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Old 07-16-2007, 01:46 AM   #1
Quix
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 154039
Join Date: Jul 2007
Chapter/Region: VIC
Location: Vancouver, BC
Vehicle:
1996 Outback
Dark green - peeling off

Default loud knock from block, all rpm range, all the time.

***moved from Impreza forum - took me a while to find the proper forum for engine trouble ***

I have a stock 93 Impreza L with 1.8L FWD, over the past few months there's been a tiny knock sound just above the 1500 rpm range, and last week it turned loud, and all over the range.
Mechanic says it's the valves wearing out, and that nothing can be done (that's financially worth doing).

I think that's the stock JDM EJ18EAA...something (can't remember rest of the code). Says on the plate under the hood it's made in Japan in 02/93. Mileage is 152k. It'd be a shame to lose a stock engine at such a young age.

Here are the recordings (not using a high-end mic):
the first is what it sounds like cold, and running on the 87 octane I had in the tank.
the second file is after filling up Chevron 94 (mostly for the techron), and warm.

For both recordings, the RPMS are at 500 at the lowest, the 2500 at the highest (and the inconsistency is due to my bro being lame and utterly incapable of maintaining smooth curves). I didn't see much point in taking it any higher for the knocking recording, but if you think it would help, let me know and I'll get a new one.

1. http://www.supload.com/sound_confirm...=322971555.wav
2. http://www.supload.com/sound_confirm...=476370341.wav

in both recordings the mic is held about 30 cm above the block, and the knocking is coming directly from the engine block.

The mechanic's answer, by the way, was with out opening her up (as far as I know), simply because he assumes it's a beater car and that I don't want to spend too much money fixing it. Which is half true, I don't want to spend a lot of money... But I don't want a non-subaru car either!

Is she really dying, doc?

What's the easiest *common* engine to swap in instead of the EJ18, in terms of work and parts? EJ18's are kind of hard to come by in the Vancouver area.
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Old 07-16-2007, 03:57 AM   #2
i_c_the_light
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Member#: 88618
Join Date: Jun 2005
Chapter/Region: SCIC
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Without having to listen to it, I'm going to give you worst case scenario that your engine is toast.
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Old 07-16-2007, 08:31 AM   #3
mikeythejew
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Member#: 141672
Join Date: Feb 2007
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What caused this was someone used too thick an oil possibly in the cold winter's you have. Down here in the states, the owner would drive it until it dies, then it would go to a junk yard. This is something thats O.K. if you can wrench yourself, because even a cheap mechanic down here would charge more then the cars worth to fix. Me, being a mechanic myself, I would take the engine out and take her apart.
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Old 07-16-2007, 12:58 PM   #4
Brighton
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Member#: 53542
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Nova Scotia
Vehicle:
2002 02TS + 02WRX
TS=Green/WRX=Silver

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Sounds like a spun rod bearing to me. Check the oil (From the pan) and look for gold dust/chunks. My wife's EJ18 had bad piston slap and it was a very different noise from that, more of a hollow 'bigger part' sounding thunking.
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Old 07-16-2007, 03:48 PM   #5
Sudafed
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Member#: 70090
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Chapter/Region: NESIC
Location: New Hartford, CT
Vehicle:
2002 2.5 RS
Silver

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sounds spun bearing-ish, check the oil for pieces
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Old 07-16-2007, 08:01 PM   #6
Quix
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Member#: 154039
Join Date: Jul 2007
Chapter/Region: VIC
Location: Vancouver, BC
Vehicle:
1996 Outback
Dark green - peeling off

Default

Thanks for all the replies. In the original forum it was posted (impreza forum) GeneralTJI suggested it's a clogged oil passage to the lifters. http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=1305590
What's the best course of action now (besides following his directions to check it)?
Assuming this is really the case, how much damage could this issue have caused so far?

Oh, and how much time would you estimate the cleaning process to take (I'm a total newb to this).

Thanks for all the help
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Old 07-16-2007, 08:08 PM   #7
Brighton
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Member#: 53542
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Nova Scotia
Vehicle:
2002 02TS + 02WRX
TS=Green/WRX=Silver

Default

Well dropping the oil is a cheap and easy way to figure out if its a bearing. And if it is you might as well go engine shopping because it won't be worth fixing an EJ18.
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