Potential Cause of rumored GR86’s blown engine? Seal packing(RTV) was peeled off

[Rustyoid]

Originally Posted by toeout

Correct, not confirmed that the sealant was the reason. I do hope they will tell me the actual reason. I was thinking of showing up at the dealer and asking to see the engine, but I'm not positive they will accommodate.

would you please be able to share your build date?

[toeout]

I can, but I have to go the dealer to check on the VIN sticker. Currently the short block is backordered with an ETA of 11th of August.

I might pop in there next week.

Originally Posted by Rustyoid

would you please be able to share your build date?

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by mpg9999

I assume the oil pan is different from the first gen? Looks like Fel-Pro makes an oil pan gasket for the first gen. If they end up making one for the second gen it might make sense to switch to a gasket.

From what I understand, they don't work well. There have been posts about them before. I'll see if I can find some later.

[Petah78]

Originally Posted by Blighty

Certainly makes you want to check.

How much/long/difficult is it to get in there and take a look and put it back together?

My initial reaction after seeing this thread was to pull my oil pan and check but was quickly reminded by others that if i dropped the pan, i "could" be blamed down the road should i run into engine problems, that is if i ever experience engine problems.

The other thing i later thought of is that just because there wasn't any blockage at the time of my inspection, it doesn't mean that it cannot develop afterwards. Unless at the time of dropping the pan, you have access to remove and clean up all excess RTV inside the engine. Doubtful this is the case.

I am just hoping that this is an one-off situation. I mean aside from the twitter thread, i don't think i have seen this reported anywhere else......yet. But i know, wishful thinking, right?

[TommyW]

Damn I hope you guys with Gen2 cars don’t have to live the recall nightmare.

[Teseo]

I bet those used GR's are people who thought the car was big improvement and get disappointed.

[Petah78]

Originally Posted by TommyW

Damn I hope you guys with Gen2 cars don’t have to live the recall nightmare.

LOL, can't be as bad as the valve spring because this time, you are starting with a dead engine. Even if the mechanic used too much RTV on assembly on the new short block, you will end up exactly where you started.

[Ash_89]

My commiserations to those affected by this, hopefully the issue is addressed properly. It can't be a nice experience being aware of this and waiting for things to go pear-shaped.

[TommyW]

Originally Posted by Teseo

I bet those used GR's are people who thought the car was big improvement and get disappointed.

A friend had a nicely modded Gen 1 and sold it bought a Gen 2 and sold it and bought another Gen1. He liked the rawness of the Gen 1. I'm seeing the Gen2 as being for people that want something a bit more refined.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Petah78

My initial reaction after seeing this thread was to pull my oil pan and check but was quickly reminded by others that if i dropped the pan, i "could" be blamed down the road should i run into engine problems, that is if i ever experience engine problems.

The other thing i later thought of is that just because there wasn't any blockage at the time of my inspection, it doesn't mean that it cannot develop afterwards. Unless at the time of dropping the pan, you have access to remove and clean up all excess RTV inside the engine. Doubtful this is the case.

I am just hoping that this is an one-off situation. I mean aside from the twitter thread, i don't think i have seen this reported anywhere else......yet. But i know, wishful thinking, right?

My wife just got a new Ascent a week ago and since it is the same 2.4 block I dug into some info if this had happened to any of them. As best as I can tel from the forum and other sites there has not been a single one with engine failure. Loads of trannys in 2018 but no engines in any year.
Now there are a couple of ‘ifs’ attached to this.
If it is the same oil pan. From what I could find they appear identical but there are not a lots of pictures.
If they do not have a different set up for the NA vs turbo engines. This is possible even though close to the same. The differences between the two may mean a slightly different program or sequence so it is possible (not probable just possible) that the issue does not cross between engines.

What I would do is change the oil and look for chunks in what comes out. It is not likely that every single piece that drops in the pan gets caught in the pickup. Scope is another option if you have access to one. Other than that just drive and if it goes be prepared to duke it out with the dealer. Odds are if it is a common issue it is well known by Subaru and they won’t put up much of a fight.

[Ultramaroon]

It may not be the sealant application. It's also possible that the engine was brought into service too soon after assembly. All BS until confirmed.

[timurrrr]

Originally Posted by toeout

My GR86 is at the dealer waiting on a short block. [rod knock/spun bearing] at 5500 miles.

Originally Posted by toeout

Oil level was at MAX mark, factory fill.

Originally Posted by toeout

I did not track it, but did autocross it regularly. It saw a lot of rev limit time, but that should 100% be in the engine use parameters.

In a stock engine with stock tune, the owners only responsibility should be to keep the oil and coolant levels in check and I was very careful about that.

From the maintenance schedule:
"Engine oil and oil filter. Severe driving conditions [...] Replace every 3750 miles or 3.75 months, whichever comes first."

I don't know how "severe" I'd consider autocross, but personally I wouldn't recommend driving for 5500 miles on factory oil. I changed mine at 1040 miles, right before my first autocross.

Originally Posted by Tcoat

You would literally have to be staring at the gauge all the time you are driving.

Or log data, especially if you're saying it should be tested on the track anyways.

[timurrrr]

Originally Posted by DocWalt

I was due for an oil change so I poked my crappy old borescope in the pan. Plenty of excess RTV. Not as bad as that above example from the Toyota tech, but still.

Can you take some frames from that video and highlight what we should be looking at?

[Petah78]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

My wife just got a new Ascent a week ago and since it is the same 2.4 block I dug into some info if this had happened to any of them. As best as I can tel from the forum and other sites there has not been a single one with engine failure. Loads of trannys in 2018 but no engines in any year.
Now there are a couple of ‘ifs’ attached to this.
If it is the same oil pan. From what I could find they appear identical but there are not a lots of pictures.
If they do not have a different set up for the NA vs turbo engines. This is possible even though close to the same. The differences between the two may mean a slightly different program or sequence so it is possible (not probable just possible) that the issue does not cross between engines.

What I would do is change the oil and look for chunks in what comes out. It is not likely that every single piece that drops in the pan gets caught in the pickup. Scope is another option if you have access to one. Other than that just drive and if it goes be prepared to duke it out with the dealer. Odds are if it is a common issue it is well known by Subaru and they won’t put up much of a fight.

Thanks for looking into the info. These cars, MY22, have been flogged quite hard already around the tracks all over NA. I am thinking (hoping) that if it's a large scale problem, I suspect there will be many reports of this already. Again, wishful thinking?

Having said that, it's a great idea to use a strainer on my next oil change to see if I catch anything. My break in oil is coming out in the next 200 miles.