Bottom End Knock

[duncanrpnz]

Hi Forum,

 

So I bought an Tiptronic 2003 Legacy GT early last year, and 1 week into me owning it, out of no where the turbo blew. Fast track awhile to where I could afford a new turbo which was a VF44 (Was told this was the best bolt on replacement for the stock VF38) off an 06 Legacy. I replaced the turbo, after running new engine oil with flush through the car, then replacing that with fresh oil again and checking all oil/coolant lines etc. The car was then working great! Had to park it up for 3 months due to doing an internship for my studies so had no money to run it. Once I finished that I started using the car again and it still ran fine.

 

After driving it around for a few weeks, I noticed that on medium-high revs the acceleration would 'pulse'. I didn't really think anything of it. I decided it would be a good idea to re-check my oil, and upon doing so I thought that it looked a bit on the thin side. Fast track another week and I drove home from work, and parked up left it running as usual to do it's thing for a minute and I noticed a knocking noise from the engine bay.. Thought to myself, 'F***'. Parked the car up left it for a day, went to check it the next day and it started fine, no knock. I decided to take it for a quick drive to make sure and about 100m down the road it started idling like a pig and I could here the knocking sound again. It is now parked up and I don't know what to do.

 

Are their any other factors that could cause this? Bad plugs/injectors/timing? Oil is too thin? 

 

Any suggestions on what it could be, or what I should do next.

[Guest]

Where are you located dude? 

[duncanrpnz]

2 minutes ago, evowrx said:

Where are you located dude? 

 

Hamilton mate.

[Andy_Mac]

#YNANSB

[ADIKT]

11 minutes ago, Andy_Mac said:

#YNANSB

Excuse my ignorance - but what does this stand for? 

 

I've been sitting at my desk for like 10min trying to figure this out

[GC8E2DD]

You need a new short block?

[Andy_Mac]

You need a new short block.

 

Coined by the US lot who blow engines every other week.

 

[duncanrpnz]

Not what I want to hear, but it is what I thought i'd hear.. What is the best path to take? I don't mind working on my car myself, but that is something I don't think I'd like to do myself. Are there many places to buy shortblocks from?

[GC8E2DD]

You could maybe start by draining the oil and seeing if there are bits of bearing in there.

[Subru]

my experience with knocking ended up with a Corolla with a ruined bearing(s). I think it was just chewed up as the oil level was off the dipstick and probably starved from oil, I never actually drained the oil or anything but that would have been interesting lol.

Question: will a blown head gasket thin the oil?

[duncanrpnz]

23 hours ago, GC8E2DD said:

You could maybe start by draining the oil and seeing if there are bits of bearing in there.

 

Ok I will give this a go and let you know. 

 

 

 

[Subirex Automotive]

On 1/17/2017 at 1:18 PM, duncanrpnz said:

 

Ok I will give this a go and let you know. 

 

 

 

 

knocking noise coming and going would probably be your f**d up cambelt tensioner or worst case scenario big ends. if you need second opinion than pm me, ill forward you details of my good mate who is a senior tech for winger hamilton branch. he is a pretty good guy to deal with and has helped my customers who live up in hamilton.  

[slystiguy]

best bet would be to take it to someone who can diagnose for you... Was it a definite knock? Not a click or slapping sound? Injectors tick quite loudly, check exhaust isn't hitting anything, or as above maybe inspect cambelt condition. It's pretty hard for anyone to say over the internet. Also old fuel is your enemy in those newer cars, maybe chuck some 98 in it and pray lol. And yea check oil for obvious signs of metal... 

 

[duncanrpnz]

On 1/19/2017 at 11:43 PM, slystiguy said:

best bet would be to take it to someone who can diagnose for you... Was it a definite knock? Not a click or slapping sound? Injectors tick quite loudly, check exhaust isn't hitting anything, or as above maybe inspect cambelt condition. It's pretty hard for anyone to say over the internet. Also old fuel is your enemy in those newer cars, maybe chuck some 98 in it and pray lol. And yea check oil for obvious signs of metal... 

 

 

It was definitely a knocking noise, Stuck my head under the car while it was running seemed to be coming from sump area which would lead me to believe bottom end. Cambelt was just replaced when I bought the car and I also had only just filled up and only used 98 while driving it. 

 

I'll get a second opinion and report back.

[duncanrpnz]

Also just to get a few options discussed..

 

Would it be better to get a new/rebuilt short block and replace the current one with it?

 

OR
 

Buy a second hand EJ20 Turbo engine?

 

Looking around I could buy a shortblock for around $2000, or I could buy a 2nd hand EJ20 Turbo engine for $1700.

 

In terms of hours of labor with the two routes, would there be much of a difference?

[Kiwi_Fozze]

Second hand shortblock... Have you any guarantee it wont go nunga nunga in 2 weeks post install

[duncanrpnz]

1 minute ago, kwi_fozze said:

Second hand shortblock... Have you any guarantee it wont go nunga nunga in 2 weeks post install

 

Second hand shortblock instead of brand new/rebuilt? Why is that?

 

Edited January 26, 2017 by duncanrpnz

[GC8E2DD]

He means that if you buy a second hand short block you are rolling the dice on another failure.

[Kiwi_Fozze]

It was ment as a question, didnt word it well

 

I try again

 

 

Second hand block, if going for this option do you have any come back on the seller if its already got fried bigends / they fail in 2 weeks.

 

If you were to have a reputable builder supply and install a new engine / have yours rebuilt if its salvagable, most offer a warranty

[duncanrpnz]

Just now, GC8E2DD said:

He means that if you buy a second hand short block you are rolling the dice on another failure.

 

Oh right, by new/rebuilt shortblock. I was meaning brand new from Subaru or a fresh rebuild.

[Kiwi_Fozze]

I've had experiances wirh someone dropping an Ej207 shorty into a legacy with the legacy anciliries. Needed a tune after the work was done, but christ it goes like a cut cat. Definately recommend if considering performance mods / light tune to get the most from your setup.

[duncanrpnz]

1 minute ago, kwi_fozze said:

I've had experiances wirh someone dropping an Ej207 shorty into a legacy with the legacy anciliries. Needed a tune after the work was done, but christ it goes like a cut cat. Definately recommend if considering performance mods / light tune to get the most from your setup.

 

Not looking to do any performance mods. Just want it to be running! 

 

Would me having upgraded my blown turbo to a VF44 froma  VF38 effected the engine at all? Should I have got the car retuned? Could it have increased air flow enough to lean out? 

 

Atm my options seem to be a new shortblock (Found one for $1500) or a new engine (Found one for $1700).

 

[Andy_Mac]

Na performance gain is negligeable, a few kw at best, well within the ecu's range to self learn.

Turbo blowing and not replacing everything else like banjo filters, oil cooler and whatnot could have meant there was stuff still in there that took a while to move around even with a few flushes and made its way to the crank oiling holes, blocking one/many and causing the spun bearing

[IZichard]

There is a short block out of a 2004 wrx on trademe for $850 at the moment. Car had done 130,000kms, being sold by a wreckers.

 

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-parts-accessories/subaru/engines/auction-1248603819.htm

 

TBH I have no idea if it is directly compatible, but might be cheaper option to consider.

 

 

[Kiwi_Fozze]

Yeah i'd be looking at stripping out the banjo filters etc.

 

Also wouldnt use the wrx motor as the legacies run more boost, a gamble I honestly wouldnt personally take