushrods for the empty cylinder off.

[@DjRay1967]

Eric I love how you took the water pump chucking to a whole new level. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@christopherweise438]

Apparently they're called "boxer" engines cause the rods are trying to "punch" their way out of the block.

[@thezoomguys385]

They succeeded!

[@larryjohns8823]

That's what you do after an engine failure- "box her up, it is trash now"😅

[@craigtupper103]

Heeeyyyyooo!😂

[@Zodliness]

The fact that it spun long enough to literally smooth blend everything inside, achieved the kind of carnage one submits to the Guinness book of records.

[@NFS_Challenger54]

Similar story regarding Subaru engines. When I first started out at my shop, we had a costumer come in with a Subaru Forester saying he needs an axle. As a matter of fact, he bought an axle from the nearest AutoZone. I'm on the opposite side of the building doing tires, while one of my coworkers jumps into the car to bring it into the shop. As he cranked the car over and drove it into the work bay, I can immediately tell what was wrong with the car. Literally all of us stopped what we were doing and went over to the car. My boss opens the hood and checks the dipstick, NO MOTOR OIL. It was completely bone dry. All of us were astonished the guy drove it to the shop in its condition. We went over to the costumer and told him what was actually wrong. His response, and I'll never forget it, he said "My friends told me I don't need oil". My boss and I were almost facepalming ourselves. Now remember, I was a rookie just starting out. I stopped him and said to him "Think of your engine as your heart and the oil is your blood. What would happen if there were no blood flowing through to your heart?" And he said, "You'll die." Obviously, everyone knows what my response is after that. We put 5 quarts of oil in the car, which was kind of over optimistic. Fortunately, the guy lived up the road from the shop, and my boss said he would be amazed if the car even made it to the driveway. UNFORTUNATELY, the engine literally ceased about halfway in between the shop and his house, and his house isn't even 45 seconds from the shop, by car. The engine was that far gone. We helped tow the car back up to his house and the rest is history. Moral of the story to those who own a Subaru, please check your engine oil level periodically.

[@raven4k998]

a blown engine happens to any brand of engine given enough time it will happen to any engine some blow sooner then Subaru's other later on

[@timin770]

​@@raven4k998it will happen to all engines without oil. A Subaru with oil will go 300k. I've owned several. Check your oil EVERY TIME you get fuel, more often if you like. No matter what make you drive

[@lassiterdominguez2879]

Blah blah blah u have to check trash subasura oil more often cuz trash head gaskets leak. 😂😂😂. Stupid sube fans live in a bubble.😂

[@swamp-yankee]

Some years ago and the last time I got my oil changed at a shop I was driving a shit box ranger, and it was like 10 degrees out so I didn’t feel like doing it. Guy left the filter loose and it was gone when I got home being without oil at home and needing to go to work I drove that truck back to the shop and gave them a piece of my mind. I sold that truck to somebody from my town and I still see that very recognizable pile driving around

[@wudznutt6732]

6 head bolts? You're kidding.

[@dkmorris713]

I just gave a round of applause to the person that blew up this motor. Spectacular.

[@mann_idonotreadreplies]

probably misshifted like a lot of "manual transmission experts". lol

[@dkmorris713]

@mann_idonotreadcomments I thought that myself before we learned that this motor came from a forester. The chances of it being a manual are pretty slim. I think a soup of neglect, lack of oil, and plenty of Revs that sunk this ship. Notice how there was ZERO debris in the oil pickup??

[@carbontetlabs8606]

The effort expended on that one bolt to get the block all the way apart is what earned the like and comment today :)

[@WarriorsPhoto]

Agreed! 🎉

[@randyhall2135]

Two options. 1) ran with little or no oil for awhile. 2) If it was stick shift was it flat toward behind an RV and they left in gear . If so rpm could have exceeded 12 to 15 thousand rpm.

[@jthet2001]

Or it’s a Subaru flat 4🤣🤣

[@noyb7920]

@Karl with a K Not really, I could change my Subaru's head gasket without removing the engine. Of course, it being necessary in the first place IS a problem, haha.

[@lawrenceleible3670]

My guess would be option #2. Seen it a couple times on low mileage Jeep wranglers, owners messed up and left the transfer case engaged, one of them was found to be in 4-low so considerably more than even 12 or 15 thousand. Blows the whole bottom end of the engine all over the highway.

[@daniellibich1376]

@@lawrenceleible3670 Like one case of then FCA and now Stellantis had approved many jeep products including the wrangler for flat towing behind a RV when one such owner of a jeep wrangler was accused of leaving the transfer case in 4L along with the manual in 1st as behind a RV at highway speeds has technicians conclude the engine was turning at least 50K RPM before the engine practically exploded when even pickup owners wonder what they did to explode the transfer case.

[@its_jjk]

@@noyb7920how

[@Firefrei]

For those wondering, for the oil pump to start to turn blue if would have had to reach at least 500-550 degree Fahrenheit which is around 2 to 3 times normal operating temperature. This car has to have been flat towed in gear because it explains how the crankshaft would have be able to keep turning and destroy all the rods and lack of oil flow unless some wizard was magically able to yeet them all off simultaneously with racing with low oil or coolant

[@stephenschenider4007]

Wtf is yeet?

[@Firefrei]

@@stephenschenider4007 m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4iQe2mfhd6No68

[@petesmitt]

@@stephenschenider4007 black slang for throw..

[@stephenschenider4007]

@@petesmitt I figured it was some mushroom top zoomer shit. Thanks.

[@xxprouxx]

​@@petesmitt wait hold up. Black? Sorry I'll have to disagree with that part. But yes it does mean throw.

[@RoninEclipse2G]

Worked for a Subaru dealership for years. We would regularly see engines with holes under the alternator because the jackwagon owner hadn't changed the oil or even topped it off for 25k or more.

[@shrek_428]

I saw a video once where they towed a car with a manual transmission in first gear to see how fast the engine would spin. It scattered parts everywhere. I think someone duplicated that with this engine.

[@CosmoRiderDE]

Or the driver wanted to kill it on purpose and always got it to run again after another lost con rod, after cooling down again.... until the last one went too.... unbelievable!

[@SMOBY44]

Just had to reply after seeing your MM rate. Hole snipe? A gang?

[@shrek_428]

@@SMOBY44 Just an ol' knuckle dragger CGN-9 in the early 80's

[@Turboy65]

That crankshaft is COOKED. Easily this is the max carnage I've ever seen in an engine that didn't blow completely apart.

[@frankneher9192]

I was missing the blanket for the crankshaft

[@thezoomguys385]

That crankshaft had to get cherry red, or close to it in order to become rusted that way. It was really HOT!

[@thomasfletcher760]

Yep , definitely surpassed the V10 on carnage

[@janosnagyj.9540]

BAKED. That's the right word. BAKED. 🥵

[@napoleontheclown]

I fully suspect improper towing procedure was at play here. You don't need any good cylinders to spin the engine if the car is being moved under another vehicle's power while left in gear.

[@donniev8181]

I suspect it's a Subaru boxer engine!

[@billj.widmann112]

Another vote for being towed in gear. FWIW, used to work with a couple of race teams. Turning small block Chevy 350s to 7,000. Have seen a number of "blow ups" but never anything remotely close to this. Amazing!

[@sportclay1]

This autopsy was one of the best yet. Like everyone else how do you get an engine to destroy itself so completely? One would think it would have stopped long before every single moving part was totally destroyed. I will check the oil daily on my Forester from now on.

[@Conservator.]

Some have suggested the car might have been towed behind an RV in the wrong gear, 1st or maybe even reverse which would explain there was no debris in the oil pickup.

[@robertslegers257]

You will be the only one Eric said," Nobody checks their oil"

[@sportclay1]

@@Conservator. An awful lot of heat generated to have happened while towing. Suppose its possible.? I believe more likely , someone didn't check oil and drove it with a heavy foot .

[@Conservator.]

@@sportclay1 I’m just an armchair ‘expert’ but my guess would be that an engine would have given up long before the damage to this extend could happen. When towed, the damage could continu much longer. Just my thoughts.

[@Refertech101]

@@Conservator. think of a vehicle as a kinetic battery, if they where going fast enough when it let go, and just let it coast to a stop in gear, you'd easily drive the engine to pure and utter distruction

[@POVwithRC]

Alright. The waterpump skit. Take your Oscar and get out.

[@juangonzalez-pf9mg]

Brilliant editing 😂

[@NoWr2Run]

GREAT SKIT, He' getting better.

[@warrentinsley5490]

The ability to yard waterpumps thru time and space...achievement unlocked....😮

[@sergeantpeppers8858]

He can't receive his Oscar until he slaps the crap out of somebody.

[@NoWr2Run]

@@sergeantpeppers8858 NICE, LMFAO.

[@anthonyruby5040]

I love this channel and the endless supply of parts being thrown across the shop😂

[@wickedcabinboy]

@Anthony Ruby - And perfectly good parts, too.

[@coliander4180]

​@@wickedcabinboy not perfectly good if they take up more space than they're worth.

[@wickedcabinboy]

@@coliander4180 - Sorry, I guess the sarcasm didn't shine through like I thought it would.

[@helenault7452]

I still miss the days when I used to do this kind of teardown once in a while. Being able to watch you do it, with commentary that I'd have used myself, brings back so many memories.

[@XtheUnknown99]

I miss the days when I used to de-manufacture engines and trannies like this.

[@mann_idonotreadreplies]

COOL STORY BRO

[@OgamiItto70]

Way to go, Pete. That was truly impressive. The only scenarios I can think of to generate this level of destruction are: 1. Improper towing. 2. A backwards "upshift." (3rd-to-2nd, 4th-to-3rd or similar.) 3. A gear-skipping downshift at the top of the rev range. (5th-to-2nd or 4th-to-1st.) High-RPM on-throttle shenanigans would not, I think, be able to wreak such complete annihilation. A piston or rod or valve or whatever would fail and the engine would quit, limiting the damage to however much could be done with just the engine's remaining inertia. _This_ engine was turned into a self-shredding machine, forcibly spun until ding nigh _everything_ inside it was pulverized. That's my opinion, anyway, although I'm no expert.

[@MDBenson]

Thanks Pete! The big problem with flat-piston engines... as I see it... is... when a vertical piston engine blows the parts all fall to the bottom... in a flat engine they can't fall down very far because of the windage tray, and the opposed direction means the overwhelming majority of the force is sideways, so when they let go the parts fly *into each other*. So a high RPM failure basically means one thrown rod scatters bits into another rod... into another rod... you get the idea... It looks to me like a catastrophic oiling failure. Lost oil pressure, spun bearings, lots of flying pieces, kablamo.

[@obsidianjane4413]

It doesn't really matter because stuff is flying around and things in the process of breaking can't get out of each others way regardless of the orientation.

[@brentbarham3157]

“the problem with interference engines” “the problem with dual cam engines” “the problem with fuel injected engines” “the problem with V engines” “the problem with radiated, water cooled engines” “the problem with the ford model T”

[@supton1532]

Subaru noticed that the competition was using either cylinder deactivation or engine start/stop. So they decided to multiply the two together for total deactivation.

[@carnivorebear6582]

I like the new valve deactivation feature, truly innovative engineering

[@duomaxwell5807]

☠

[@billchildress9756]

Hey! Saves on GAS.

[@weedmanwestvancouverbc9266]

Cylindrus Deletus

[@speeddemon1092]

Loved the little skit with the water pump, and as the owner of a high mileage 02 subaru, I think I'm gonna do the oil change a little bit earlier. As for my theory on what caused this, it was towed while in gear. I remember seeing an article online years ago where a family towed their car (I think it was a cooper mini or somesuch smaller car) and left it in first, then got it up to highway speeds. The inside of the engine got turned to gravel and according to the comments the shaft RPM in that poor bastard of an engine would have been pushing well north of 20k RPM. Leaving it gear (probably first or second) would have sent the engine above the redline once the tow got up to speed and from there the friction and sheer forces involved would have done the rest. Wonder how brutalized the transmission and transfer case was on this vehicle.

[@bcyr-CO]

I do my ‘03 Outback at 2500mi. My ‘95 Legacy gets done maybe every 500mi or so (granted, I race it so it’s a change after each race).

[@christopherweise438]

If we get an "I'm speechless" in the title.....ya know we're gonna get some carnage. Thanks Pete!

[@desdecardo]

Worked on Subarus since the EA79 block. If one ran rough, and it wasn't obvious why, we'd try starting the engine on one cylinder to see which cylinder didn't start to find the bad one. There is no small amount of voodoo involved in making these engines run.

[@wwjoshdew]

oh man. I love your reaction at 15:46 I was laughing my ass off. You were laughing your ass off. we were both laughing so hard at the same thing. Then your "complete salad kit" broke me. I love your content dude. It's the freaking best. also 18:46 the look you gave the camera when you realized what you said. much love dude!

[@12345.......]

Everything about that engine is a work of art. The chared crank, the piston with 50 valve marks in it. Beautiful

[@KnexJunkie]

The Chef prepared it well. Danm that engine is R.I.P

[@thatnguy4618]

Towing it behind an RV in first gear would have "run" it long enough to do that!

[@wesley00042]

That was my guess as well.

[@wickedcabinboy]

@@wesley00042 - That's a pretty good guess. It would also explain why they didn't hear anything. Edit: others have suggested down shifting at at extremely high speed, that would explain the heat.

[@Taroodin]

Even better, towed with transmission in reverse.

[@mann_idonotreadreplies]

@@wickedcabinboy it doesnt have to be extremely high speed to misshift. you can misshift at 100 km/h if their dumb enough. just sayin

[@jnelson4765]

Yep, Either that or engine braking down Mount Washington...

[@darrenvictoriathornhill1170]

A massive thanks to Pete for this core. That is the most amazing destruction. All rods disconnected. Never seen that. Wow

[@urk5204]

I like your ambush method at 10:53. That dipstick tube didn't see that coming

[@peterking2794]

I can barely begin to imagine how spectacular that must have sounded when it decided to shred itself in to oblivion! At least it had a decent timing belt! Great video, cheers!

[@Spudchucker92]

My man literally just yeeted a water pump from Missouri all the way to Pennsylvania. I think that’s the most impressive thing here. EDIT: Thanks Pete

[@brianl8983]

He’s got a great arm I guess

[@TestECull]

33:52 Accurate recreation of how that engine sounded right before it ended up in your shop

[@module79l28]

Nice catch, I was about to post the same comment! 😄

[@crasher88]

I would like to have seen the crankshaft put on some v-blocks and rotated. I would be shocked in that crank wasn't twisted to some degree

[@RayBodette]

Friend of mine towed his 2009 Subaru Forester with manual trans behind his motorhome,He forgot and left it in gear after a hitch up,a few miles down the road the engine “Grenaded” I suspect this may be what happened to this one! l enjoy your teardowns very much

[@bwalker4194]

This was a fairly recently divorced woman driving on the expressway at night. Her ex-husband had been maintaining their vehicles and had probably been adding a quart of oil every thousand miles or so never mentioning it to her during the final days before the decree was signed. She had a lead foot and was probably cruising 85 or so in the rain. When the dash started to light up, she got scared but didn’t want to stop on the highway in the rain. When it started to get real tight and began slowing down, she pushed harder on the accelerator until it downshifted, then downshifted again. Now she’s really getting worried because it doesn’t sound right either but she’s down to 45 mph at 5500 rpms. She turns up the radio to get rid of the ugly noises. Slower, slower, but she can see the exit up ahead. One more little push on the pedal and one more downshift into first at 6000 rpms. RIP little boxer.

[@stevenhardy5767]

The water pump was hysterical. That had to be towed behind a pusher camper, I seen a jeep with the transmission , transfer case AND engine just scrap because they forgot to put it in neutral.

[@papawheelie5835]

Someone hitting the rev limiter just after their 60,000 mile oil change interval. (And forgetting to add the clean oil). That was some professional level destruction! I had a crankshaft break at 70 mph in a FIAT once and the results were bad but not even close to this carnage. I'm impressed! Truly!

[@DanBowkley]

I've got two theories: either someone had it running parked in their driveway and put a brick on the gas pedal before pulling the oil pan plug, or it got towed in gear for about half a million miles. There's no way in Hades it was actually being driven. This thing is past nuggets, we've got a bowl of Boxer Engine Crunch!

[@silentferret1049]

As far as the color changing, I know for steel like high carbon steel 400F will take it to a nice straw/golden color. I think 600F around that temp for it to be blued and it would stay that color for a while until it starts to go red hot. Its when that stuff cools down when it turns a dull greyish from a shiny polished state it would have started. That cover being aluminum and it being fused means that the Aluminum got hot enough to get soft to fuse but not melt and aluminum (given alloys) starts to melt around 1200F. So between 600F to 1000F

[@weedmanwestvancouverbc9266]

I remember that beautiful straw colour when I was starting out in metalworking and I had two temporary chisel and you scrape away at the bare metal one piece of Emery cloth until the oxide turns a beautiful yellow colour and then you quench it

[@AlabasterRadiance]

10:20 - I laughed so hard at this! This is what makes your channel so amazing. It's very informative on the tear downs, but not a dry moment. You really keep the viewer engaged from start to finish.

[@Stylemaster911]

Perhaps it was towed in gear? That is crazy, because it seems like it kept running for a LONG time after it should not have..

[@avrggamer69]

The pan pun had me laughing way harder than I should have been but honestly I think the engine was already on its way out so they just went full send and some how Powered through all the noise and pain until it completely stopped

[@brand-x7049]

Another fun thing with these engines: all the chem-welded bolts in the block from dissimilar-metal reaction. 18:30 Gotta dig the "Parts Master" oil filter... 🤣

[@vman1011able]

heyyy wix makes em they aint that bad

[@kenstein]

It sure mastered those parts

[@fubartotale3389]

@@vman1011able But it screams "give me the cheapest you got!"

[@509brown]

Thanks Eric! Thanks Pete! That was stunning! Just shows that good things do come in small packages, and this tear down was very, very good! Eric the Tenacious!💪💪💪

[@phillipjohnson5868]

194K miles on my 2012 EJ235! Replaced the PCV valve and it no longer burns oil! Never had any major issue with this engine!

[@donniev8181]

Irrelevant

[@srt8madman727]

No matter how many times I see this style of engine I'm always amazed by its design. Strange the way it's designed.

[@procrastinator1842]

Strange, but clever. Perfectly balanced so there are no counterweights on the crank, no balance shaft and very little ancillary stuff. So they end up being almost half the weight and half the height of a regular inline 4.

[@srt8madman727]

I didn't know any of that information. Thanks for letting me know.

[@FreeHazelNuts]

@@procrastinator1842what are the drawbacks then? Are there any?

[@Xaluber]

@Retired Bore Subaru mainly still uses boxer engines because their signature symmetrical AWD system requires a longitudinal layout with the entire engine sitting in front of the front axle. A normal inline 4 would be far too long.

[@fubartotale3389]

@@srt8madman727 Same basic design as Porsche, the only two Manufacturers that use it because its expensive to produce, those engine cases are a precision casting, not just a hunk of metal. Engine assembly is quite a bit more involved.

[@brianl8983]

Thanks Pete. I like how the boxers sound when operating properly but I have virtually no experience with maintaining them

[@paulturgeon2259]

It's just 2 heads instead of 1 , very easy to maintain.

[@XtheUnknown99]

Change the oil!

[@XtheUnknown99]

And keep it in coolant!

[@123-olmngresx]

Fat 4

[@dfcvda]

i use a garage *top tip.

[@patriel1]

That engine had Autobot chow in the oil pan. Looks like this engine was going light speed when it blew. Thanks Pete for this mystery engine.

[@mwb3984]

Very very entertaining video, sir. So, Don't Ask how I know this. If you run one long enough, starved for oil just to where it runs hot for a long time, but keeps running, then finally all the parts give way in concert inside a few seconds of each other, it can be thrilling. An early 60s 144 c.i. Ford can do that, pretty close to it, if you run it "near the edge" long enough, especially on reman oil. My clue was those beautiful colors, seems I saw that once before.

[@biscuitninja]

It never ceases to amaze me how bad these engines destroy themselves. Even when used lightly, these engines are just so delicate and have a tendency to be under designed for safety. I love the flat 4 and flat 6 but wow!

[@beyondmiddleagedman7240]

Probably towed behind an RV and left in (a lower) gear. That would keep it turning through the carnage. I'd love to be able to give the two "good" pistons/rods to a couple guys at work who are Subaru fanatics. I'll just send them the link to this video. It will break their minds and hearts.

[@Currawong]

I was thinking of getting one and leaving it in my Subaru the next time I take it in for service just to see their reaction.

[@QuinnDickinson2610]

I'm almost convinced this is my buddy's old motor! We blew it up in early 2019. It randomly started an extremely violent rodknock and one day I jump started it and every so slightly gave it throttle to keep it iding and it blew up. It was a beige Forester and we are fairly close to Mertztown, PA. If it's truly my buddy old motor I have videos of it running

[@NG-VQ37VHR]

While it would be neat to hear from the owner of this engine, I have to believe this was seeing very high rpm when it let go. Unless you were bouncing it off the limiter to keep it from dying, it's probably a different motor unfortunately.

[@QuinnDickinson2610]

@@NG-VQ37VHR the damage matches the picture. Trust me the rod knock was insanely violent and my buddy drove it around for a little bit plus had to drive it home 30 mins after it started knocking. I revved it to like 3k cold and it nuked it.

[@yal100]

Holy internal explosion! The problem has only gotten worse with extended oil change times. Subaru is one of the few manufacturers Ive seen that has actually reduced the oil change mileage on their latest engines, the FB engine family use to be 7500 mile changes, its now down to 6000 miles. I change mine every 5000 and check it as often as I can.

[@Kenneth_R]

The timing system on this engine seems very well designed, simple and reliable. Love that there are none of those stupid plastic timing chain/belt tensioners. Robust metal tensioners with large bearings rule.

[@ThatOddGarage]

They are absolutely simple. The unfortunate circumstance of my EJ25D (96 DOHC motor) is that I broke every single cover so now I'm running a naked timing belt. Aligning the cam sprockets was a breeze, and I didn't even use the special tool that is "required" for the job.

[@justsumguy2u]

Imagine what it sounded like when the entire long block came apart. This ran out of oil at high rpm, and it may well have been towing (or trying to tow) something at the time

[@kenstein]

I bet it sounded like a wood chipper eating an entire recycling bin full of mason jars

[@Me-zo8yc]

@@kenstein 😅🤣🤣🤣

[@timtimtimmay4654]

Since we are going with baseball terms, it batted 1.000. It was knocking them down all over the place. It finished the season leaving nothing else on the field. On a side note, remember when they did "Cash for clunkers"? I wonder if someone has one of the engines they poured the "mixture" into that they would donate so we can see what it did to them.

[@michaelworden9265]

Or in bowling, the Rocket Scientist bowled a 300 game (perfect score)

[@BobBasshead]

That has to be your best tear-down yet! Thanks Pete!

[@ohger1]

My daughter in law's non turbo 2.5 with 85K miles decided to spit a ring with a broken ring land on the piston. Always maintained and never abused. I paid 2K for a brand new Subaru shortblock. With the headwork and other parts including a poisoned cat it cost me $4.5K to fix it.

[@georgjrgensen8507]

We had a 2 liter Impreza Plus automatic (atmospheric, 116 HP) from 2003 - 2012. When we bought it it was 6 years old and had 65000 km on it. When we sold it it had run 210000 km. Apart from the usual wear and tear we had absolutely no issues with it. The car was very comfortable and reasonably quiet. The only thing we had against it, was its thirst. We live in the Netherlands. Subaru is regarded here as one of the very durable brands, alongside Toyota, Honda and Mazda. Probably because our Subarus are all built in Japan. My son-in-law and a brother-in-law also drove Subarus, without any problems. We are aware of issues with them in the States. Especially the 2.5 liter is vulnarable, because a main oil pipe runs low under the block, and gives oil problems, lubricationwise as well as cooling. I suspect that the car this engine belonged to has been towed in gears..

[@XtheUnknown99]

‘Knock - knock!’. Hi. Let me introduce myself. I’m Rod.

[@Ragnug]

My guess is that this Forester was a 5 speed manual and they money shifted it from 5th to 1st somehow while also running it low on oil. That's the only thing I can think of.

[@NoWr2Run]

Very Good guess or they did it on purpose on an engine that was making noise already. Put a brick on the gas pedal & STAND BACK, LOL. I did this in my late teen's on a Chrysler slant six that I couldn't GIVE AWAY.

[@YouTubeAIbot]

nah, i think this was a VERY ignorant owner who ran it out of oil and just kept on driving until one by one they all let go

[@NoWr2Run]

@@KZbinAIbot Could be ?

[@mann_idonotreadreplies]

same lol

[@tjroelsma]

@@KZbinAIbot And then complained to his buddies how bad Subaru engines are.

[@ericthimot]

I noticed the AC belt was a stretch fit (no tensioner), and you mentioned it was an '06 to '08 Forester engine. I think the stretch fit belt was only used in '08 and on. (Sorry, my brain works like this for details) I do love everything you do and seriously enjoy the content.

[@IIGrayfoxII]

My EJ204 engine has a stretch fit belt for the A/C compressor.

[@EverydayDIY2023]

Simply and catastrophically, OUTSTANDING! Makes me wonder that is what the 2.5 in my daughter's '07 probably looked like when she first heard clanking and kept trying to run it....

[@mikepupillo2648]

Thanks. Someone asked why I watch you tear down so many engines. I don't know. But I enjoy it. Thank you.

[@jp2246]

Your most cautious and delicate tear down yet!

[@jcnikoley]

My ej253 has 200k, and I recently did valve cover gaskets. The valve train on mine looked brand new. That one has a lot of polymerized oil. It’s amazing what regular oil changes can do.

[@Conservator.]

I don’t dispute what you’re saying but this was not caused by not changing the oil enough and not even oil starvation imo. Some smarter guys than me have suggested the car might have been towed behind an RV in the wrong gear. (1st or reverse).

[@jcnikoley]

@@Conservator. I agree that towing is what caused the damage, just commenting on the condition of the valve train.

[@Conservator.]

@@jcnikoley 👍

[@Sovek86]

I just bought a 2012 focus with 89K, pull the oil cap and my cams also look brand new

[@pgrcadventures1414]

This looks like it let go on the highway at the top of 5th gear and they let it coast all the way to a stop while in gear, absolutely spectacular amount of carnage.

[@dustcommander100]

I think you nailed it - the car couldn't have been running and doing that much damage. I think it was towed by a big motorhome with a big diesel engine, and when they stopped, they found the damage. Much longer, and the lower half of the car would have been worn off. I laughed out loud when you made that comment about the knock sensor being busy!

[@edifyguy]

The reason it didn't want to split the block was that the crank had welded itself to the halves. I can't see any way this happened other than it let go at high speed in a manual transmission vehicle and the driver didn't take it out of gear, and the momentum mulched the engine. That's impressive damage! Thanks for taking it ALL the way apart. Also, I love that you finally clarified to the viewing public what I already knew about the ongoing water pump joke.

[@stevemarch3432]

Wow! I have never seen anything so destroyed! Unbelievable. Best teardown yet. 👍

[@billchildress9756]

I have! It was not very funny though when it was found out that the guy who bilt the engine wound up with an extra set of rod bearings though. He was better lubed than the engine was.

[@MultiMightyQuinn]

The valve cover died as the engine lived.....recklessly! Thanks for another great teardown video!

[@agentrock8495]

Love the water pump bit. 🤓

[@jeffmcrae5336]

That was impressive. The only thing I can think of is that it was really low on oil and developed a knock. then revved past it's maximum RPM until things started flying apart. Keep up the good work.

[@BrainDamageBBQ]

I love your crossover with PMP Auto Group. That was great. "Oh, Eric, nobody wants used water pumps..."

[@lemburns0516]

I'll go with 9000 RPM in reverse for about half a mile. I really do like the dimpled piston.

[@randyd4456]

They were going for a free floating piston mod. Just think of the power you can get when the crank is unincumbered by pesky rods and pistons.

[@georgerocheleau]

I'm not saying it was aliens, but it was aliens.

[@rench55]

Thanks Pete! I'm just impressed with how long this engine must have kept turning after it started falling apart. Truly amazed...

[@troyrosenbaugh9935]

Guy brought me a 5.7, wants rebuilt. Went to bolt it to my engine stand and the bell housing mounting area on back shattered under its own weight and it fell on the floor. Fkn hillarious, told him no chance in hell, get another from salvage yard that's solid and I'll build it, I got OHVs to fix.

[@Aaron-be2pt]

I'd love to see an FB25 if you ever get your hands on one. I've never seen the inside of one of those.

[@mikeL5183]

That's what's in my current outback! No, I don't plan on turning the insides into 'engine gravel' so Eric can get it to tear it down...

[@Yankee7000]

While removing the oil pan: “I didn’t drain the oil…. This may not pan out for me….” Remarkable couple of puns….

[@frankiehensley2928]

You need a tally sheet showing how many times you've won and lost against the dip stick tubes, and I've been wanting to suggest as many timing chains as I've seen you pull you should take them to a blacksmith and have some Damascus tools made from them

[@CleanteamofNY]

That Subaru Forester J253 teardown was mind-blowing! I'm amazed that people do not check their oil at least once a month. We need to go back to the days when our gas stations check our oil level while they pump gas.

[@hakology]

EJ engines once a week or every 500 - 1000miles which ever comes 1st, change every 5k

[@eric_emenhiser]

This entire video is why I love watching your content!! Loved the bit when you threw the water pump to your buddies in PA! And FOUR broken rods, impressive!!! I can't believe you ruined the block just to take it apart, what a waste! 😂😂

[@garytull7730]

You managed to get the last bit of mileage out of that water pump 🤣🤣

[@402kev4]

I've seen one worse than that. Steve Morris deleting all 8 pistons on his wagon during a pass. But I have to say, the Subaru was just as impressive 😳😂

[@wickedcabinboy]

@402 Kev - Yeah, I saw that video too. At least he was able to salvage the block.

[@402kev4]

@@wickedcabinboy Yeppers! And now that block is living in Mullet 👍🏻

[@shrek_428]

Seen that one, nothing but tiny bits of both pistons and aluminium rods

[@todds3388]

100%, that thing was flat towed in gear.

[@thor294]

Was thinking that. Trans had to be turning the engine

[@JohnnyDee62]

In the early 1980s, I was a motorcycle courier for 18 months before university. During that time, I knew a guy from high school with a motorcycle and we did stuff together, like ride to Ocean City beaches. He used to brag about being a teenager in the country, too young for a license but full of driving experience from farm equipment, so he and his friends would pool their money, buy an old car, take it to a field, and drive it to death. Then they'd drain the oil and drive it until the engine "blew up". This sounds like a very similar kind of adventure! Thanks for posting! 👍💯🙏‼

[@onebigmikester]

Thanks!

[@I_Do_Cars]

Thank you!

[@benaldredge2671]

The water pump toss was awesome 😂

[@jimburtwell2731]

Awesome level of destruction, can't imagine why Pete would let this one go!

[@Adam-nv9zo]

You can tell that engine is blown because of the way it is.

[@chrisbragdon5901]

North bound on I-5 “grape vine” with a big boat trailer loaded to the hilt with a 52 foot twin engine cabin cruiser with no brakes downhill heading to Bakersfield, driver downshifted into low gear to brake but turned the motor into a fancy grinder-upper.

[@shaunolinger964]

ALL 4 RODS!!??? You're right... they had to WORK at that! That took time, perseverance, and dedication. Well done!!!

[@daviddhulst1513]

I loved the 2 Subies I have owned. Just need to keep them maintained and don't drive them like you stole it. The timing belt is extremely easy to replace, unlike your horizontally opposed engines.

[@TDT0188]

good commuter cars for the first 100k miles, trade them in after or pay the royalties in oil consumption and poor gas mileage. about the only things subaru have going for them at this point are their AWD and their safety ratings.

[@NoWr2Run]

@@TDT0188 Kind of agree on a few things you've typed but the 90's engines up to 99 were GREAT, IMHO. I owned 3 2.5's ( not this particular engine ) 95, 97 & 98. All were bought with at least 150,000 miles on them. I put Timing Chain Kits in all of them, water pumps on them & changed oil every 3,000 miles. ALL WERE 5 SPEEDS & never used oil ? Maybe I got lucky ? These engines are similar to the Jeep 4.0's in a few ways, they leak oil, you have too change the oil regularly, Change the Ainti-Freeze, they are very reliable if taken care of. Can't run them HOT or you'll have Head or Head Gasket problems.

[@TDT0188]

@@NoWr2Run moms 04 Forester made it to 220k, but the oil consumption was incredible. Sucked the pan dry in under 1200 miles on the last oil change before it ended up similar to this old girl.

[@NoWr2Run]

@@TDT0188 WOW, Mine ran damn near to almost 3000,000 miles after I did that work. They all rusted out here in the N.E. PA. RUST BELT.

[@mann_idonotreadreplies]

@@NoWr2Run lol no. dont compare this to the legendary inline 6 jeep engine.