used engine vs. rebuilt engine?

While driving xcountry my car crapped out on me. I have a 2005 Legacy wagon with 105,000 miles and manual transmission. I checked the oil and then drove it pretty hard for about 3 hours when the engine light came on. The dealer mechanic said it was down 3.5 qts of oil, very low compression in cylinder 4 with 83% leakdown. He used a camera (did not take engine apart) to tell me that the the valve had hit the top of piston, maybe a hole in piston, the exhaust valve was stuck open and the cam shaft on driver side was broke (the engine still runs). I was given the option of replacing the engine, trade it in or the mechanic offered to buy it from me.

I was hoping to have a remanufactured engine put in but i was told no one does that.

So now I am trying to decide if I put in a used engine (101,000 miles) or have it rebuilt (but I still do not know exactly what is wrong with it as I do not have a good feeling about the dealer it is at nor did they take apart the engine...).

More complicated I am in one state and the vehicle is in a different state. I am looking at having it transported to the mid-atlantic area but do not know a good Subaru specialist mechanic to do the work.

Any suggestions?

rebuild it.

If you buy a "new" one from a dealership, it's going to be a re-man (remanufactured) anyway. That'll set you back about 2k just for the motor.

 

Browse the regional forums and ask about reputable dealerships or mechanics in the area where you or your car are at/going to be.

 

You can have another engine put in, no problem. However, we always ask -- how long do you plan on keeping the car? What's your budget for repairs? If the cost to repair the engine exceeds what you're willing to put into it (this stuff adds up, quick!), you should think about cutting your losses and moving on to something else.

 

Just as an aside, Subaru is running a zero-percent event on all MY14s at most dealerships. It's usually 0% for 36, or 60, depending on the promo SOA Financial is running. If the mechanic will offer you enough, or the dealership will offer you a decent trade-in value against a brand-new car, you should definitely consider letting it go.

83% leak down, a hole in the piston, a stuck valve, and broken camshaft but still runs? I would be realllllllly sceptical of that diag if it still runs.

 

That being said if all that really happened I am going to guess it would cost more to rebuild that than it would be worth. Heads sound trashed, block would need rebuild. Your almost better off getting a new long block. Or just risk a used engine. Ones from reputable places should come with a small warranty.

Because the mech wants to buy it sounds like the problem is being over played.

Last I knew, if the cam shaft was broken NONE! of your lifters will be working.

Broken camshaft=Will absolutely NOT run.

Because the mech wants to buy it sounds like the problem is being over played.

 

This.... And the "no one will do it" line is kind of funny as well. I would bet several shops would install an entire used long block. Just make sure it has good compression. Dealer/tech sound like they want a sale/cheap LGT. Walk away and take the car to a local subaru specialist. Helps if you put your location.

Another thought, before you do anything again, get a look in there with their cam yourself.

 

The car will run on 3 cyl, and run reasonably well with low comp on 1-2 cyls. It will however burn oil, and have other problems like uneven idle.

 

If you can drive this car yourself, drive it over to another place you might be able to trust.

Tell us your locations, may be one of us knows a good shop.

 

I new OEM short block is $1645. Have you heads rebuilt. Drive the car.

 

see my click here link for ideas.

the car is in knoxville, tn.

i am in central pa.

so i could try and find a subaru specialist in tn or pa or somewhere up in mid atlantic area and have it transported...just want to find a reputable place that does a lot of rebuilds and not the dealer!

i am afraid the dealer may be trying to pull one over on me as well...($9600 for a new engine; $6000 for a used engine; or mechanic offered me $1800 for vehicle).

the car has sentimental value and i do not think i would be able to find a comparable used vehicle for the same price as rebuilding engine.

why are subaru engines only rebuilt and not remanufactured? or is that just semantics?

1800 for the car. That's because he know's how few of these cars there really are, he's hoping for the deal of a life time. That's assuming you have a 5mt GT wagon ?

 

Is your's a 2.5i ?

 

In my thread I talk about my buddy who own's the machine shop, the labor involved in one of these compared to a in-line 4 is a much bigger job. Even with my price, for a stock rebuild, he said go get a new OEM short block. I brought that to him with my old long block, he did the rest. His bill was only $1200 for everything I had him do, which there are things you won't need to have done. Read most of my link.

The end of it get's caught up in a long story.

 

I have over 34,000 trouble free miles with the engine.

 

Hopefully one of the local guy's will chime in soon and help you out.

$6000 for a used ej255 is nuts a ej257 with full sti drive terrane is not even that much. find a new shop this one is a joke

Even with a blown motor the car is still worth double what the shady mechanic offered you and he knows it. I seem to recall quite a few good shops around PA I would transport the car back up order a new factory shortblock for $16-1700 and go from there.

Guys, she (?) didn't say it was an LGT, so I think we're jumping the gun on whether or not it's a turbo motor.

Either way the short blocks are the same price I believe.

 

Check out Heubergers site.

Either way the short blocks are the same price I believe.

 

Check out Heubergers site.

 

No sir, they are not. NAs are about $2k. I looked into it for a friend.

Thanks for the correction.

You'd think the turbo blocks would be more expensive, due to the increased capability and demand, since we're blowing them up left and right. However, the NAs actually cost more. Not sure why.

Not as many sales on those engines, must be working a volume of sales...

 

Just tried to find the price on Heubergers site but couldn't find it. I asked on the "live chat" but that was not much help either. They wanted a phone they could call me...

 

Here fredbeans was much easier. $2262.70

 

http://weluvsubaruparts.com/

 

 

Just checked the production numbers for a 2.5i 5mt in white, 39 or 49 depending on limited or unlimited. Wonder what car she has ?

Plugged oil cooler caused a catastrophic bearing failure in mine back in Dec. Subaru of Annapolis (MD) quoted me $11k for OEM replacement including labor and all that.... Who puts $11k into a car that's only worth $7k?! Long story short, sourced a reman'd engine from Auto Zone and had it installed by a friend in SC for $6k. Good thing I got a warranty because 2 days after it was returned, I blew a hole in the block. So it's back in SC for the next 6-8 weeks. (You would not believe how hard these motors are to find!) My mech found that the original reman'd engine had a weld on the block (not visible from the outside) right where I blew a hole in it. I would suggest a rebuild. Reman'd engines are a crap shoot at best. Just my exp... Good luck!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I am going to have the car shipped up north to mid-atlantic area.

It is not a turbo motor but i love her just the same and would like to keep the vehicle as she has sentimental value.

Knowing that it is non-turbo, is $1800 still low ball?

Worse case scenario if i need to replace the short block and the head, wouldn't that be less expensive than getting a different vehicle AND better than risking a used engine?

If it is not less expensive is a used engine worth the risk and how do i find the best used engine?

Thanks for all the input as this is a huge decision/expense!

You really don't have a choice, here. Your most cost-effective route is going to be replacing the engine with a used one from a JY or wrecked Legacy.

 

There's not really a "worst case scenario" here -- You're already at "worst case"! You need to replace the SB and the head.

 

Start calling around to junkyards and see if they've got a similar year Legacy. Sedan, Wagon, doesn't matter. You need an 05-07 engine, and ask for a longblock.

 

Either way, I think you're in for about 3-4k when it's all said and done, just FYI.

Should be plenty of wrecked 2.5is to pick a motor from. Might look into lkq recyclers. Not sure if they are big on the east coast but put west they have a pretty extensive network of warehouses with used and reconditioned motors.

Take it to another shop first and have them give you a 2nd opinion. You may be able to just get a new block and have the heads re done. I doubt a 2.5 SOHC messed up the heads that bad.