Hello fellow Subaru Enthusiasts

I have a Impreza 2.5 WRX 2006 model which I need help / advice with. I’m afraid this might be a long post but wanted to provide ALL details. The car was driving absolutely fine but a “whistle” had started from the turbo when the car was cold. It sounded a little bit like a siren (not mega loud though) but it would stop when the car was warm. I took the car to the garage for the turbo to be checked & this is where it all goes horribly wrong!!The turbo was sent off to a specialist to be refurbished but when they investigated why it had failed, they diagnosed oil starvation. This led to my mechanic having a second look & he confirmed there was a blockage “somewhere” so the oil wasn’t getting to the turbo but it was also low in oil so suggested that it could have been burning oil. The oil was drained & evidence of copper filings were found.

My mechanic (who has rebuilt Subaru engines multiple times) has said that he thinks the ringlands are failing therefore it needs a full engine rebuild. This may include boring of the head & having bigger pistons fitted depending on what damage is found. The price quoted is unfortunately pretty high & not sure if it’s worth completing on an 18-year-old car!

Now I don’t claim to be a mechanic or particularly knowledgeable about the inside of engines but I’m finding it hard to comprehend that the car drove absolutely fine but within a few days it seems all is lost! The car is a dream for me & I’m loathed to sell but also struggling to justify the bill quoted.

I wanted advice on what you guys think.

-Do you think it’s reasonable to say that it needs a full rebuild with evidence of copper filings in the oil? The blockage has not yet been found.

-How much would you expect a full rebuild to cost if it is required?

-The bodywork on the car is in good condition so I’m loathed to just “scrap” it so wondering what it would be worth to an enthusiast who would want to rebuild the engine themselves?

-The car has the Subaru graphics on which makes it look more desirable (to some but not others).

-Wheels are in great condition with NO curb marks at all!

-MOT expired this month but previously had no advisories.

-Mileage currently at 76,000.

CAR SPEC – please read to the bottom as gone from date order with most recent work completed first but the car was stage 1 tuned when bought so will be listed later.

-Full 4-wheel tracking completed Aug 2023

-Replace both front shock absorbers Aug 2023

-New front drive shafts Jan 2023

-New fuel pump fitted Sept 2021

-New radiator & hoses July 2018

-Service including spark plugs Oct 2015 & then been serviced in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021 & 2022 – have some receipts from previous owner.

-Bought the car in Sept 2015 & it was HPI checked & clear so no problems there.

-New clutch fitted Feb 2013

-2010 had “Stage 1” conversion & ECUTEK remap, 50K cambelt change, full de-cat stainless exhaust fitted.

Would appreciate any thoughts / advice on next steps to take.

Thank you for reading!

 

Did your "trusted" mechanic tell you the filings were copper? Did you ask him where the copper can come from?
Your service dates aren't really relevant unless you state the mileage at each date, but appear patchy at best; oil changes should be every 5k, but you can perhaps get away with larger intervals on a wrx.
It seems suspicious that someone has linked turbo failure with ringland issues, which are rarer in wrxs.
Which Subaru specialist is your mechanic, as this sounds fishy, although probably caused by lack of regular servicing. 14 year cambelt interval proves this.

 

I'd go find a second opinion as it sounds questionable.

whistle when cold but not warm would imply more an air leak

Copper in oils would suggest bearing wear not ringlands

what oil/grade are you using in it?

2.5wrx don't give ringland issues like the sti

 

Copper filings will be bearing material, this in itself is not a good sign at all and it would be wise to have the block pulled apart to investigate further. During which time it would become obvious if a ringland has failed. Either way, it sounds like the block needs to come apart.

 

Hi & thanks for your replies!

Sorry I wasn't clear with the mileage at servicing times but they are as follows:
2015 First service in my ownership - 61K miles
2016 Service 65K miles
2017 Service 68K miles
2018 Service 71K miles
2021 Service 73K miles (hardly used during covid)
2022 Service 74K miles

You can see that I haven't added loads of miles (13K) for the 8 years of ownership & feel I serviced regularly enough for this amount of mileage.
The cambelt was changed at 50K (before my ownership) as per the manufacturers servicing schedule.
The mechanic showed me the copper in the oil & explained that they could have been from the bearings in the piston.

 

Sorry, sounds well oil serviced with that info. Apologies.

 

The copper won’t be from the pistons, it’s from the rod or crank bearings. Either way, it’s not a good sign at all.

 

Get a second hand long block and sell or get a new short block and keep it.
Ill let the people suggest which and who to buy from I always get that part wrong 🤣

 

Thanks all for the input.

Has anyone got any suggestions on where to buy from & fitting which won't cost the earth?

I'm still trying to decide if I'm willing to spend how much is required or cut my loses but I'm gutted to do so as all other aspects are in good condition!

 

send it to asperformance ,it will cost around 4.5k plus anyway

 

If your hearts not in it probably best to get rid IMO.....
Might have to spend 5k plus and even if it goes well and if you want to sell it poss worth only £8k after rebuild
Unless you want to keep it for years you may get £2k as it is ???

 

Unfortunately this is 200 miles away for me :-(

 

That's the problem. I LOVE the car & gutted that I'm in this situation but worried that it's a lot of money for a car that's only worth £8k.

Any suggestions on where I would be able to get £2k for it in the current state? Trying to think of all possibilities as still not made up my mind :-(

 

engine on a pallet
Yes better to sell as is and buy already freshly forged sti

 

https://www.polepositionuk.co.uk/ are just up the road from you (assuming your Telford location is correct!)

get a 2nd opinion first of all then make decisions.....id ignore any worst case scenario type advice until then

 

If you love it and cant see you selling it etc keep it then.... does it matter how much it will be worth?

If you repair it probably go up in price over time as getting more rare etc

the 2k figuire was ballpark maybe ebay or parts etc