Offroad-Express

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4398223a30.html

How long before we see someone putting one of these into a Zuk or something

Well it wont be me!

We sell both Subys and Suzys at work, and I know which ones DONT end up in the workshop all the time.

By all accounts, it's going to be one hell of a stonker of an engine though.

Given that firstly it's made by subaru and secondly that subaru has absolutely no diesel engine experience, I'd be avoiding the first couple of years. Even more so than their petrol ones.

Until now they were the only car maker without a diesel engine.

KiwiBacon wrote:Given that firstly it's made by subaru and secondly that subaru has absolutely no diesel engine experience, I'd be avoiding the first couple of years. Even more so than their petrol ones.

Until now they were the only car maker without a diesel engine.

What is wrong with Subaru engines? They are some of the smoothest engines around, the boxer engine is a fantastic engine

Disco-Blue wrote:

KiwiBacon wrote:Given that firstly it's made by subaru and secondly that subaru has absolutely no diesel engine experience, I'd be avoiding the first couple of years. Even more so than their petrol ones.

Until now they were the only car maker without a diesel engine.

What is wrong with Subaru engines? They are some of the smoothest engines around, the boxer engine is a fantastic engine

I'll tell that to my mate who has had his GTB engine rebuilt twice. First time was piston slap, second time was oval big ends on the crank.
Girl I know owned an RSK, as well as being rebored to cure piston slap it ate two turbos as well.

Their fuel consumption and power/torque for the displacement is terrible.

Well guys,

I'm in the "whats wrong with a Subaru" camp. My GTB has done 336,000kms and hasn't been looked at yet.

Red90 wrote:Well guys,

I'm in the "whats wrong with a Subaru" camp. My GTB has done 336,000kms and hasn't been looked at yet.

What do you mean by "hasn't been looked at"? In that many km you'd be on your fourth timing belt and we know how much has to come out just to change the spark plugs on those things.

Spark plugs are actually easy with a 1/4 inch drive set, any bigger and its a job and a half.

Last time I tried, removing the battery and washer bottle was not really hard work...

Yes, typically the early twin turb's would give trouble and the cylinders would go out of round (the piston slap bacon mentions) and primary turbo's would give up the ghost at 150ish km, mainly when the exhaust had been tinkered with.
The piston slap problem was addressed after a while, there is plenty of info on the ones that are worst and why it happened.

What do you mean by "hasn't been looked at"? In that many km you'd be on your fourth timing belt and we know how much has to come out just to change the spark plugs on those things.

I take it that changing timing belts, oil and filters and other routine/ annual checks aren't part and parcel of running any vehicle?

By "looked at" I mean the internals have never needed looking at, sure one turbo is a bit whistley. Gearbox was changed, didn't like going into P at 180km (b4 my time) otherwise still going ok

Red90 wrote:I take it that changing timing belts, oil and filters and other routine/ annual checks aren't part and parcel of running any vehicle?

When timing belts are changed, it's quite common for water pumps, tensioners and many other bits and pieces to be done at the same time.
My brothers RSK is in for a timing belt and plugs at the moment, expecting a bill between $800-1100.