New Engine - Big end has gone

[Tallis]

I have just had the same thing happen recently
i went with an sti shortblock, cometic head gaskets, arp studs, killer b pickup, high flow 11mm oil pump
Got the heads fully reconditioned.. Also threw on vf52 and some other performance parts while it was all out
Hopefully you get it sorted soon I was without my car for 2 months

[cynner]

I have just had the same thing happen recently
i went with an sti shortblock, cometic head gaskets, arp studs, killer b pickup, high flow 11mm oil pump
Got the heads fully reconditioned.. Also threw on vf52 and some other performance parts while it was all out
Hopefully you get it sorted soon I was without my car for 2 months

Nice, how much all up?

[Tallis]

It was a bit over 14k in the end of it all mate
I put on mishimoto tmic , full 3 inch tbe, silicone inlet, BOV, Kobe UEL headers,
new timing belt and water pump also put in a heavy duty clutch
And a few other misc pieces for a new engine
Plus custom tune, they aren't cheap

[bigBADbenny]

OP: what's the exact symptoms? Do you have gold flakes in the oil? Any logs?

Still curious...

[bigBADbenny]

I'm having a chat with the OP via PM about his issue.
My feeling is he's simply experienced a CEL whilst boosting and the ECU is now in limp mode.

I've had this happen whilst logging a 3rd gear pull and the effect is quite violent, my first thought was "o noe, it's broken".
I just pulled over, read the code which was iirc cat inefficiency, and reset the ECU.

Awaiting more info.
Can anyone confirm other actual big end etc symptoms?
Eg: gold flakes in oil, clanking engine at certain rpm, rod through block... Etc?

[cynner]

Some videos of big end failures:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS37L1G8lnA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DqIjhQ8g8A

[bigBADbenny]

You can't really mistake it.
Op mentioned a bang and loss of power which is more like cel on boost condition.
I would hope to be on the right track for his sake :/

[ferret89]

You can't really mistake it.
Op mentioned a bang and loss of power which is more like cel on boost condition.
I would hope to be on the right track for his sake :/

I assumed that if someone is on here saying that their big end is gone and they need to a new engine at the cost of $6-8k they have confirmed it already...

I sure as hell wanted to be sure before I dropped that kind of cash, metal in the oil is a pretty solid indicator

[bigBADbenny]

My thoughts exactly.
It's not unknown for unscrupulous operators to talk up minor faults either.
Caveat emptor!

[bigBADbenny]

Oh well, OP reports it is a clanker and Ichiban is doing the forthcoming check/work so he's in good hands...

[jp928]

My car was in the 08 batch of suss motors. Was called in for an early first service for a check, delared OK.
Put it into an independent service place at 120k, big end diagnosed - symptom was a rattle on the overrun. A mate in the trade also confirmed quickly with a stethoscope.Took it to dealer, who verified big end issue. Asked them to consider helping out with the fix - they checked that the ECU hadnt been tampered with, and the services were all done (even if not with them), and in the end offered a new short block and gasket set, oil etc if I paid for the labour, estimated at 2k - DEAL says I. I added a clutch and an oil cooler at my expense. At the time the car was 6.5 years old, on a 5 year warranty.
Trying Subaru is well worth it, unless its been modified, or not serviced regularly.
jp 08 gtb 6mt wagon.

[THE SpecB]

My car was in the 08 batch of suss motors. Was called in for an early first service for a check, delared OK.
Put it into an independent service place at 120k, big end diagnosed - symptom was a rattle on the overrun. A mate in the trade also confirmed quickly with a stethoscope.Took it to dealer, who verified big end issue. Asked them to consider helping out with the fix - they checked that the ECU hadnt been tampered with, and the services were all done (even if not with them), and in the end offered a new short block and gasket set, oil etc if I paid for the labour, estimated at 2k - DEAL says I. I added a clutch and an oil cooler at my expense. At the time the car was 6.5 years old, on a 5 year warranty.
Trying Subaru is well worth it, unless its been modified, or not serviced regularly.
jp 08 gtb 6mt wagon.

Is it the 08 year or the MY08 models that had issues

[cynner]

If it was built prior to 2008 then it's ok... (so if you have a 2007 MY08 like me, should be fine). According to Subaru it's cars with a chassis number higher than 068148 (wagon) or 038385 (sedan). I think these are the last 6 digits of the VIN.

[THE SpecB]

If it was built prior to 2008 then it's ok... (so if you have a 2007 MY08 like me, should be fine). According to Subaru it's cars with a chassis number higher than 068148 (wagon) or 038385 (sedan). I think these are the last 6 digits of the VIN.

Cheers Kim. 2008 MY09 are excluded from this problem ?

[ferret89]

If it was built prior to 2008 then it's ok... (so if you have a 2007 MY08 like me, should be fine). According to Subaru it's cars with a chassis number higher than 068148 (wagon) or 038385 (sedan). I think these are the last 6 digits of the VIN.

Cheers Kim. 2008 MY09 are excluded from this problem ?

I posted the period that may have had the issue, it was from Jan 08 to Apr 08 I think. If your car was built sometime in that period it might suffer premature big end bearing wear.

In hindsight maybe I should have taken it to Subaru and demanded that they put a new block in if I pay for labour etc. Car was stock and all services were done by a Subaru dealer...