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12-31-2010, 11:37 AM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 267248
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Steamboat Springs, CO
Vehicle:2011 WRX Premium White |
Are the WRX boxer engines hard to work on?
I am just interested to find out how difficult the engines are to work on. I am no mechanic by any means. I don't even know how to bleed my brakes, but I can do routine maintenance on all my vehicles. I think it is very important and love pretending to be a mechanic when working on my car. Is there any good books that explain routine maintenance and give technical advice on tuning your car?
I think the whole Turbo thing scares me to. I had an old 280ZX Turbo back in the day and that was a nightmare although everyone tells me that is so old school that todays Turbos are so much better. I will keep my car mostly stock and will not do any upgrades until it is paid for. It will be plenty of car for me as it is. I will also get to learn about my car and what everyone is doing to their cars in the meantime. Would love to hear any insight you might have on this for a wannabe mechanic and a newbie to the whole WRX game. Thanks in advance.
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12-31-2010, 11:50 AM | #2 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 205280
Join Date: Mar 2009
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Merrillville, IN
Vehicle:2012 Jeep Wrangler Bright Silver |
Nope, easy peasy.
Hardest thing to do is freaking change the spark plugs lol. |
12-31-2010, 12:07 PM | #3 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 187013
Join Date: Aug 2008
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Buffalo Grove, IL
Vehicle:2013 ST |
First, glad you finally got the car! They aren't that hard to work on for routine maintenance aside from plugs(which are a pain in the ass, but not hard).
Im sure there's stuff you can read on tuning, but id leave it to the pros. Much rather pay a few hundred bucks to have it done. Check the tuning forum. |
12-31-2010, 01:05 PM | #4 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 184564
Join Date: Jul 2008
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Winchester
Vehicle:2009 SWP Hatch Hella Snail'd |
The subaru techs knew what they were doing when they put them together, alot of bolts are interchangeable, plugs and wires can pretty much only go one spot. Plugs are a pain not because of taking apart things but the room on both sides of the engine bay next to the frame rail. One of the easiest motors Ive ever worked on.
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12-31-2010, 02:33 PM | #5 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 99707
Join Date: Nov 2005
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Missouri
Vehicle:2018 WRX Premium CWP |
Easiest car I have EVER changed the oil on.
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12-31-2010, 02:51 PM | #6 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 267248
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Steamboat Springs, CO
Vehicle:2011 WRX Premium White |
Very cool to hear. Even for a routine maintenance guy it's good to know that it's not hard to work on. And no, I haven't received my car yet. I am hoping I will have it by the end of January.
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12-31-2010, 03:54 PM | #7 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 223181
Join Date: Sep 2009
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Farmington, Minnesota
Vehicle:05 WRX, stage mehh hybrid built SOLD!!! :( |
Very easy, hardest thing I've found is just the space it can be tight sometime specially coming from a v8 engine bay. Havnt done plugs yet but plan to sometime soon. Congrats on the car once you finally get it...
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12-31-2010, 04:07 PM | #8 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 200288
Join Date: Jan 2009
Chapter/Region:
BAIC
Location: East Bay Area, CA
Vehicle:2002 Impreza WRX World Rally Blue |
Just be glad its not a ford Taurus
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12-31-2010, 05:35 PM | #9 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 84680
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Cali
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Fumoto Valve FTW. I counted the days to change my oil since this part made it so easy.
I DID have a b1tch of a time flushing my coolant. Damn thing wouldn't "burp" right. |
12-31-2010, 05:46 PM | #10 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 115276
Join Date: May 2006
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Joplin, MO
Vehicle:98 v9 RSTI 207 + rotated 30r |
Im not sure how you guys are saying boxers are easy to work on. THERE IS NO SPACE. Go check where the spark plugs are on a honda civic then go check your motor. There is always something in the way of whatever you are trying to work on, never fails. I would say Subys are fairly difficult to work on if you dont know what you are doing.
All things aside, the boxer motors are beautiful pieces of engineering.. |
12-31-2010, 07:54 PM | #11 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 223181
Join Date: Sep 2009
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Farmington, Minnesota
Vehicle:05 WRX, stage mehh hybrid built SOLD!!! :( |
There have been plenty that said the spark plugs are not easy, we are just saying in general most of the other things are pretty easy. I cant answer for the spark plugs, I havnt had to do them. But everything I've done has all been pretty easy, I do agree that theres always something in the way (as you stated), but I dont really think that makes them hard to work on, just takes a little more time ...
They definitely are beautiful pieces of engineering. |
12-31-2010, 08:13 PM | #12 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 115276
Join Date: May 2006
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Joplin, MO
Vehicle:98 v9 RSTI 207 + rotated 30r |
Just wait until you tackle a few more installs. Wait until you button everything up from putting in new injectors and one leaks on you. Doing a turbo inlet also makes you want to shoot yourself in the foot. It's not that its terribly hard, just cramped spaces and everything must go on in a certain order.
I will say though, a lot of my troublesome install have been with aftermarket parts, and well, thats to be expected I guess. |
12-31-2010, 08:38 PM | #13 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 45076
Join Date: Oct 2003
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Rockland County, NY
Vehicle:2004 Stg 2 wagon AT 16 BRZ. Both silver |
Space is the only real issue. Also the newness of the work. For example going stage 2 took forever the first time. I could do it now in an eigth of the time. First time things take longer. Mostly because something is in the way. Space is the number one issue, second is stuck bolts.
I have a second car so I do not fear the mods because if I mess up I can still get around. |
12-31-2010, 10:03 PM | #14 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 147328
Join Date: Apr 2007
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Atlanta, GA
Vehicle:2007 WRX FlimFlamRacing |
Routine maintenance is relatively easy on Subaru's.
Spark plugs are not that bad to change (unless a plug is seized). Having the right tools on hand makes all the difference in the world. Oil changes are simple (+1 on the Fumoto valve... every car should have one) Changing the radiator fluid and hoses are easy. Replacing any portion of the exhaust (turbo and back) is simple. Replacing 02 sensors are cake. Replacing the fuel filter (06+) is easy but takes time. Replacing the transmission fluid is easy after you get used to removing and replacing the top mount. It used to pis me off but now I scoff at it. Overall, it is an engine that most semi-mechanically inclined people can perform routine maintenance on with ease, in my opinion. |
12-31-2010, 11:06 PM | #15 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 223181
Join Date: Sep 2009
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Farmington, Minnesota
Vehicle:05 WRX, stage mehh hybrid built SOLD!!! :( |
Yeah injectors are next.
Stage 2 wasnt to bad I didnt think, I thought the hardest thing was the up pipe with having to loosen the motor mounts and lift the motor alittle to slide the old up-pipe out, but laying on your back and pushing your knees up to lift the motor just a bit works quiet good. Headers and downpipe, and large tmic all are easy Actually I found that stupid light weight crank pulley to be a friken pain, with that key way lineing up deal. |
12-31-2010, 11:10 PM | #16 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 250100
Join Date: Jun 2010
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Georgia
Vehicle:2002 Impreza WRX Midnight Black Pearl |
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01-01-2011, 01:07 AM | #17 | ||
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 250536
Join Date: Jun 2010
Chapter/Region:
SWIC
Location: Mesa, AZ
Vehicle:1991 MR2 Turbo Orange |
Quote:
Quote:
Coming from an MR2 turbo, my Forester hasn't been bad at all. The easiest way to do a timing belt in a 2 is to pull the engine. I did it in the Forester and I wasn't even cramped. |
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01-01-2011, 03:04 AM | #18 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 229971
Join Date: Nov 2009
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Pennsylvania
Vehicle:2009 WRX w/ SF hotbox |
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01-01-2011, 04:02 AM | #19 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 157348
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: OOoOuuUUUGGGHH!!!!!
Vehicle:I Thlammed My Penith in the Car Door |
The more work you do, the more you will find yourself asking "why the **** would anyone design a car like this?"
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01-01-2011, 07:41 AM | #20 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 267248
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Steamboat Springs, CO
Vehicle:2011 WRX Premium White |
Quote:
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01-01-2011, 07:56 AM | #21 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 100449
Join Date: Nov 2005
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: NoHo
Vehicle:'04 WRX 307whp278tq 03WRX wgn, '72 MGB |
Things that are easy on a subaru:
changing the oil, swapping the turbo, installing a downpipe, installing headers Things that are a pain in the ass: everything else. |
01-01-2011, 09:12 AM | #22 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 267774
Join Date: Dec 2010
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Georgia
Vehicle:2010 WRX Electric Boogaloo Blue |
While we're on the subject, how about some necessary equipment?
Alas, I didn't have much mechanical instruction growing up, but I would certainly like to learn. I have a fairly nice Craftsman 298 piece mechanics toolkit, so essentially a wide variety of sockets, wrenches, etc. What else do I need? What about suggested reading options? |
01-01-2011, 09:30 AM | #23 | |
Add Lightness
Moderator Member#: 13699
Join Date: Dec 2001
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Hopkinton, MA
Vehicle:2021 Building It Better |
Quote:
Tranny fluid (at least on my LGT....can't see why a WRX would be different) does not require an intercooler removal. On a cool engine, feel for the dipstick behind the turbo from the passenger side. Use a flexible tube....stick it into the hole that the dipstick came out of and fill with your favorite tranny fluid. Everyone talks about the spark plugs. Why? Unlike a N/A subaru (which is a 1/2 hour job), the turbos use coil on plug and the 2 rear ones need to be twisted all around to get them out and away from the plug. Once out, removing the plug is a piece of cake. Then you have to get the coil pack back in. Once in and bolted in place, you gotta make real sure that the connector is plugged in fully (been there, didn't do that) or you get less than 4 cyl's firing....which is really obvious. I expect a WRX is similar to my LGT. I had to remove the air box to do the pass side ones and the battery and plastic thingy (I think it's an air pump line or something) to get to the plugs. Anything with the turbo is going to be a pain. Since it's stuck in back of the engine, things are very difficult to get to. Also, if you ever need head work or want to swap cams, the engine has to come out. |
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01-01-2011, 10:59 AM | #24 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 147328
Join Date: Apr 2007
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Atlanta, GA
Vehicle:2007 WRX FlimFlamRacing |
^^ Jack is right... you do not have to remove the TMIC on a WRX/STI to fill the tranny back up. I've used the long funnel with the twist open valve before and it worked well. It's just easier for me to fill it with the TMIC off (I can be messy).
Buy a Fumoto valve (only like $20-$25). I can't stress enough how much easier this makes draining the oil pan. Personally, I do not use the optional extension, but I do use the optional safety clip for piece of mind. There are excellent tutorials here and on scoobymods that walk you through step by step maintenance and modification scenarios. Something I learned a long time ago when replacing spark plugs was to use a small piece of fuel line hose (approx. 3-4" long and 5/16 diameter, IIRC) to avoid cross threading upon installation. The boxer engine has the plugs recessed into the block to far to use your fingers to screw in the plug. The hose provides the extension and allows you to "feel" the plug screw in properly. |
01-01-2011, 11:31 AM | #25 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 184564
Join Date: Jul 2008
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Winchester
Vehicle:2009 SWP Hatch Hella Snail'd |
Quote:
excellent advice. Couldnt of said it better. |
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