Best and worst Subaru engines

Robert Smith · 02-27-2008, 02:31 AM

The best is the wifes current 2.5T in the '07 Forester XT, not far behind was the solid lifter dohc 2.5 in the '94 (?) Outback-a work of art. Oddly while the performance is light years difference between the turbo and na, mileage is nearly exactly the same; low 20's around town and very upper 20's to the magic 30mpg on the highway.

Worst was the H6 we had in an '02, I think, Outback, always losing coolant through the head gasket-dubbed it the Horrible 6.

Be interested in hearing from those who had Subaru's from the earlier years.

BAC5.2 · 02-27-2008, 02:40 AM

Best - the EJ22T in my 94 Legacy Turbo. 27lbs of boost from a 50-trim on a stock longblock. 373whp and 410lb-ft.

Worst - I haven't had a worst experience. In history, I think the Phase1 EJ25 has the worst track record. That or the EZ30 H6.

ferret · 02-27-2008, 02:48 AM

Best 90 Legacy 2.2L, although the current 04 2.5L may give it a run for it's money.

Worst, MY02 2.5L ... 7 O2 senors in 58K, bad bad piston slap even after warmup, ext HG coolant leak, max 24 mpg. That engine had issues.

All my EA engines ran flawlessly .... with oil leaks .

BAC5.2 · 02-27-2008, 02:49 AM

The EJ22 is probably the most reliable Subaru motor in history. They are unstoppable.

pleiad7 · 02-27-2008, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAC5.2

The EJ22 is probably the most reliable Subaru motor in history. They are unstoppable.

Totally agree... IMHO the best engine Subaru ever built.

*averider* · 02-27-2008, 06:42 AM

i love my 2.5 turbo ,,this is the best motor i've ever had and the only subaru ive ever had....no negatives so far

rok3479 · 02-27-2008, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by averider

i love my 2.5 turbo ,,this is the best motor i've ever had and the only subaru ive ever had....no negatives so far

that's what i'm talkin about! ditto...

GIT-R-DONE · 02-27-2008, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAC5.2

The EJ22 is probably the most reliable Subaru motor in history. They are unstoppable.

by far the best engine

my 1990 Legacy 2.2L N/A had 455xxxKm when I scraped it, the engine still ran great but the trany and body was no good.

When my wife and I were looking for a car for her, I knew to get her a 2.2L Legacy. we got one with 69xxxkm

its been 3 years now its only got 78500Km

I know this car will not die for many years

worst engine for me was a EJ20 STI VER-4, bunt oil, blew up turbos but when like snot!

sea-scooby · 02-27-2008, 08:08 AM

best: 1998 EJ22 in my Impreza (170k miles and it still ran like new)
worst: 1998 EJ25 in a Forester (headgasket blew at 65k, luckily I sold it at 62k)

Forester 2.5 XTi · 02-27-2008, 08:23 AM

Long live the EJ22's where ever they may be!

BAC5.2 · 02-27-2008, 08:40 AM

After nuclear holocaust all that will be left are cockroaches, Chuck Norris, and EJ22's.

Forester 2.5 XTi · 02-27-2008, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAC5.2

After nuclear holocaust all that will be left are cockroaches, Chuck Norris, and EJ22's.

No doubt!

sea-scooby · 02-27-2008, 08:48 AM

The guy that bought my 98 Impreza put a home made Turbo kit (TD04 and supporting parts off a 02 WRX) on the motor at the 175k mark, and he has been running it for the past 5 months with no problems. That EJ22 just keeps going and going. He wants to do an engine swap, but he wants to blow the stocker first to help justify it.

Robert Smith · 02-27-2008, 02:00 PM

I take it the EJ22 is the 2.2L?
What were the years, single ohc,double, solid/hydraulic lifters?

And for you real Subie heads, which car was the 'wedged' shaped model, the commercial I usually saw it on was a ME or VT sounding farmers son coming home with this model and the father saying, " but I thought we agreeded that you would get a Subaru" or something to this effect; a rather pricey one for the times I believe.

sea-scooby · 02-27-2008, 02:04 PM

The EJ22 was a 2.2L engine.

The car your refering to must be the XT. My wife had one as her first car. They came with air suspension and some models were turbocharged. It was basically the precussor to the SVX.

02-27-2008, 02:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
Robert Smith Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 64 Location: Massachusetts Car Year: 07 Car Model: 2.5XT Sports Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Best and worst Subaru engines The best is the wifes current 2.5T in the '07 Forester XT, not far behind was the solid lifter dohc 2.5 in the '94 (?) Outback-a work of art. Oddly while the performance is light years difference between the turbo and na, mileage is nearly exactly the same; low 20's around town and very upper 20's to the magic 30mpg on the highway. Worst was the H6 we had in an '02, I think, Outback, always losing coolant through the head gasket-dubbed it the Horrible 6. Be interested in hearing from those who had Subaru's from the earlier years.

02-27-2008, 02:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
BAC5.2 iMod (no, really I do!!) Contributing Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 10,487 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Car Year: 2009 Car Model: Outback XT-B Transmission: 5MT Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 6 reviews	Best - the EJ22T in my 94 Legacy Turbo. 27lbs of boost from a 50-trim on a stock longblock. 373whp and 410lb-ft. Worst - I haven't had a worst experience. In history, I think the Phase1 EJ25 has the worst track record. That or the EZ30 H6. __________________ 09 SWP Outback 2.5XT 5MT 263whp, 337 lb-ft

02-27-2008, 02:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
ferret Contributing Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,201 Location: Northern NJ Car Year: 2004 Car Model: Forester XS PP 5sp Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 5 reviews	Best 90 Legacy 2.2L, although the current 04 2.5L may give it a run for it's money. Worst, MY02 2.5L ... 7 O2 senors in 58K, bad bad piston slap even after warmup, ext HG coolant leak, max 24 mpg. That engine had issues. All my EA engines ran flawlessly .... with oil leaks . __________________ 04XSPP, 98S (8 Subaru's since 1978, 7 were 5 sp) ILuvSubaru's

02-27-2008, 02:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
BAC5.2 iMod (no, really I do!!) Contributing Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 10,487 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Car Year: 2009 Car Model: Outback XT-B Transmission: 5MT Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 6 reviews	The EJ22 is probably the most reliable Subaru motor in history. They are unstoppable. __________________ 09 SWP Outback 2.5XT 5MT 263whp, 337 lb-ft

02-27-2008, 08:08 AM	#9 (permalink)
sea-scooby The Sub kit guy Contributing Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 13,136 Location: Renton, Wa Car Year: 2005 Car Model: Forester X & XT VF39 Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 79 reviews	best: 1998 EJ22 in my Impreza (170k miles and it still ran like new) worst: 1998 EJ25 in a Forester (headgasket blew at 65k, luckily I sold it at 62k) __________________ 05 Forester XTi Premium M/T (bobbytuned VF39)(his) 05 Forester X A/T (hers) My Journal page

02-27-2008, 06:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
averider Taking a Walkabout in the Outback Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 252 Location: Carlsbad,CA Car Year: 2008 Car Model: forester sport xt Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i love my 2.5 turbo ,,this is the best motor i've ever had and the only subaru ive ever had....no negatives so far

02-27-2008, 08:23 AM	#10 (permalink)
Forester 2.5 XTi 30 Meters Contributing Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,125 Location: Colorado Springs '06 FXTi VF39 Protune!!! Car Year: 2006 Car Model: XTi - VF39 Protune! Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 2 reviews	Long live the EJ22's where ever they may be! __________________ USMC - One Shot, One Kill. You can run, but you'll die tired.

02-27-2008, 08:40 AM	#11 (permalink)
BAC5.2 iMod (no, really I do!!) Contributing Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 10,487 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Car Year: 2009 Car Model: Outback XT-B Transmission: 5MT Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 6 reviews	After nuclear holocaust all that will be left are cockroaches, Chuck Norris, and EJ22's. __________________ 09 SWP Outback 2.5XT 5MT 263whp, 337 lb-ft

02-27-2008, 08:48 AM	#13 (permalink)
sea-scooby The Sub kit guy Contributing Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 13,136 Location: Renton, Wa Car Year: 2005 Car Model: Forester X & XT VF39 Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 79 reviews	The guy that bought my 98 Impreza put a home made Turbo kit (TD04 and supporting parts off a 02 WRX) on the motor at the 175k mark, and he has been running it for the past 5 months with no problems. That EJ22 just keeps going and going. He wants to do an engine swap, but he wants to blow the stocker first to help justify it. __________________ 05 Forester XTi Premium M/T (bobbytuned VF39)(his) 05 Forester X A/T (hers) My Journal page

02-27-2008, 02:00 PM	#14 (permalink)
Robert Smith Registered User Thread Starter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 64 Location: Massachusetts Car Year: 07 Car Model: 2.5XT Sports Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I take it the EJ22 is the 2.2L? What were the years, single ohc,double, solid/hydraulic lifters? And for you real Subie heads, which car was the 'wedged' shaped model, the commercial I usually saw it on was a ME or VT sounding farmers son coming home with this model and the father saying, " but I thought we agreeded that you would get a Subaru" or something to this effect; a rather pricey one for the times I believe.

02-27-2008, 02:04 PM	#15 (permalink)
sea-scooby The Sub kit guy Contributing Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 13,136 Location: Renton, Wa Car Year: 2005 Car Model: Forester X & XT VF39 Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 79 reviews	The EJ22 was a 2.2L engine. The car your refering to must be the XT. My wife had one as her first car. They came with air suspension and some models were turbocharged. It was basically the precussor to the SVX. __________________ 05 Forester XTi Premium M/T (bobbytuned VF39)(his) 05 Forester X A/T (hers) My Journal page

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