Blown Engine Question - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

djmark0770 · 08-20-2021, 03:35 PM

Hi, first time poster here. For the last few years I’ve absolutely loved my 2015 Subaru BRZ. I put some minor mods into it (UEL catless Headers, Over pipe and front pipe, K&N drop in filter, OFT tune).

The car has a little over 110k km on it and earlier this week I was on the hwy going about 110km/h not accelerating and had been at that speed for about 15 minutes or so. Check engine light came on, when to exit then boom I had to get to the shoulder quick. Turns out cylinder 2 misfire. On closer inspection at the shop it was more than that. The piston flattened the spark plug and the engine was toast.

Have a lightly used engine on the way but want to know what people think was the problem? Should I go back to stock because of this or is it just bad luck?

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FrickingReallySlow · 08-20-2021, 08:20 PM

You got a CEL before the "BOOM"? how big of a boom and is there a hole in the block. Usually sophisticated scan tools can tell you exact conditions when CEL tripped. might want to start there, also how does a piston flatten a spark plug? Are there pictures? there's no possible interference between the two.

You have to figure out the sequence of events as well as what did you do to the car in the last 1000miles or so

djmark0770 · 08-20-2021, 08:23 PM

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Here’s the spark plug. Didn’t change anything in the last 1000 miles. Coolant ran out once and car was burning oil. Never got cel or any other alerts.

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djmark0770 · 08-20-2021, 08:25 PM

Also meant to say that by boom I mean it happened suddenly and there was a sudden noise. There was no loud boom though.

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FrickingReallySlow · 08-20-2021, 08:31 PM

Coolant doesn't just "run out" and the car def shouldn't be burning oil. Did you find the source of coolant leak how long ago was that? And did you check the oil for coolant contamination (milk shake) or oil in coolant.

Quote:

Originally Posted by djmark0770

Attachment 204397
Here’s the spark plug. Didn’t change anything in the last 1000 miles. Coolant ran out once and car was burning oil. Never got cel or any other alerts.

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djmark0770 · 08-20-2021, 08:37 PM

I normally go to mr lube every other month because I drive a lot. The pandemic struck and I didn’t drive for a while and so ended up going to get my oil changed and they said the coolant was practically empty. They’re supposed to check every time I go there and I’m there several times a year. Shame on me for not checking myself. Anyways that was in March. I got another oil change in July. There was a little oil burnt this time but everything checked out. And a month later, this.

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djmark0770 · 08-20-2021, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djmark0770

I normally go to mr lube every other month because I drive a lot. The pandemic struck and I didn’t drive for a while and so ended up going to get my oil changed and they said the coolant was practically empty. They’re supposed to check every time I go there and I’m there several times a year. Shame on me for not checking myself. Anyways that was in March. I got another oil change in July. There was a little oil burnt this time but everything checked out. And a month later, this.

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Also no milk shake oil. I asked specifically as I thought maybe head gasket. And they said there was no coolant leak. It never happened again after. Coolant level was fine at time of incident.

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alphasaur · 08-20-2021, 08:55 PM

did the piston and or rod disintegrate

djmark0770 · 08-20-2021, 09:36 PM

I don’t know. I’m going to keep the old engine and check it all out.

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humfrz · 08-20-2021, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djmark0770

Hi, first time poster here.

Have a lightly used engine on the way but want to know what people think was the problem? Should I go back to stock because of this or is it just bad luck?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Welcome to our forum, djmark0770 -

Too bad about your car gave out on you -

Hard telling what made it stop running.

I don't think your tune or exhaust modifications had anything to do with it.

Just bad luck.

djmark0770 · 08-21-2021, 05:20 PM

Thanks! I’m totally cool with bad luck. Just want to make sure I learn a lesson where one is available to be learned

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Rabrooks · 08-22-2021, 02:31 PM

The weak point in these engines are the rod and rod bearings. If you spit out a rod beari g the piston prolly contacted a valve and broke it then catastrophic failure. Spark plug is just a symptom of the metal flying around in the cylinder.

djmark0770 · 08-22-2021, 02:38 PM

Thanks for the explanation. I’d like to learn as much about why it might have happened. What if anything could have been done differently. As well as what internals are the weakest point. I always wanted to go FI but now realize I would probably need to replace some of these weak points.

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08-20-2021, 03:35 PM	#1
djmark0770 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Drives: 2015 Subaru BRZ Location: Hamilton Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Blown Engine Question Hi, first time poster here. For the last few years I’ve absolutely loved my 2015 Subaru BRZ. I put some minor mods into it (UEL catless Headers, Over pipe and front pipe, K&N drop in filter, OFT tune). The car has a little over 110k km on it and earlier this week I was on the hwy going about 110km/h not accelerating and had been at that speed for about 15 minutes or so. Check engine light came on, when to exit then boom I had to get to the shoulder quick. Turns out cylinder 2 misfire. On closer inspection at the shop it was more than that. The piston flattened the spark plug and the engine was toast. Have a lightly used engine on the way but want to know what people think was the problem? Should I go back to stock because of this or is it just bad luck? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

08-20-2021, 08:55 PM	#8
alphasaur friendly Join Date: Oct 2018 Drives: 17' 86 Location: Dutchess County, NY Posts: 734 Thanks: 1,483 Thanked 483 Times in 293 Posts Mentioned: 6 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	did the piston and or rod disintegrate __________________ Seek comfort in discomfort.

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08-20-2021, 08:20 PM	#2
FrickingReallySlow Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Drives: 2015 FR-S Location: San francisco Posts: 366 Thanks: 158 Thanked 157 Times in 103 Posts Mentioned: 8 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	You got a CEL before the "BOOM"? how big of a boom and is there a hole in the block. Usually sophisticated scan tools can tell you exact conditions when CEL tripped. might want to start there, also how does a piston flatten a spark plug? Are there pictures? there's no possible interference between the two. You have to figure out the sequence of events as well as what did you do to the car in the last 1000miles or so

08-20-2021, 08:23 PM	#3
djmark0770 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Drives: 2015 Subaru BRZ Location: Hamilton Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Here’s the spark plug. Didn’t change anything in the last 1000 miles. Coolant ran out once and car was burning oil. Never got cel or any other alerts. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

08-20-2021, 08:25 PM	#4
djmark0770 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Drives: 2015 Subaru BRZ Location: Hamilton Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Also meant to say that by boom I mean it happened suddenly and there was a sudden noise. There was no loud boom though. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

08-20-2021, 08:37 PM	#6
djmark0770 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Drives: 2015 Subaru BRZ Location: Hamilton Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I normally go to mr lube every other month because I drive a lot. The pandemic struck and I didn’t drive for a while and so ended up going to get my oil changed and they said the coolant was practically empty. They’re supposed to check every time I go there and I’m there several times a year. Shame on me for not checking myself. Anyways that was in March. I got another oil change in July. There was a little oil burnt this time but everything checked out. And a month later, this. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

08-20-2021, 09:36 PM	#9
djmark0770 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Drives: 2015 Subaru BRZ Location: Hamilton Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I don’t know. I’m going to keep the old engine and check it all out. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

08-21-2021, 05:20 PM	#11
djmark0770 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Drives: 2015 Subaru BRZ Location: Hamilton Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Thanks! I’m totally cool with bad luck. Just want to make sure I learn a lesson where one is available to be learned Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

08-22-2021, 02:31 PM	#12
Rabrooks Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Drives: 2020 Subaru BRZ Location: Washington NC Posts: 110 Thanks: 7 Thanked 23 Times in 18 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	The weak point in these engines are the rod and rod bearings. If you spit out a rod beari g the piston prolly contacted a valve and broke it then catastrophic failure. Spark plug is just a symptom of the metal flying around in the cylinder.

08-22-2021, 02:38 PM	#13
djmark0770 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Drives: 2015 Subaru BRZ Location: Hamilton Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Thanks for the explanation. I’d like to learn as much about why it might have happened. What if anything could have been done differently. As well as what internals are the weakest point. I always wanted to go FI but now realize I would probably need to replace some of these weak points. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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