Want to buy a 3.0 Liberty but afraid of a big end dying.

[Some Guy]

Hello everyone, I've been reading up on the 5EAT 3.0R B spec (Post facelift) and premium with the intention to buy one in the next few months. My intention was to preemptively change all the seals and head-gaskets as soon as I bought it for years of trouble free motoring. However, what would be the point if I would have to bin the engine and start from scratch due to the bottom end giving up the ghost. Just looking for some advice on the matter.

[BillyCorgi]

What would cause the bottom end to give up the ghost?
What reading has prompted a concern regarding big end failure in 3.0R engines?

[Some Guy]

Mostly from this forum, there was a member here that had 2 engines fail. I know that one of the signs is a ticking engine and an owner who doesn't thrash their car or top the oil every once in a while is a no no.

[BillyCorgi]

H6 3.0 - Lack of checking = Engine Carnage

Neither the H6 engine, Nor the 2.0T not 2.5T engines can be neglected.
The price of neglect is $$$$$$$

They are precision instruments. Treat them well and you will be rewarded. Neglect them at your peril.
Cheers!

[Some Guy]

From my 1st hand experience...

1. No rhyme or reason (Serviced with Subaru, oil always topped up between services, no hard driving while cold)
2. See 1.
3. 1st sign is knocking noise from engine. Once you hear this it's too late

Keep your car serviced (preferably by Subaru) at regular log book intervals - 6 months or 12500 k's, whichever comes 1st (I had a fight on my hands because I'd always servicd @ 12500k's & gone past 6 months a couple of times ). If you do have a failure you have a good chance of Subaru coming to the party even if you are out of warranty, as this is a known issue (even if they won't admit it).

PM me if you want any more info

I'm curious as to how somebody buying a used Liberty 3.0 would try to avoid one that will probably die in the future.

[BillyCorgi]

caveat emptor..

[KiDo_Tuning]

Mostly from this forum, there was a member here that had 2 engines fail. I know that one of the signs is a ticking engine and an owner who doesn't thrash their car or top the oil every once in a while is a no no.

That owner had an engine failure due to a incorrectly installed fuel pump, 2nd engine jumped a timing chain after owner performed engine swap at home.

[Kesh]

Well it all points to user error. Make sure you pay extra attention to a good service history and you're very well set in my opinion. There's always a risk when buying used cars but I don't think the 3.0 is more or less prone to major damage than any other mainstream engine!

[KiDo_Tuning]

Well it all points to user error. Make sure you pay extra attention to a good service history and you're very well set in my opinion. There's always a risk when buying used cars but I don't think the 3.0 is more or less prone to major damage than any other mainstream engine!

The SR20 comes to mind, big ends, rods spitting out the block and valvetrain failure. The EZ30 is definitely more reliable!

[BillyCorgi]

Following up on a Google search on the strings "3.0R+bearing+failure" and "EZ30+bearing+failure) there are various forum threads in 2011 regarding MY06 and MY07 H6 engines with failed big end bearings.
After 2011 the threads cease.

One is on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9GxJdmLqBM
One is on our Liberty.asn.au forum viewtopic.php?f=16&t=11218

However, after 2011 the posts regarding H6 big ends seem to go away.
Certainly, there are by far fewer posts regarding the H6 engine compared to the many numerous posts regarding big end bearing problems with an EJ20 & EJ25 Turbo engine.

So, look at the statistic?
There are posts regarding big end bearing issues with EZ30 engines from model years around MY06 and MY07, however these are few in number.
Since 2011 these reports seem to have dwindled off?

Hypothesis?, the infant mortality failures that were going to happen have already occurred.