Thanks to the all-wheel drive, Subaru's car has gained great popularity among fans of outdoor activities, fishing trips, hunting. Legends and rumors speak of an engine resource of 1,000,000 km.
Busting the myth about the resource of the boxer motor
The service life of the power unit depends on:
- design features;
- timely passage of maintenance;
- the quality of lubricants and fuels;
- compliance with operating rules.
1) Design feature - horizontal arrangement of cylinders. Motors with this arrangement are most prone to oil consumption.
Let's not forget to say that the engines are high-speed and spin well. The disadvantages of the design include insufficient cooling of the fourth cylinder, which eventually leads to a characteristic knock on the cold one, which disappears as it warms up. The new generation of 20B chain-driven engines are prone to higher oil consumption.
2) Changing the oil in the engine is recommended by the manufacturer once a year or upon reaching the mileage of 15,000 km, whichever comes first. However, no one mentions engine hours, which are not recorded anywhere and are not taken into account in the maintenance schedule. If we take into account the fact of many hours of traffic jams, then in a year you can drive 15 thousand km, and the engine will work 500 hours, which at an average speed in the city of 50 km / h will be 50 thousand km. mileage. In this situation, the oil ages and loses its performance properties.
3) If we take into account that you are using only original oil or of the best quality, then untimely replacement entails a reduction in the resource of the Subaru engine. This is also facilitated by low-quality fuel containing a large amount of tar and sulfur. Sulfur oxide, which is formed during fuel combustion, reacts with water (condensate). This reaction results in the formation of sulfuric acid, which is corrosive. At the same time, iron oxide, getting into the oil, acts as an abrasive material and leaves scuffs on the cylinder walls. A dirty air filter also contributes to this.
Poor quality gasoline does not burn completely. Unburnt fractions get into the oil, which causes its aging, including oil waxing.
4) It is worth paying attention to reading the operating instructions for Subaru. You can learn the following knowledge: the permissible speed of the car (after all, it is driving); checking the oil level before every refueling (such a warning says a lot).
The above facts indicate that the Subaru engine resource is limited to 80-120 thousand km. for turbocharged models and 140-200 thousand km. - for conventional motors.
How to increase the resource and reduce wear of the Subaru engine
- Change the oil more often: for turbo versions 5-7 thousand km, for the rest 8-10 thousand km.
- Follow and follow the manufacturer's instructions
- Refuel with exclusively high-quality fuel
And there is another way, tested by time and by leading research institutes, both Russian and foreign, is the use of a repair and restoration composition that allows you to compensate for wear, reduce noise and vibration, restore the geometry of the cylinder walls, and reduce oil consumption. Unlike common oil additives, the RVS additive does not create a temporary film, but a cermet protective layer, which makes it possible to increase the resource of the power unit to 120 thousand km. mileage.
History Subaru Forester 2009 release, engine - EJ204, car mileage 45 thousand km. In winter, the oil pressure light came on. The client contacted the S-Auto car service by phone. It was recommended to check the level and add oil. The owner did just that. Upon arrival at work, I decided to check the level. It turned out to be two times higher than the top mark. Then he called the service station again. And in the evening of the same day I went to the service. At the service, it was decided to remove the pallet, and here are the results:
After the compression-vacuum diagnostics, a decision was made on the treatment. The processing was carried out in two stages. Currently, Forester's mileage is 143,000 km. Timely use of the repair and restoration composition managed to compensate for wear and increase the resource without interfering with the work and replacing parts.
Having appeared on our market in the middle of spring, “Forester” immediately attracted the attention of motorists. Our crossovers are in high demand, and each new model is of interest to potential buyers. Nevertheless, even on Moscow roads, this car is still quite rare.
Why? One of the reasons, apparently, was the poor choice of motors. More precisely, an alternative. If you prefer to move at a calm pace - take the basic modification with a two-liter "aspirated", giving out 150 forces. But you can forget about gambling driving - after all, 150 hp. not enough for a dynamic ride in an SUV weighing almost 1.5 tons ... If you like to inject adrenaline into your bloodstream, please, there is another pole: the explosive nature of a 230-horsepower turbocharged engine allows you to go fast, sometimes even too much. As soon as the tachometer needle crosses the 3,000 rpm mark, the riders are literally pressed into the seats. But at low revs, the engine recoil is small: in order not to stall at the start, you have to gas up and play with the clutch. Not the best option for driving in traffic jams.
But what if the car owner does not want to choose on the basis of either-or? Previously, the “Subaru Forester” did not have a compromise option. Now it has appeared.
Although the 2.5-liter "aspirated" only 22 hp. more powerful than a 2 liter engine, it allows overtaking much more readily. This modification reacts to pressing the accelerator more adequately, without requiring unnecessary movements with the lever of the five-speed "mechanics". There are no noticeable pickups, as in the turbo version, here. On the other hand, the engine pulls evenly throughout the entire rev range, which ensures decent behavior both during dynamic driving and during leisurely driving. You can safely roll in fifth gear along a suburban highway. If necessary, just add gas, and the crossover will briskly rush forward. True, on a car with a four-speed automatic transmission, acceleration turns out to be a little less dynamic - not the most modern “automatic” switches gears with some delay.
With a 172-horsepower naturally aspirated engine, the “Subaru Forester” is suitable for both calm and rather gambling driving.
Off-road features
The 172-horsepower engine fitted the “Subaru Forester” just right: with it the car became more dynamic than the two-liter version, but at the same time more balanced than the car with a turbo engine.
A car with a manual gearbox is equipped with a reduction row in the transmission. Its inclusion lever is located between the front seats.
DIFFERENCES in engine performance show up not only on the highway, but also off-road. To give journalists the opportunity to test the off-road qualities of the “Forester”, the organizers have built a special track in a sand pit.
And a car with a turbocharged engine didn't feel in the sand in the best way. Due to the lack of traction at low revs, it was necessary to move to a lower stage - this often caused slippage, and the crossover began to bury itself. From acceleration, he confidently overcame areas with loose soil, but there is not always an opportunity to accelerate ...
With atmospheric versions, such problems were not observed, especially since they have a downshift in their arsenal. It came in handy not only on the sand, but also on a steep climb - the crossover climbed the hill without any problems. Suppose a turbocharged car (without a step-down) would have scrambled too, but ... slightly scorching the clutch disc.
It is pointless to look for differences in the new modification in appearance or interior design - there are none. The main and only change is the 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine, which gave the Forester a smooth character without sacrificing dynamics.
Horizontally opposed subaru Forester engine, this is a rather interesting power unit and at the same time a unique feature of all Subaru models. By the way, Japanese engineers are not the only ones who make motors of this type, similar boxers can be found on some sports brands such as Porsches.
So what is so special about the Subaru Forester engine? We are all used to seeing a vertical cylinder block under the hood, where the pistons move up and down. There are also V-shaped motors, where the pistons move up and down, but at a certain angle. In a horizontally opposed Subaru engine, the pistons move left and right, and the cylinder block itself lies. To illustrate this feature, see the schematic picture of a 4-cylinder Subaru boxer engine.
This design of the Forester power unit makes the engine more compact, and the opposed arrangement of the cylinders allows you to remove much more torque from the 4-cylinder engine. In comparison with a motor of the same volume, but with a vertically located, in-line cylinder block. The second important plus of this design is that the center of gravity of the entire car is located much lower than that of other cars in this class. After all, the engine under the hood simply lies between the front wheels making the handling of the car unforgettable.
Maintenance of such an engine has a number of features. For example, the cooling radiator is located on top, above the recumbent engine. The generator, attachments, oil filter, are also located above the engine. So when buying a Subaru, ask your dealer how much it will cost to maintain such a power unit.
Automatic transmission Subaru Forester, it is a stepless Lineartronic variator. The principle of operation of variators is significantly different from mechanics, robotic boxes and conventional torque converters (classic automatic machines).
If the mechanic and the robot have clear gear ratios. Then the variator has ranges, from one number to another. That is, it is a more flexible shifting from low speed to high speed. We bring to your attention a short video about how any continuously variable variator transmission works. It is on this principle that automatic transmission Subaru Forester Lineartronic CVT... Watching the video.
Such a transmission is controlled electronically. The computer program itself determines which gear to include based on the engine speed and speed. CVTs have one more plus, this is the ability to manually shift gears. The main advantage of the CVT over a conventional automatic transmission is the reduced fuel consumption.
By the way, electronic systems can help improve dynamics, but as a result, gas mileage will increase. In Subaru Forester, this system is called SI-Drive... You can choose from three modes; Intelligent (economical), Sport (sporty), Sport Sharp (very sporty). That is, with a simple press of a button, the Forester's engine and transmission begin to take you away, but with increased fuel consumption.
Now is the time to talk about dynamics and fuel consumption of Subaru Forester... In Russia, three types of engine are available to buyers of a Japanese crossover. This is a basic 4-cylinder 2-liter, another 2.5-liter engine and the most powerful 2-liter turbo engine. Further more detailed characteristics of these Forester engines with different transmissions.
Subaru Forester 2.0 engine, fuel consumption, dynamics
- Displacement - 1995 cm3
- Cylinder diameter - 84.0 mm
- Piston stroke - 90.0 mm
- Power hp / kW - 150/110 at 6200 rpm
- Torque - 198 Nm at 4200 rpm
- Maximum speed - 190 km / h (6MKPP), 192 km / h (CVT)
- Acceleration to the first hundred - 10.6 seconds (6MKPP), 11.8 seconds (CVT)
- Fuel consumption in the city - 10.4 liters (6MKPP), 10.6 liters (CVT)
- Combined fuel consumption - 8.0 liters (6MKPP), 7.9 liters (CVT)
- Fuel consumption on the highway - 6.7 liters (6MKPP), 6.3 liters (CVT)
Subaru Forester 2.5 engine, fuel consumption, dynamics
- Engine type - horizontally opposed, four-stroke, gasoline
- Fuel system - multiport sequential multiport injection
- Working volume - 2498 cm3
- Number of cylinders / valves - 4/16
- Cylinder diameter - 94.0 mm
- Piston stroke - 90.0 mm
- Power hp / kW - 171/126 at 5800 rpm
- Torque - 235 Nm at 4100 rpm
- Maximum speed - 196 km / h (CVT)
- Acceleration to the first hundred - 9.9 seconds (CVT)
- Fuel consumption in the city - 10.9 liters (CVT)
- Combined fuel consumption - 8.2 liters (CVT)
- Fuel consumption on the highway - 6.7 liters (CVT)
Subaru Forester 2.0 turbo engine, fuel consumption, dynamics
- Engine type - horizontally opposed, four-stroke, turbocharged gasoline
- Fuel system - direct fuel injection
- Working volume - 1998 cm3
- Number of cylinders / valves - 4/16
- Cylinder diameter - 86.0 mm
- Piston stroke - 86.0 mm
- Power hp / kW - 241/177 at 5600 rpm
- Torque - 350 Nm at 2400-3600 rpm
- Maximum speed - 221 km / h (CVT)
- Acceleration to the first hundred - 7.5 seconds (CVT)
- Fuel consumption in the city - 11.2 liters (CVT)
- Combined fuel consumption - 8.5 liters (CVT)
- Fuel consumption on the highway - 7 liters (CVT)
The most powerful turbo engine with a volume of 2 liters turns a 1.5 ton Subaru Forester in a rather dynamic car with acceleration of 7.5 seconds to hundreds! At the same time, thanks to the turbine, the torque is already available at low speeds. It is such an engine that makes a boring crossover out of an ordinary family car.
In their eyes, he lost the charisma and the sporting impulse characteristic of the cars of the first two generations, becoming a victim of the fashion for full-fledged crossovers. However, this model was sold in much larger quantities.
Despite its Japanese origins and market success, the Forester is not favored by hijackers. A fairly good stock immobilizer built into the engine control module and dashboard will not protect you from targeted attacks, but it will become a stumbling block for an accidental thief.
All Foresters are from Japan. The quality of the paintwork is good - the body has no weak points. Traces of corrosion will indicate non-professional refurbishment. But pay attention to the license plate mount on the tailgate. Many owners install a room without a frame, over time it peels off the paint - and rust appears.
EYE YES EYE
Before the restyling carried out in 2011, the naturally aspirated engines 2.0 (150 hp) and 2.5 (172 hp) belonged to the EJ series. These age-old, belt-driven boxer units are well known from most Subaru models.
The youngest EJ20 2.0L engine is the most reliable in the range. Servicemen estimate its average resource at 250,000-300,000 km. After the overhaul, he is able to serve the same amount. The average resuscitation is complete without treating the cylinder block or heads. Basically, only the piston rings and liners are worn outside the tolerances. The main thing is, according to the regulations (at least every 15,000 km), to change the oil in the engine and monitor its level more often - all Subaru engines have a good appetite for aggressive driving or long-term driving at high speeds.
The older atmospheric brother EJ25 (2.5 liters) is the same 2.0 engine, but with bored cylinders. Accordingly, due to the thinner walls between the "pots", it is prone to so-called "overheating", which occurs during long-term high loads. Usually it is a long (about an hour!) Ride at speeds close to maximum. Even with a working cooling system and clean radiators, the head gaskets can burn out. Sometimes leads the contact planes of the cylinder block and heads. In case of severe "overheating", the piston rings become lodged. Because of this, oil consumption increases, and sometimes even scuffs appear on the cylinder mirror.
When buying a car with an EJ25 engine from your hands, do a test for the content of exhaust gases in the cooling system at a service station. He will tell you about the condition of the cylinder head gaskets. The operation is inexpensive and requires simple equipment. Spare some money (about 1,500 rubles) for the so-called leak test, which will show a leak in the cylinders. It is akin to checking compression, but much more accurate.
Motors with 230 and 263 hp. - supercharged versions of the EJ25 engine. The increase in strength is the merit of other firmware "brains" of the engine. The average resource of the supercharged brothers is estimated at 100,000-150,000 km. The malfunctions are the same as for atmospheric units, only appear on earlier runs.
Original failure of turbo engines - cranking of the liners. A common cause is oil starvation due to a low lubricant level or loss of its properties. Therefore, even with low-intensity operation, it is important to reduce the oil change interval to 7500 km, and if the car participates in a competition, the oil must be changed at least after 5000 km.
A great way to avoid dangerous conditions for the motor is to install additional sensors. Owners generally limit themselves to oil temperature and pressure readings so that they know when to pull off the track and let the car cool down.
During repair, turbo engines are often tuned: they install a forged piston group, an oil pump of increased productivity, strengthen the cylinder block, etc.
Often, owners squeeze all the juices out of the engines at the same time, installing, for example, a turbine with a higher pressure - such units do not last long, so you need to be careful when buying tuned cars.
The stock turbocharger is reliable. If you follow a couple of simple rules, it will outlive the engine. A shorter engine oil change interval will help prevent coking of the turbine cooling tubes. Allow the compressor to cool while the engine is running before turning it off after active driving. It is more efficient to do this not at idle, but on the move, dropping gas a couple of kilometers before the house - this is how oil and antifreeze circulate better through the turbine.
A separate story is the timing drive on EJ motors. The belt takes care of the prescribed 105,000 km even on modified engines, but it is better to play it safe and change it early, because in 99% of cases a break means the pistons meet the valves. All rollers with tensioners are changed at the same time. For reassurance, servicemen recommend updating the crankshaft and camshaft oil seals. They do not always live up to 200,000 km, and any intervention in the timing drive is very time consuming and expensive. Leaking oil seals are fraught with a belt jump with well-known consequences. The cooling pump is more reliable. It is changed together with the second belt replacement. It rarely lives up to 300,000 km. Its backlash is not as bad as a leak, which, again, can lead to the belt jumping.
After restyling, the naturally-aspirated EJ motors were replaced by FB series chain aggregates (with indices 20 and 25). They are built on the basis of their predecessors and have the same power characteristics.
Chain problems are rare. According to servicemen, its resource is not less than 200,000 km. The main thing is to monitor the level and condition of the oil. The lubrication of the chain and the performance of the tensioner depend on it. The mileage on these motors is not as great as on the EJ, but there is no reason to fear for their longevity. The only and infrequent disease - oil leakage from under the chain cover with a mileage of 50,000-60,000 km - is cured with a sealant. "Overheating" of the FB25, which happens with the EJ25, has not yet been recorded, although the motors are structurally similar.
The resource of the drive belt on any motors depends only on the operating conditions of the machine. The lower bar is 50,000 km. The less dirt and water gets on the belt during off-road assault, the longer it lives.
The condition of the cooling radiator of any motor does not greatly affect its well-being. But washing is carried out once or twice a year, depending on the operating mode. The radiators of the engine and air conditioning are very close to each other, and this "sandwich" is taken apart completely.
On runs over 100,000 km, the Check Engine lamp often comes on. Error 0420: "low efficiency of the converter" is issued. This usually happens when the node heats up, when the car travels for a long time on the highway at a constant high speed. The reason is poor fuel. Often the mistake is simply erased, the owner changes the gas station - and the problem goes away. But sometimes the fuel has time to kill the catalytic converter.
Treatment depends on the wishes of the owner. The neutralizer is either changed to a new one, or cut out and a snag (for atmospheric motors) is made for the second (controlling) oxygen sensor. This is a spacer at the location of the second oxygen sensor, which removes it from the exhaust gas stream. For supercharged engines, the sensor is bypassed by flashing the "brains". If the faulty converter is not clogged and melted inside, it is not touched and limited to snag.
CONSTANT
At Subaru, the four-wheel drive transmission scheme depends on the type of gearbox and engine. On Forester, a center differential with a viscous coupling blocking it works in tandem with a five-speed mechanics. Alas, the clutch does not like long driving in extreme conditions and is prone to overheating. With this operation, it usually dies after 100,000 km. The assembly is expensive, but the replacement procedure is simple.
The third Forester has a lowering row in the transmission. It is only available on 2 liter manual machines. None of the servicemen recalls problems with such handouts.
There are no fundamental differences between mechanical boxes coupled with motors of different power. The nodes are reliable. The main thing is to change the oil regularly (every 50,000 km). The average clutch resource is 130,000–150,000 km. After 150,000-200,000 km, the gear selector shaft seal begins to leak.
Cars with hydromechanical automatic devices have an original center differential and a locking device. Paired with supercharged motors, they are more intricate. But in both cases, there are no serious complaints about their reliability.
With engines up to 230 HP a four-speed automatic is combined, and with a 263-horsepower - a five-speed one. Both boxes are from the same family and are quite old, but reliable. Servicemen advise changing the oil every 30,000 km. At the first "pit stop" a regular (partial) replacement is carried out, at the second - a complete one, with the connection of a special installation. This is justified. After all, off-road and high-speed pokatushki for Foresters is a common thing. But subject to the maintenance regulations, these machines also digest the higher torque of reasonably modified motors.
Due to the untimely oil change in the machine, jerks and delays first occur when changing gears. This is due to wear products in the aged fluid, clogging the solenoids. If you ignore the warning signs, then soon an "error" will light up on the instrument panel, and then - overheating of the clutches and the torque converter.
In winter, due to intensive acceleration immediately after a cold start, gasket leaks occur between the differential housing and the gearbox input shaft oil seal. Here the point is in the unawakened hardened seals.
The gearbox oil change interval is also short - 50,000 km. Sometimes, on a run over 100 thousand, the indication of oil overheating in the rear gearbox lights up. The reason is a dirty contact in the connector of its sensor located outside. He often rots away. There is no need to change the sensor - just clean the contacts or repair the wiring.
The only frankly weak point in the transmission is the propeller shaft outboard bearing. It begins to hum strongly at speeds above 50 km / h after only 30,000-40,000 km. Dealership services often change the gimbal assembly (about 70,000 rubles), and unofficials change the bearing separately for 700 rubles.
Cardan crosses nurture 150,000 km each. The strong backlash in them causes perceptible vibrations.
Transmission seals and anthers are durable. Only the elements located near the exhaust system are at risk. The fastest (after 100,000 km) from heating is destroyed by the inner boot of the front right drive.
On versions with all EJ motors, hydraulic power steering is installed. Reiki flows rarely, and not earlier than 100,000 km. Usually the upper oil seal is sweating at the exit of the steering shaft. The rail repair kit also includes other seals, so it is completely disassembled and updated
Even less often, hoses leak under the expansion tank and on the pump. It is important to periodically monitor the oil level and change it according to the regulations - every 50,000 km. When changing the oil, do not let the power steering pump run "dry" for a long time - the unit dies quickly and costs about 20,000 rubles.
Electric power steering is assigned to versions with FB motors. Knocks in the rail occur after 30,000 km. Formally, this is not considered a malfunction, and under the guarantee, the rails are not changed for everyone, although the manufacturer tries to meet customers halfway (ZR, 2014, No. 9, Subaru specialists answer). Unofficials found a cure. A knock occurs at the junction of the steering shaft gear and rack and pinion. The rail is disassembled and the factory support sleeve of this pair is replaced with a non-original, home-made one. The gap is reduced and the knock goes away.
Suspension consumables - bushings and stabilizer struts. They are enough for 30,000-40,000 km. The weakest are the rear silent blocks of the front levers, which live at least 100 thousand. They can be purchased separately, like many other rubber-to-metal hinges. The exception is the silent blocks of the rear upper forged arm: the assembly costs 16,000 rubles.
Wheel bearings are also consistently enduring 100,000 mileage. The price complete with hubs is quite affordable - 5000-6000 rubles.
The peculiarity of the Forester suspension is the rear self-pumping shock absorbers, which provide constant ground clearance regardless of the vehicle load and less roll in corners. But they quickly die on dead roads after several serious breakdowns in a loaded car. Fortunately, there is an alternative to the original parts, estimated at 25,000 rubles. The pumping system is built into the piston rod and shock absorber housing. Therefore, for 17 thousand, a set of two conventional shock absorbers with their corresponding springs is installed. In everyday driving modes, the difference in car behavior will not be dramatic.
The front shock absorbers travel 100,000-150,000 km. The thrust bearings are renewed the second time the shock absorbers are changed.
Many owners who have switched to the Forester from other Japanese crossovers in this class complain about insufficient brake sensitivity. Later they get used to it, but some still modify the brake system. Throwing money down the drain - you can't get rid of this feature.
The only weak point of lighting technology is the thin glass of the front foglights. They often crack due to a sharp temperature drop - for example, when water gets on the headlights on when driving through puddles or when storming high snowdrifts.
The interior electrics are simple and reliable. Complaints are caused only by the bearing of the heater fan shaft. If on a cold car in winter you immediately turn on the stove at maximum speed, the bearing will hum to 150,000 km. And it can only be replaced as an assembly with a fan.
On a mileage of more than 100,000 km, the headlight range control sensor, located on the rear suspension arm, from which the system determines the position of the body, sometimes fails. The hinges in its movable joints sour. In this case, a system error lights up and the corrector lowers the headlights to the lower position.
Outcome
With the reliability of the third generation Forester, everything is in order. Subject to the maintenance regulations, even modifications with turbo engines do not cause trouble. There will be no difficulties with the maintenance and repair of the car.
A word to the owner
Vladimir Lopatin,
Subaru Forester S ‑ Edition (2011, 2.5L, 263 HP, 90,000 km)
Before purchasing the S ‑ Edition, I owned a previous generation Forester (SG) for six years. And I do not share the position of subarists who hayush the third "forik". Yes, in the usual version it is more rollable than its predecessor, but it is much more comfortable. And the charged version is even better in all respects.
Initially, I did not plan to tune the car, then it was delayed. By 47,000 km, when the liners cranked in the engine, it produced about 340 hp, and now - 400 forces and 600 Nm. My Forester is equipped with water methanol injection, forged pistons installed, and the stock turbine has been replaced with a more efficient one. The machine was modified for high torque by increasing the pressure in its oil system. The kit for further tuning is waiting for the box to die. But so far it does not cause trouble, as well as the chassis.
Some of the suspension elements (shock absorbers, springs and stabilizer) have been replaced with more sporty ones. I note that I have no complaints about the reliability of standard parts. I plan to continue the improvements, but the process is hampered by the jump in prices for imported parts.
Car maintenance is simple: changing the oil in the engine every 5000 km, in the box and gearboxes - every 30,000 km.
A word to the seller
Alexander Bulatov,
sales manager of used cars of the company "U Service +"
Forester SH is liquid regardless of the configuration. The most in demand are 2.5-liter cars. Moreover, one half of the buyers choose mechanics for bad roads, and the other half - automatic for the city.
Cars stand idle while waiting for a buyer for an average of two to three weeks. Even specific turbo versions are quickly leaving, which is explained by the limited supply on the market. In this segment, Forester has no competitors that have similar driving characteristics and competitive prices.
An objective drawback in comparison with many classmates is the low quality of the interior trim. But for many more important is the excellent visibility and reliability of the car. Modifications with atmospheric engines, even on runs over 150,000 km, remain in good condition and do not require large investments.
Many people appreciate the Forester for its proprietary all-wheel drive system, which provides good handling and good off-road qualities. The original boxer motors are also attractive.
Thank you for your help in preparing the material from the Pleiada technical centers (a branch of Pleiada-Enthusiasts) and Oppozite Max
Over the past few years, Subaru Forester has been in the top ten most reliable cars in American and European ratings. With careful operation and regular maintenance, serious malfunctions in the operation of Subaru Forester engines do not occur in the first or even in the second hundred thousand kilometers. But the engines that are equipped with various models of this line have their weak points.
Features of Subaru Forester engines
The first Subaru Forester appeared on the market in 1997, 4 generations of these cars have been replaced in 20 years. Subaru Forester was equipped with gasoline and diesel horizontally opposed four-cylinder engines with a volume of 2 and 2.5 liters, with atmospheric and turbocharging. Over the years, engines from 122 to 263 hp were installed on the Subaru Forester. from.
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Car modification |
Engine model |
Power, hp from. |
Features: |
Years of release |
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1st generation |
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atmospheric |
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atmospheric |
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turbocharged |
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turbocharged |
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EJ205 (Japan market) |
turbocharged |
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EJ251, EJ253, EJ25D, EJ25DZ (US market) |
atmospheric |
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2nd generation |
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atmospheric |
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atmospheric |
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turbocharged |
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atmospheric |
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atmospheric |
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turbocharged |
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turbocharged |
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turbocharged |
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atmospheric |
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atmospheric |
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3rd generation |
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atmospheric |
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atmospheric |
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2.0 (Japan) SH5 |
atmospheric |
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2.0 Boxer Diesel SH |
diesel turbocharged |
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atmospheric |
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atmospheric |
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atmospheric |
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atmospheric |
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2.5 Turbo (Europe) SH9L |
turbocharged |
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turbocharged |
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2.5 Turbo S SH9LV |
turbocharged |
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4th generation |
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atmospheric |
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diesel turbocharged |
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turbocharged |
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atmospheric |
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Diesel engines use a variable geometry turbocharger to overcome the turbo lag, the delayed response of the turbine to driver commands. They are equipped with a Common Rail injection system, which reduces fuel consumption, reduces noise and the content of toxic substances in the exhaust.
Since 2011, the engines of the EJ generation have been replaced by motors of the FB and FA families. They are distinguished by a reduced cylinder diameter, increased piston stroke. The contours of the cooling system of the cylinder block and its head were divided, the camber angle of the valves changed. By improving the design of the oil pump and the gas distribution mechanism (timing), the friction of the parts has decreased. The engines have become not only more powerful, but also more economical than their predecessors by 10% ¸ the toxicity of emissions has also been reduced.
Theoretically, the resource of boxer engines, due to their high strength, reaches a million kilometers. As practice shows, overhaul is required for EJ engines after several hundred thousand kilometers, and FB and FA engines are not operated long enough to estimate their resource. But manufacturers say it is 30% more than the previous generation's boxer engines.
Common Subaru Forester engine problems
The first boxer engines were created by Volkswagen engineers in the 30s of the last century, and Subaru has been actively using this design since the 60s. Engines for it are manufactured by Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI). The cylinders of such an engine are located opposite each other in a horizontal plane, their camber angle is 180 °. Subaru uses boxer engines of the Boxer type - the name is explained by the similarity of piston movement to the movement of boxers during a fight. Each piston with connecting rod is mounted on a separate connecting rod journal of the crankshaft, adjacent pistons are always in the same position.
Visually about the principle of operation of the boxer engine
Boxer engines are well balanced, provide stability and controllability of the car, are characterized by high strength and rigidity, their operation is accompanied by minimal vibration. The disadvantages of the design include high costs of production, maintenance and repair, the complexity of access to units, increased oil consumption. Subaru's FB and FA series boxer engines are now more accessible, making them easier to repair and maintain.
Despite the significant resource of boxer engines as a whole, their individual units and parts fail and need to be repaired or replaced. Common Subaru Forester engine problems include:
- in gasoline engines - leaks of valve cover gaskets and cylinder head, its damage;
- in diesel 2008–2010 years of release - a small resource of nozzles, a particulate filter (clogged with mileage up to 150 thousand km), a crankshaft (it can burst at the first hundred thousand km), as well as a clutch. In subsequent versions of diesel engines, these defects were eliminated;
- in turbocharged ones - breakdowns of the turbocharger, in turbo engines with a volume of 2.5 liters - breakdown of the cylinder head gasket;
- in old models - destruction of the front catalysts, rear cans of the exhaust system, breakdown of the rear lambda probe, in 2-liter gasoline engines, the cylinder head exhaust valves often burn;
- in new models - contamination of the recirculation system (EGR) valve, breakdown of the sensor at the inlet of the variable valve timing system;
The cylinder head mainly suffers from overheating, which can be prevented by regularly cleaning the radiator and monitoring the coolant level. Turbocharged engines with a volume of 2.5 liters are even more sensitive to overheating compared to atmospheric ones. Already after 50 thousand kilometers, the cylinder block suffers in them, the partitions of the piston rings are destroyed, scuffs appear on the cylinder walls, the cylinder head is deformed. The weak points of the Subaru Forester engines include the timing chain tensioner. The timing chain drive, which is used in the latest generation engines, is considered more reliable.
The following signs may indicate an engine breakdown:
- cold start is difficult;
- the engine is unstable at idle;
- under load, there are tangible "dips" in power;
- dynamics is lost, traction weakens;
- engine operation is accompanied by smoke generation, smoke can be white, black or bluish;
- extraneous noises during operation - a dull or sonorous knock, whistle, hiss.
Engine knock "Subaru Forester" is a typical disease of the EJ series engines, which were produced before 1999. Most often it is explained by 2 reasons:
- clogged hydraulic lifter;
- the piston of 4 cylinders knocks until the engine is warmed up (oil reaches 4 cylinders last).
The hydraulic compensator can be replaced, sometimes an oil change is enough. The piston knock is harmless, it disappears after the engine warms up. But if the driver does not want to put up with this knock, he will have to change the piston and set of gaskets. Since such work requires assembly and disassembly of the engine, they are quite expensive. But the cause of the knocking can also be the wear of the connecting rod or main bearing shells, this is already dangerous.
Some breakdowns are associated with imperfect engine design. The most reliable gasoline engines are naturally aspirated, the most problematic are 2.5 liter turbocharged engines with a capacity of 230 hp. from. and diesel engines produced in 2008-2010. ICEs "Subaru Forester" are assembled on sealant, so they often have additional oil leaks through the technological holes with plugs in the cylinder block and the front crankshaft oil seal. Leads to breakdowns and incorrect operation:
- in 2-liter engines, it is important to correctly regulate the gas equipment, otherwise the cylinder head will suffer;
- turbocharged engines during the running-in period (the first 3 thousand km of run) must be operated in a gentle mode, not overloaded;
- engines, especially the cylinder head, are sensitive to overheating, so you need to regularly clean the pipes of the cooling system, the radiator, and monitor the level of coolant and oil;
- it is extremely important to constantly monitor the level and timely change the oil in the Subaru Forester engine, and it matters which oil to fill. It is recommended to change the oil and oil filters every 10 thousand km, and even more often if the mileage is over 100 thousand km. In the heat, it is better to use oil with a higher viscosity, it will protect the engine from overheating;
- on Russian roads, there is a high risk of mechanical damage to the engine crankcase, therefore, in addition to the standard boot, it is recommended to purchase and install a crankcase protection.
Common types of repair work
Professional repair of the Subaru Forester 2.0 or 2.5 engine is in demand in Moscow. Due to the specific layout of the engine compartment, it is extremely difficult to maintain and repair boxer engines with your own hands. Even replacing spark plugs becomes a problem, replacing valve gaskets is even more difficult, and cylinder head gaskets cannot be changed at all without removing the engine. Most often, various gaskets (cylinder head, collectors, covers, oil pan), a crankshaft oil seal, a timing belt or timing chain, an oil pump need to be replaced.
How much it costs to repair a Subaru Forester engine and its maintenance depends on what parts and assemblies need to be repaired or replaced. Replacing spark plugs will cost $ 36-40, about the same costs an oxygen sensor (lambda probe). To replace the timing belt, which is recommended after 100 thousand km of run, and then every 60-80 thousand km, you will need $ 120-230. More significant costs will be required to repair the cylinder head, work taking into account the cost of spare parts can cost $ 300-700.
The most time-consuming and expensive work includes repair work:
- cylinder block;
- connecting rod-piston group;
- crankshaft.
Boring and honing of cylinders, replacement of piston rings and pistons, main and connecting rod bearings, grinding of cylinder heads and crankshaft are performed. When repairing and overhauling 2.5-liter turbocharged engines, it is recommended to install reinforced pistons, cylinder head bolts, and thicker gaskets. Usually individual spare parts are changed, it is possible to purchase an incomplete cylinder block, in which a crank mechanism and a piston group are already installed. And the valve mechanism, the camshaft use the old ones. The cylinder head is often subject to grinding, but can still be used. In more difficult cases, the cylinder block and crankshaft are changed entirely, fully loaded.
If the engine is badly worn out, a complete cylinder block and a number of other components are required for overhaul. Replacing the engine may be more cost effective. The prices for the repair of boxer engines are quite high, the cost of spare parts is added to the cost of work. If the amount that was named in the service, having estimated the cost of overhaul, turns out to be too impressive, you should inquire about the prices for contract Subaru engines.
Removing and replacing the entire engine is much easier and faster than sorting out the old one, changing, boring, grinding parts. Usually, when installing a contract engine, it is recommended to change the timing, clutch kit, gearbox input shaft oil seal, water pump. If a more powerful motor is installed, it is worth buying and replacing an intercooler.
The resource of Subaru Forester engines allows them to operate for a long time without repair, but the repair itself is difficult and costly. Many car owners can replace the power unit with their own hands, in contrast to overhaul, which requires high qualifications. So buying a contract engine can often save you time and money.
