acf8181

iTrader: (1)

Am currently looking at a late '90's turbo, and have read about excessive piston slap occuring on EJ20 engines which i understand are fitted to '97-'98 cars.

Can anyone fill me in on this, how big a problem is it? Other than the noise, how can i tell if its occuring? Will it drink oil? Also, how costly are the parts to repair it should i be unfortunate to end up with one with the problem (i can remove and strip engine myself)?

Finally, am i just better off just ensuring i get a '99 instead?

munna

most impreza's with piston slap, can be heard when started from cold, a slight tappetty noise will be heard upon start, then once warm it will go away, at some point or other a subaru will get the slap, number 3 cylinder, cannot remember the exact cause, but something due to starvation..oil that is!!..

if the car is at temp, and you can still hear an auduble tappetty noise, then walk away, either bottom end re-build or a new short motor!


regards

burt2000

iTrader: (1)

as said above as long as it goes away once warm its nothing to worry about...mine does it for about 30 secs then goes away and the engine is very healthy, had a compression check done for piece of mind and it came back 164psi on all 4 cylinders, never uses oil and goes very well...so its not such a big deal if u dont mind the noise on start up