kevanbex220turbo

Hi guys could anyone give me any advise on why my mates car keeps killing engines??

He had the car for 2 years run sweet he fitted a big front mount intercooler then a little while later, big end failure.

Bought 2nd hand engine, fitted and within 100 miles big end failure again due to lack of oil pressure
( engine no good when bought)

Sent that engine back and sent him another 1 which he fitted and lasted 4 months big end failure again so he rebuilt that engine, reground crank, with correct bearings, new oil pump cam belt and gaskets lasted 350 miles big end bearings knocking again.

Finally bought 2nd hand engine from a good friend well looked after and knew the history of it fitted and lasted 1000 miles before yet again big end failure!!! WHAT THE F**K??

Each time the car has been run in / driven fairly sensibly the car is a impreza WRX, there is no after market boost controller, boost level is set by ECU, the car was boosting at 20 PSI is this normal??

Any idea's why big end failure keeps happening??

The Zohan

Apart from the FMIC did your ate have the car mapped to match and exploit the benefits FMIC or any other mods?

Also search for Subaru oil change on here - it is not as straight forward as on a lot of cars and failures within the first 200 miles are not uncommon unless the procedure is adhered to.

kevanbex220turbo

Thanks for the reply not sure on what has been done before he bought it but on the original engine before all the problems ran great then he fitted the FMIC plus S/S pipework, fitted lightened and balanced flywheel but the induction kit (cone type) and dump valve was already fitted when bought.

soon after parts fitted big end went.

No remap done at all.

Done a normal oil change as you would most cars.

The Zohan

Hmmm, with all the extra pipework it would have felt laggy at best. with changes like a FMIC and induction kit a remap would have ben a good idea to get the best performance and most reliability out of the engine

Billet

iTrader: (60)

you have to fill the oil filter with oil before putting it back on, on these, did you do that?

kevanbex220turbo

As far as i know he did fill the filter up

kevanbex220turbo

Also what boost should it be running as standard because it has no after market boost controller so its done by the ECU as standard but was boosting at 20PSI???? is that normal seems high to me?? and would this have an effect on the big ends??

MOTORS S GT

iTrader: (2)

Have the engines been using the same modine cooler from engine failure No1 ?

kevanbex220turbo

modine??? do you mean oil cooler?? If so then no different oil coolers used each time as they came with each engines and also when he re-built the 3rd engine he bought a new oil cooler.

kevin wrx

iTrader: (1)

if itsd runing 20 psi the ecu must be chipped if there is no boost controller fitted.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

I'd be looking at the following, not in any particular order:
Lack of a remap after fitting FMIC.
Cone type air filter: what MAF is it running?
Dumpvalve? If aftermarket, is it VTA or recirc?

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Without knowing exactly what model year/model the car is, its hard to know where to look.
The problem may still be there as unless he diagnosed the cause of the first failure, it could be causing all the other failures too (though 20psi seems a little high)

Tony

kevanbex220turbo

Hi tony thanks i dont think he investigated what happened to number 1 just put it down to worn out big end bearings...... NOT SURE.

The car is a R reg 1997-1998 WRX with a EJ20 engine if that helps

kevanbex220turbo

Thanks alcazar i will tell him

harvey

iTrader: (48)

You cannot just fit an engine with an FMIC and other unknown mods, especially induction and expect it to work.
This car needs inspecting by someone who knows what they are doing Subaru wise and there is no doubt that the minimum that is required is a remap, sooner than later. Unfortunately 97/98 cars cannot remap on the original ECU and you need an aftermarket ECU like Simtek, approx cost fitted and mappped new is around £1K.

kevanbex220turbo

Ok thanks Harvey it was his first scooby and other cars he's had it dont make a difference with the life of the engine, obviously its always better to remap after mods but normally it wouldn't kill engines like this. lol

harvey

iTrader: (48)

Because the Subaru is turbo charged its fueling requirements are much more critical than on a naturally asperated engine. On top of that the Subaru may be more critical on fueling than some other turbo cars. Remember that on an STi you are already extracting 140 bhp/litre.
The problems outlined above were probably avoidable from day 1 if someone with good Subaru knowledge had seen the car at an early stage. Where are you located?
You really need to get someone with the appropriate experience and knowledge to look oner the car and no hard driving until that is done.

kevanbex220turbo

Ok thanks Harvey he lives in Devon mate the south west. Thanks for all the help i will tell him and get him to have the car looked at.

P1Drifter

iTrader: (7)

where abouts in devon are you mate ?

Bristol98

Tell yer mate to get to EngineTuner in Plymouth................

kevanbex220turbo

Hi P1Drifter Okehampton near Exeter mate.

Ok will do Bristol thanks