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I have, as mentioned in the subject line, 2006 Subaru Outback Wagon 2.5l SOHC non turbo bought in US. About six months ago I got into my car and turned the key to start, it started very slowly, by that I mean I would turn key and the car would take up to 10 seconds to turn over (and still does most of the time). When it finally started it would be very weak start (like almost barely starting) and smell of gas. Took car to local mechanic and they ran a scan, mis-fires 4, 3, 2. We discovered that some rats or mice had taken up temporary residence on my engine, eaten a bird and chewed on some of my wires. So, I replaced all the spark plug wires that they chewed on, did not help. Changed spark plugs, did not help. Re-scanned engine, mis-fire cylinder #2. Did a compression check…#1 195, #2 160, #3 210, #4 210. I have yet to do a leak down test, but I might have to…never done one before. Couple different mechanics told me that often engine temperature sensor causes this starting problem, changed that…still no improvement. Took to Subaru service department, mechanic said “yep, mis-fire #2 and low compression.” What do we do, I asked, “buy a new engine.” he told me. Another mechanic, at an independent subaru shop told me that they replace the block and reuse the heads all the time, and that would run $5,700.00…roughly. I am looking to see if that is really the only option or is that the best option because of labor cost to just tear down and fix the problem, then re-assemble costs more. Is it possible that the rats could have chewed on something else that would/could cause this problem? maybe something that would send a false message to computer? If the rats and my engine troubles were just coincidence that would be fairly bad luck on my part. Anyway, I really don’t want to spend $5,700.00 dollars for new engine, so looking for any suggestions on what I can do, like buy a new block for the engine myself? I am not that mechanically experienced but am definatley getting an education through this process.
One other thing…a month ago my wife went to start car and…BOOM! she thought the engine had blown up. I looked around the engine and notice that the air intake box had the back of it blown out. Following the air tube up to the air filter box, I noticed that a piece of the plastic there had blown off as well. Opened the air filter box, removed filter and noticed that the back of the filter was melted from the fire ball. Wow.
Oh yea, had the head gaskets done last year, and heads sent off for repair as well. Maybe poor head gasket job is the problem?
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Don’t give yourself time to dwell on that price tag. Get the leak down test done and get a more solid answer as to what’s actually wrong with it. Then find out what your actual price tag will be. If you can retest compression yourself for now, shoot a little oil into the cylinder with the low compression and look for an improvement in the compression number. That can tell you if you’ve got a problem with the rings in that cylinder.
The compression numbers are very good except for the cylinder with 160. The 160 might be tolerable normally but not when it varies so much from the others.
I think that it’s not ethical to tell you that you need a new engine because of one low cylinder and a reason they haven’t even provided yet.It could be nothing more than the valve lash needs to be readjusted due to a valve tightening up. That could be determined with a wet compression test; meaning a squirt of oil into the cylinder and a retest. If the 160 does not go up much then it’s a valve problem which is not the end of the world.
Checking valve lash is a normal maintenance procedure and should have been done when the head gaskets were changed; assuming that it was not done at that time.As to the airbox explosion there’s no telling on that. Maybe a fuel injector or fuel pressure regulator leaking off. Leaking fuel can create hydrolock situations that can resemble a weak battery, bad starter motor, balky cranking, etc.
I wouldn’t condemn the engine as needing replacement yet. You’re a long way from that point.
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