Hello all, I am currently in the process of sourcing an older Subaru (1st gen Outback Sport?) for a daily driver, and I am wondering if any of you have helpful tips on things I should look out for. It appears that something with an EJ22 should practically run for ever if it has been maintained, but that the 2.5L engines of that era were ticking time bombs. What other infoz have you?
2.5's were not so muck tickers, but are prone to head gasket failure. Just look for the typical maint. stuff and use common sense. True enough the 2.2's are proven. I'm not sure what year exactly, but I think 96 and older 2.2's are NOT interference engines.
I've been told that if you tackle the headgaskets with STi 2.5L headgaskets, they'll be fine. It's just the crappy older 2.5L rubberized gaskets that are fail city. So, if you are mechanically inclined, you could always go 2.5L and do the gasket swap. Looking for a 2.2L specifically is one way to go...just makes the search a little tougher. I've been looking for the last month or so for the girlfriend, same vehicle that you are, and 2.5L's seem to be more readily available.
yeah, for the sohc. (external leak) for the EJ25D ( I call it EJ@%$!) (internal leak) the new headgaskts have been revised. I believe the OP is asking about a OBS, which is an impreza base and never saw a ej25.
I'm not dead set on an OBS at this point, just kind of like the way. I'm not opposed to an older Forester, Legacy wagon, or anything else with a hatch.
