Quote:
Originally Posted by ahausheer
Check consumer reports. You will see that whatever was causing the problem (that was categorized as ''engine major'') has been completely resolved on all of their models. They went from solid black dot to solid red. They have fixed their head gasket issues. But even the most reliable cars still have shit go wrong, its simply statistics.
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Reserching the issue, I agree with the statistics and understand 6 sigma, but even the simplistic SPC chart of headgasket fails per 1 hundred vehicles showe a huge jump out of control when the 2.5 NA was released. Reading reports the issue didn't correlate to miles driven as much as age (corrosion/degredation) and typically showed up just after the power train warranty ended. Compare to a Toyota 1.5 NZ statistics would show a huge significant difference looking at 200k+, something the 6-sigma auto engineers aren't too concerned with.
I'm not saying we are doomed at all, but it just looks like this is something to keep on the radar. Anything that can be done to minimize the odds, I would recommend never skipping the recommended coolant flush intervals and also using an oil with good corrosion resistance as well as the "severe" 3500 mile oci. Also look for signs of battery cable salt build up as this indicates corrosion inside the engine taking place. The bad thing about the failures is time is the biggest influence, so we may not ever see the issue or it could start popping up in 4 years.
I plan on tracking the % antifreeze and sodium in my oil, hopefully it will remain zero and never see a spike .I did have the ECU recall but that's just software and has been corrected.
Hopefully this engine will prove bullet proof like the Subaru H4's from the 70's, 80's, and early 90's.
I may be one of the few who buy a new car with full intention of keeping it 20 years, I don't think we will see another design like this pltform it in the future, the industry is just not moving in the direction of lightweight rwd sports coupes.
To me it is amazing that Toyota and Subaru have been able to abstract 200hp out of this 2.0L H4 and I get 28 mpg driving a very hilly rural commute. Sometimes an engine like is over engineered (robust) in the first gen, and all indications are pointing toward that, which can be a great thing for folks who are satisfied with the stock 6.5 second 0-60 and want to keep it on the road for 200k+/20 years. Things are pointing to this being this type of engine. An example of an over engineered engine would be the Subaru EA engine, introduced in a time where US cars were at a low time reliability, the engine proved to last a half a million miles when maintained. The FIRST gen EJ was very reliable, it wasn't until the second gen EJ that things became troublesome.
Sounds like this FA may be a return to bullet proof Subaru H4 reliability.