scott.w

has this happened to ANYONE with a STANDARD scooby,please list the year of your car and the mileage and the outcome (dealer warrenty ?).
i am looking into legal procedings ....
thank you

can a moderator make this sticky

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

YHPM

ustolemyname??stevieturbo

iTrader: (1)

Do a search, there have been many over the years..

Its a random occurance and can happen at any time.

Daveo

My sti v6 wagon let go at 40k, it was standard apart from a k&n filter and full magnex. The car was just over 3 years old, the warranty had just ran out and the dealer, David Hendry Cars, didn't want to know.

It's a known fault on sti 5/6's and P1s.

It's annoying, frustrating and very expensive when it happens.

Good luck with the legal proceedings matey......

Dave

ustolemyname??stevieturbo

iTrader: (1)

its not limited to any model, or year, although cars around 97-2000 did seem more to have it happen more than some older models. Perhaps its just there are more of them about.

There are many so called fix's for the problem, but IMO none are 100%. They may help, but none are gauranteed to fix it and prevent it happening.

David MY99

let me guess....you did some high speed driving?
I can't seem to think that the rod's on standard cars just don't cope on high revs (6000+rpm).
Due to the hig rev's you just make the rod oval with the big end failure as a result.
If your going to rebuild, find yourself some descent rod's to put in and that should prevent it in my opinion. I don't know which year your car is but get an uprated oil pump as well from roger clark or so.....just in case
which oil where you using?

ustolemyname??stevieturbo

iTrader: (1)

Even engines with good rods can do it. Even engines with "uprated" oil pumps can do it.
Ive never tried a baffled sump, that some guys claim will cure the problem, but as it can easily happen in a straight line, a baffled sump isnt going to make any difference at all.

It is a mystery.

David MY99

Stevie, i've seen several failure's and they happen in 90% of the cases after high rev's.
The STI rods can handle 7500rpm without any problem. Have not seen a STI with an bigend failure yet. That's why i suspect the standard rod's are just to weak for high reving and makes de bigend oval whith oil pressure loss shortly after.

just my experience..
Might be bullox as well but i sleep a lot better with some better rods fitted

ustolemyname??stevieturbo

iTrader: (1)

1.8 rods n/a engine
2.0 rods n/a engine
2.2 rods n/a engine
EJ20 Turbo rods, sti or not,

they are all the same, with the possible exception of the new model STI variants.

Ive seen several STI's with big ends gone. Makes for a cheap set of STI pistons for use in other engines, buying a knackered STI short motor.

Im not saying dont fit better rods, but its not going to prevent it happening again in my opinion. Ive seen failures with aftermarket rods.
Although more than likely if the big end has spun, the rods will need replaced anyway.

David MY99

i was refering to the newage STI. I advice most people to use an sti crank, bearings and rod's . They are a little more expensive but worth the extra money in my opinion.

ustolemyname??stevieturbo

iTrader: (1)

Must say though, I dont think Ive come across a big end failure on a new model car yet.
Plenty with the older classic though.

Have there been many where you are ?

David MY99

Not that alot.
But all classic's with rebuild sti parts are still running.
And i've seen several come back with the standard stuff just running over 260bhp

GregK

2 years ago - MY99 UK Turbo - 73,000 miles - FSSH - Subaru main dealer supplied with 63k on the clock and aftermarket warranty - had owned car for 6 months - oil pressure failure caused big end failure - claim rejected because "car had been run low on oil at point during its life" - Subaru main dealer did not want to know. Warranty small print means that you have to prove that warranty applies, there is no requirement for the warranty company to prove that it doesn't. Trading Standards may be able to advise you on the legal position, also getting an independent engineering opinion MAY help.

Engine rebuilt by Scoobyclinic at very reasonable cost, now on 106k miles.........

Cheers

Greg

ustolemyname??stevieturbo

iTrader: (1)

Its not oil pressure failure IMO.

Its usually only 1 or 2 big ends go, and the others, and mains aure usually fine.

If it was oil pressure faliure, they would all end up mangled.

David MY99

N# 1 & 4 have there own oil supply from the crank N# 2&3 are supplied from the center of the crank. It's most of the time N#3 which goes first and if they drive the car a little longer to get home most of the time number 2 is also on it's way out.

ustolemyname??stevieturbo

iTrader: (1)

Most common one ive seen go is cyl No 2, on about 6 or 7 engines, and as you say 3 as well.
Some claim different drillings in the crank can help etc, but from very recent experience. It doesnt.

Some claim its no 4 too, which I find odd given oiling. But if it happens, it happens.

Bit of a nightmare really

David MY99

Definately a nightmare.
Rebuild my engine 37000 km ago and put in all the STI stuf and forged piston's
Unfortunately i choose the wrong oil (description said fullsynthetic but it was a half synthetic) and lost a bearing again.
This time i take Eagle rod's and again STI crank without extra drillings, good oil (motul300V) and a big oilpump and Spec C oilcooler. If it breaks again i'll drive her into the sea and buy me an M3 or so

ustolemyname??stevieturbo

iTrader: (1)

Funny you mentioned an M3...

Didnt the E46 M3 have a similar big end problem...

I know a lot of cars had a new short motor on a dealer re-call.

David MY99

that's the difference then, they have warranty

ustolemyname??stevieturbo

iTrader: (1)

lol, if under 3 years old...

If older, I would rather be paying for a new crank/rods for a Subaru, than an M3 !!

simon4653

[QUOTE=ustolemyname??stevieturbo]Must say though, I dont think Ive come across a big end failure on a new model car yet.
Plenty with the older classic though.

Hi, MY 03 WRX big end went about 4 weeks ago. The car has only covered 28,000 miles. The car is completely standard.

David MY99

it's not an STI is it?
Then you have the same sh*tty rods as the classic.
I think you can have for 150,- more an STI Crank, Rod's and bearings.

good luck with the rebuild

GE90

Not meaning to go off topic, or start another oil themed thread, but I am interested as to which oil Simon used in his 2003 WRX..?

Cheers!

ustolemyname??stevieturbo

iTrader: (1)

If you think rods are part of the problem. Then why have engines with Eagle, Pauter, and other brands of rods suffered failure ?

StickyMicky

i belive mine picked up on number 3 when mine went

the rest were ok.......

David MY99

I think, and don't shoot me, it's due to high speed's and rev's which makes the oil goes outside the temperature's where it's designed for.
Most engine's i've seen broke down to stretched rod bolt's.
Mine went with STI rods and crank due to bad oil/high oil temp as mentioned before. So i think it's a combination of high oil temps and high rev's which stretches the rod bolts. With that in mind, you know that the crank feeds No2&3 from one point, makes it to me the only logical explanation

ustolemyname??stevieturbo

iTrader: (1)

I agree about no 2 and 3, but as I said, although Ive yet to see it myself, ive heard claims that no4 big is common too.

Actually surprised more people dont fit proper remote air-oil oil coolers.

GregK

Only stating what the engineer who stripped the motor down told me! The engine was idling at the time it failed, and after making a *kin horrible noise stalled. Lost 2 big ends plus mains plus wiped out one piston (no 3 iirc).

ustolemyname??stevieturbo

iTrader: (1)

Generally, engines that had had big ends go, have still had plenty of oil pressure, certainly enough that they shouldnt have failed, despite them doing so.

Ive heard of them failing under all sorts of conditions, from flat out, to cruising easy on the motorway. Yours is a first ive heard at idle !!!!!!

As I said though...it is a mystery, and Ive yet to see a 100% guaranteed cure.

Its defo a horrible noise alright !!!!The loudest bit is when the bearings have been completely destroyed, and the pistons are able to hit the cylinder head, as there is no longer a bearing on the journal allowing the piston an extra couple of mm travel !!!

ImprezaGT

My STi VI suffered bearing failure on Sunday at the track, not sure if its big or small end. I was driving hard & breaking personal lap records. Saw the revs at 8500 once, not on purpose. Gut wrenching feeling