The declining quality of Subarus

Old Feb 3, 2011 | 08:22 AM
  #46  
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I'm surprised no one has brought up the ringland issue. Ever since the second half of 06, the pistons have gotten weaker and weaker and Subaru has done nothing about it. That bothers me more than any rattles or squeeks personally.

-- Ed
Old Feb 3, 2011 | 08:34 AM
  #47  
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Originally Posted by EQ Tuning
I'm surprised no one has brought up the ringland issue. Ever since the second half of 06, the pistons have gotten weaker and weaker and Subaru has done nothing about it. That bothers me more than any rattles or squeeks personally.

-- Ed
Wow, really? Anymore details? I've never heard this before... and that IS much worse than my hood falling off, lol.
Old Feb 3, 2011 | 08:44 AM
  #48  
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Originally Posted by brucelee
Wow, really? Anymore details? I've never heard this before... and that IS much worse than my hood falling off, lol.
Nice part about the first gen impreza odd squeaks and rattles, now THAT is problem that will never go away, lol. The interior on mine is actually really good aside from the noises I get. But then again I have changed some of it from stock...
Old Feb 3, 2011 | 09:41 AM
  #49  
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Originally Posted by brucelee
Wow, really? Anymore details? I've never heard this before... and that IS much worse than my hood falling off, lol.
You haven't heard of the ringland issue?? Its been a common well known weakness in all of the turbo 2.5l motors, but got significantly worse in the second half of 06. 07's used to pop bone stock and 08's were not much better.

The problem is in the inconsistency of the piston castings. Some of them have impurities which cause a major weakness at the thinest part of the piston (the ringland). Combine that weakness with a bit of knock from bad gas and/or a poor factory tune and you start developing small cracks through the ringlands. The first symptoms are oil consumption and eventually the ringland cracks further and causes missfires in some cases. They're completely hit or miss... some motors run great with lots of abuse and others break pistons bone stock within the first 15k miles.

-- Ed

Last edited by EQ Tuning; Feb 3, 2011 at 09:43 AM.
Old Feb 3, 2011 | 10:41 AM
  #50  
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Originally Posted by EQ Tuning
You haven't heard of the ringland issue?? Its been a common well known weakness in all of the turbo 2.5l motors, but got significantly worse in the second half of 06. 07's used to pop bone stock and 08's were not much better.

The problem is in the inconsistency of the piston castings. Some of them have impurities which cause a major weakness at the thinest part of the piston (the ringland). Combine that weakness with a bit of knock from bad gas and/or a poor factory tune and you start developing small cracks through the ringlands. The first symptoms are oil consumption and eventually the ringland cracks further and causes missfires in some cases. They're completely hit or miss... some motors run great with lots of abuse and others break pistons bone stock within the first 15k miles.

-- Ed
So on all the new blocks comming out has this been addressed? I am about to buy a short block, and would hate to get caught in this little problem.
Old Feb 3, 2011 | 10:43 AM
  #51  
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Ed have you seen any ringland issues on cars running e85? I read that with a good tune, it's hard to get e85 to knock.

I've had friends that have blown a ringland due to bad gas, which is a big reason for me to move to e85. I've heard it's more consistent than pump gas.
Old Feb 3, 2011 | 10:45 AM
  #52  
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Originally Posted by Overbear
So on all the new blocks comming out has this been addressed? I am about to buy a short block, and would hate to get caught in this little problem.
No, all the new shortblocks have the same issue.... its like rolling a pair of dice. I think its funny that Subaru made a nitrided crank when the old cranks never had any issues while ignoring the piston problem all together.

-- Ed
Old Feb 3, 2011 | 10:47 AM
  #53  
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Originally Posted by LGT Mark
Ed have you seen any ringland issues on cars running e85? I read that with a good tune, it's hard to get e85 to knock.

I've had friends that have blown a ringland due to bad gas, which is a big reason for me to move to e85. I've heard it's more consistent than pump gas.
It all depends... if the engine was perfect to begin with, they usually hold up ok with E85 and a safe tune. If a piston already had a small crack developing, the extra power and torque from E85 will spread the crack more quickly.

-- Ed
Old Feb 3, 2011 | 12:26 PM
  #54  
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The main reason for piston issues is that Subaru changed suppliers.
Unisia makes em now...the same company that makes fuel pumps.
Old Feb 3, 2011 | 12:35 PM
  #55  
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Must be cheaper... all about cutting corners!

-- Ed
Old Feb 3, 2011 | 01:13 PM
  #56  
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Originally Posted by EQ Tuning
It all depends... if the engine was perfect to begin with, they usually hold up ok with E85 and a safe tune. If a piston already had a small crack developing, the extra power and torque from E85 will spread the crack more quickly.

-- Ed
Makes sense, thanks

/prays my engine was perfect to begin with
Old Feb 3, 2011 | 01:23 PM
  #57  
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Originally Posted by Bouncer
Yep - but since you are obviously an expert on avctp/avdtp over l2cap I guess I should stop talking..
no sarcasm there


Old Feb 7, 2011 | 06:28 AM
  #58  
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Wheee now my blinkers stopped working! No electrical gremlins here!

I was also sitting outside the Subaru dealer in Napa with the noises being made but it was 630 :/, i swear if i get to the dealer and its not showing any problems, my brain is going to do a barrel roll in my skull.

It is not a problem with my iphone, its not a stereo issue, its a ground issue and theyre too ****ing scared or lazy to bother doing it IMO.

Last edited by manhands; Feb 7, 2011 at 06:37 AM.
Old Feb 7, 2011 | 10:29 AM
  #59  
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my kick panel came undone again. im tired going to the dealer
Old Feb 7, 2011 | 10:48 AM
  #60  
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I have a question about this 'kick panel'. What exactly are we talking about here?

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