There are so much more on the North American websites regarding some Subaru issues so Googling subjects and looking for US based forums is a wise idea.
Try this thread.
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthr ... ?t=2401576It appears that the rod bearings on a Subaru EJ engine need to be cared for. They are a potential point of weakness.
I have read threads in US forums saying that Mobil1 was more prone to rod bearing failures than other oils.
I have read threads that recommend to use Shell Rotella T6 synthetic Diesel Engine Oil in the turbo Subaru engines.
You could Google "Bob Is The Oil Guy" for more input.
I do not subscribe to the Mobil1 theory, it may have just been the most commonly used synthetic at the time the failures commenced in the US.
Everyone eats food and statistically everyone who eats food eventually dies, so is eating food a causal link to death? LOL.
Poor oiling, poor maintenance and engine knock will aggravate the weaker nature of the EJ rod bearings and bring on early rod failure.
If the oil film breaks down and becomes too thin, the extra forces created by engine knock can cause the rod bearing to weld to the crankpin and spin the bearing.
Some people advocate "pinning" the bearing into the rod as a countermeasure to spinning a rod bearing, however I have read posts where even engines with pinned bearings have spun bearings in extreme HP applications.
Pinned bearings should not be necessary in a road car.
Another stated weakness is the physical size of the standard oil filter.
Turbo cars create more particulates than a NA engine, which loads up the oil filter quicker. A clogged oil filter will go into bypass circulating unfiltered oil (and at a lower pressure).
I have seen service bulletin notes on the net from Subaru North America stating that the turbo engine oil and filter service interval is effectively half that of a NA engine and turbo lubrication and engine lubrication failures may occur if the shorter service intervals are not followed.
There are also larger capacity oil pumps on the higher output turbo engines.
So, follow Ben's advice....
(1) Use a high quality synthetic engine oil
(2) Change the oil and filter often
also
(3) Install a high capacity oil pump to get the oil where it needs to go (even under loaded filter conditions).
(4) Ensure that the engine tune does not aggravate knock (consider E85 - cheap horse power and knock resistant)
I would possibly add a (5)
(5) Change your oil filter before a track day.