Another newer WRX down...

So, my 2014 WRX threw a rod with only 14,250 miles on it. It's getting a whole new shortblock under warranty. Dealership said they aren't tearing down the old engine to find the cause since the whole thing is getting replaced. It's had synthetic oil changes every 5000-5500 miles (Subaru recommends 7500 miles). Mostly just driving to work and back (20 minutes each way), no sitting in traffic, no autocross, just one half-day track event around 2 years ago.

I know this means I'm starting over with a different, new engine but I can't shake that nagging feeling that it will be out of warranty by the time it happens again. Am I being overly concerned about this? Should I stop shopping for deals on Mustang GT's?

The 2017 Legacy they gave me as a loaner has some pretty neat options so that's a plus.

Shopping for deals on Mustang GTs is never a waste of time. If you find one send it my way.

with a new engine, doesn't the warranty clock reset on that part?

I'm starting to realize why Colin Mcrae just rolled them all the time.

They say subarus arent exceptional at any one thing. I guess that includes performance reliability...

This is frustrating, some have great experiences but many stock engines let go. My Forester XT blew up, no mods, at around 75k miles. Also EJ25 turbo. I wouldn't buy another and I'm waiting for a new motor in the STI for it be a potential option again.

Get the motor fixed and trade it in if I is going to worry you.

Im just going to leave this here...

mad_machine wrote: with a new engine, doesn't the warranty clock reset on that part?

No, unless the engine specifically comes with its own warranty. Warranty clocks never "reset" unless it is spelled out otherwise.

This is why it is a good idea to get warranty covered issues looked at ASAP instead of the week before the warranty expires. Doing it at the last minute might get you new parts later in the cars' life but if those parts are defective then you will be SOL warranty-wise. (It's a gamble that can pay off either way, I suppose)

After tearing down an Fx engine to get to the rod bearings, I can sympathize with not wanting to find out the cause, if Subaru is covering a new engine. It's not nearly as easy to zip apart/reassemble as an EJ engine. They made the heads much more complicated, and it is a largely gasketless engine, meaning lots of laborious sealants cleanup.

Andy Neuman wrote: Im just going to leave this here...

Wow...

Koons has some good pricing but look at all their fees. They add shipping on top of purchase price for one, something like $900.

Mine blew up at 70k after mobil1 every 3k.

Sadly why the sti's aren't on my list. Really dig them but...

I read this just as my automotive ADD was subsiding. In fact I was really just getting comfortable with the idea of buying a Forester XT.

Keep this in mind, I will.

I'm willing to wager that the oil pickup ran dry during that track day and started the whole mess.

In fact I would be leary about letting the dealer know it was on track. 944s had s similar problem. Sweeping left handers caused oil starvation and eventual motor failure. From the factory they were not track ready machines.

Are subi's the same?

There is a LOT of metal down in the FA oil pan to prevent sloshing and such, I'll give them that! And the pan itself is shaped a lot better than the EJ engines' pans. It still doesn't rule out potential oil starvation but I think it is probably unlikely given the number that are tracked without failures.

A few of you have brought up the FA in the thread, but this car doesn't have one. A 2014 WRX is still an EJ (with all of its associated issues). The FA didn't start in the WRX until 2015.

Oh and you have a car with a brand new motor so you should get a better trade in.

dculberson wrote: Shopping for deals on Mustang GTs is never a waste of time. If you find one send it my way.

One of the Ford dealers here in Portsmouth has 3 GT's with manuals... two are hard tops... sitting here with a little but of $ burning a hole in my pocket, let's just say the temptation has been hard to resist.

dean1484 wrote: In fact I would be leary about letting the dealer know it was on track. 944s had s similar problem. Sweeping left handers caused oil starvation and eventual motor failure. From the factory they were not track ready machines. Are subi's the same?

The dealer I bought it from is a big supporter of the local SCCA and puts on a half-day track event every year for people who bought a WRX or BRZ. They are pretty tolerant of bolt-on mods too. Mine was bone stock when it let go.

I consider myself to be a "Subaru guy" and I'm leery of pretty much anything that's not an EJ22, EG33, or EZ30.

When I mentioned possibly trading the WRX for something else, my wife was sort of partial to this car:

All black

paranoid_android74 wrote: I read this just as my automotive ADD was subsiding. In fact I was really just getting comfortable with the idea of buying a Forester XT. Keep this in mind, I will.

What you really want is a nice low mileage 2.5rs.

rslifkin wrote: A few of you have brought up the FA in the thread, but this car doesn't have one. A 2014 WRX is still an EJ (with all of its associated issues). The FA didn't start in the WRX until 2015.

D'oh! That would be me. I keep thinking that ALL EJ use was stopped after 2011 except for STIs.

Shame on me, because I remember now that I had been corrected on this before. Maybe this time it will take.