Kinda surprising, given that the boxer engines tend to start having serious problems at a fairly young age (…which is due to some inherent problems with boxer engine designs and the difficulty in making them sufficiently rigid). So I guess once you switch to an electric motor, Subarus suddenly have improved long-term reliability.
They cheaped out on the head gaskets themselves in the ej25 series engines (naturally aspirated). If the gaskets are replaced with the MLS (multi-level steel) ones that came stock in the turbo models, they’ll probably last longer than the rest of the car. At some point Subaru got wise and started putting MLS gaskets in all of their engines, so it’s not really a problem anymore.
As for head gaskets going on turbo subarus, I’d put that squarely on wrx’s and sti’s being some of the most abused vehicles out there.
Oil burning is the only real issue’s they have these days. At least for Subaru.
Subaru fixed headgaskets with the new FA and FB series engines. Oil burning is typically consistent so just know how often you need to top it up if it’s a problem, or just get early oil changes. Otherwise they’re very reliable, just hard to work on.
And it’s really only the internal engine work that’s tough without pulling it. Everything else is actually pretty straightforward imo as a shade-tree mechanic
Kinda surprising, given that the boxer engines tend to start having serious problems at a fairly young age (…which is due to some inherent problems with boxer engine designs and the difficulty in making them sufficiently rigid). So I guess once you switch to an electric motor, Subarus suddenly have improved long-term reliability.
Subaru boxer engines are very reliable, they are just a pain to work on. The main issues Subie’s have is computer issues in warm climates.
Pre 2005 this statement would get you brigaded with head gasket issues, but yeah haven’t heard of those being a regular issue in a while.
I wonder how many of the head gasket complaints were from yobbos who kept the boost super high
They cheaped out on the head gaskets themselves in the ej25 series engines (naturally aspirated). If the gaskets are replaced with the MLS (multi-level steel) ones that came stock in the turbo models, they’ll probably last longer than the rest of the car. At some point Subaru got wise and started putting MLS gaskets in all of their engines, so it’s not really a problem anymore. As for head gaskets going on turbo subarus, I’d put that squarely on wrx’s and sti’s being some of the most abused vehicles out there.
Happened to my old 98 forrester and that thing didn’t have a turbo at all, so no idea really.
Yeah, the head gasket issues were annoying in the early 2000s.
That issue finally got fixed. My Impreza has been crazy reliable compared to every other car I’ve owned.
Oil burning is the only real issue’s they have these days. At least for Subaru.
Subaru fixed headgaskets with the new FA and FB series engines. Oil burning is typically consistent so just know how often you need to top it up if it’s a problem, or just get early oil changes. Otherwise they’re very reliable, just hard to work on.
And it’s really only the internal engine work that’s tough without pulling it. Everything else is actually pretty straightforward imo as a shade-tree mechanic