My car sounds like a diesel

[LegacyRob]

I had the left bank of the motor rebuilt under warranty around 98000km because I took it in complaining that is sounded like a desiel. I now have 108000km and it starting to sound like that again but warranty is over. Anyone have had or have this problem and does Subaru extend their warranty for something that they fixed, it's only been 8 months or so.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Dude, it's probably just valve clatter or piston slap, completely normal, and not really harmful. We get people here all the time asking if that's bad or not - it's normally not.

[backpack09]

It is not bad, if it is very annoying you can bring it in to a shop and have them re-shim the lifters.

While loose lifters (too short of a shim) make a lot of noise. They are infact healthier for the engine.

Tight lifters can cause increased wear on the cams, valves and spring seats.

[LegacyRob]

But if it's piston slap will that not wear the cylinder walls and then cause blow by? Or burning oil?

[sheepdog]

You might want to take it back to where you had the repairs done and see if they'll fix it for you, if not, I wouldn't worry about it.

[shazapple]

Have you changed the oil in those 8 months? I find when my oil gets old the engine starts to sound like the wheel of fortune

[Huffer]

But if it's piston slap will that not wear the cylinder walls and then cause blow by? Or burning oil?

I've had piston slap since 160,000miles.
No loss of oil or blow by.

The issue with piston slap is that the pistons don't expand enough to fill the cylinder once at operating temp.

TWE do make a cylinder sleeve and oversized pistons to cure the issue.

Also, (and this may put me in the loonybin) but Mobil do make a diesel oil that is actually specc'd for gasoline engines too, and that quells piston slap.
I have a friend in Europe who was game enough to try it in his 98 Impreza. He's been running it now for about 12,000 miles with no problems. He's a bit of a mountain rider too, so you know the car gets a workout.
The oil is called Mobil Delvac.

[LegacyRob]

Have you changed the oil in those 8 months? I find when my oil gets old the engine starts to sound like the wheel of fortune
Less than a 1000km ago, First of Feb i think it was. Fox Subaru did the repairs cuz it was a warranty thing, might have to call to see what they say, maybe it's the other side this time :smile:

[shazapple]

I don't think Id ever take my car to Fox (mostly cause I do my own work, and I'm assuming their pretty damn expensive) I'd check in with York auto. They're definitely big on Subarus here in Fredericton

[LegacyRob]

I only took it to Fox cuz of the warranty work. I take my car to Firestone, one of the guys there apprenticed at a Subaru dealer and another guy there has a BH and I know the guy that owns the place, so I feel pretty comfortable taking it there.

[LegacyRob]

Well i finally took my car back to Subaru. It wasn't all in my head, they said it is excessive knocking. They want to replace the block under warranty since they already replaced the pistons and it's didn't fix the issue. So to you that said it was normal, your wrong.

[Huffer]

WTH - did you post a video or audio clip of the noise?

Without seeing the car, you wanted us to diagnose your problem based on your descriptions?

[LegacyRob]

Without seeing the car, you wanted us to diagnose your problem based on your descriptions?

I wasn't asking for a diagnosis, I know what the problem is, I was wondering if anyone had the same problem? It was a service bulletin about the knocking is why i took it in the first time. I was asking if anyone had done the service and the problem comeback.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Excessive knocking would make a pinging noise, engine knock is something completely different from what you described. I wouldn't be so quick to call us "wrong" for describing a known "problem" on boxer engines normal.

[Chicago96GT]

Yeah everyone here has given me good help, and i dont think u knew what the problem was because u wouldnt have been here. When my friend got his engine knock it didnt sound anything like a diesel and he deffinetly wouldnt have drove his car around after. If ur car sounded like it had a knock and u knew it i think you would have brought it to the shop, witch is why i dont understand why ur here asking the question when no one here works at fox(i dont think) and could tell you if they would fix it under warrenty...Go back to where u got it fixed first.

[LegacyRob]

Did anyone actually read the first post, i didn't ask what the problem was, I already know what it is. Obviously nobody has been bothered enough by the knocking noise to take their car into a dealer except me. Nobody else with a BE or BH have had these issues before? My friend has an 02 BH and he's had the same problem, they've replaced his pistons already as well. My point was that it's not normal, they've already replaced my pistons and now they are going to replace the block because it's still knocking. So if any of you have a BE or BH thats got an excessive knocking noise, you might want the dealer to check it out cuz they may fix it for free. I apologize if my first post was misleading.

[tekkitan]

Did anyone actually read the first post, i didn't ask what the problem was, I already know what it is. Obviously nobody has been bothered enough by the knocking noise to take their car into a dealer except me. Nobody else with a BE or BH have had these issues before? My friend has an 02 BH and he's had the same problem, they've replaced his pistons already as well. My point was that it's not normal, they've already replaced my pistons and now they are going to replace the block because it's still knocking. So if any of you have a BE or BH thats got an excessive knocking noise, you might want the dealer to check it out cuz they may fix it for free. I apologize if my first post was misleading.

Hey man, you didn't even mention knocking in the first post. Quit being a jerk to everyone that is just trying to help you.