My engine is a smoke machine - EJ20 Compatibility

Dedman

Dedman

Forum Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2012
Messages
766
Location
Perth Western Australia
Car Year
1999
Car Model
Forester
Transmission
5MT
So my trusty old EJ20 in the forester has finally decided to give up on life (sort of). It has always burnt a little bit of oil (maybe a litre in between changes) but suddenly it has had some kind of catastrophic failure causing it to burn more than a litre of oil per tank. Apart from smoking like a steam train it runs fine except for a rumble for a second or so on start up and maybe a slight loss of power. No water loss. It smokes somewhat whenever under load, enough to just see in the rear view mirror but only on occasions. However if I decelerate at over 2.5k rpm for any period of time when I next accelerate somewhat it essentially creates an impenetrable smoke screen behind me. This only happens to this extreme level when decelerating down a hill. Reducing speed on the flat by deceleration creates similar effects but not to the same level.
My guess is that the rings on one of the front two (or all) cylinders have failed however I am open to other suggestions.

At some point in time I was thinking of upgrading to an EJ22 or EJ25 however my number one priority at the minute is to fix the problem asap as being my daily drive it will not be two long before I get noticed by our friends in blue. I think the easiest/cheapest way to do this will be to put a second hand EJ20 in for the time being.

My question is, what motors are compatible for my car (1999 Australian Forester)? I know that there was a slight change in the forester EJ20 between 97 and 99 but not sure if I can put a 97 motor in without issues? Are the EJ20 motors in Impreza and Liberty etc compatible for all years?

I currently have an option to buy from a mate a working motor from a 2001 auto Impreza which I think should work in the forester but would be very grateful if anyone can confirm this before I commit.
I am willing to swap the intake over between my old motor and the new one if that overcomes any incompatibility issues.

Cheers
 
If yours is an ej202, any ej202 should work. An ej251 is a straight swap also. I have no experience with swapping in a ej22.

In my forester I put in an ej251 from a liberty. Used the Ej20 manifold with the ej25 injectors. Behaves a lot like a slightly more torquey EJ20 I think due to the manifold. Quite slow for an ej25, but much more torque than an EJ20 without any pinging issues, and I get 9.5L/100 around town.
 
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Go an ej22 or 25.. I might be able to get you a good one and send it over for a deal?? I.e; You build my offroad gearbox and I freight you a good motor ;)

ive been down this exact road with 2 ej20 motors. Too gutless for highway driving or offroading. **** unless stock with standard size tyres. Tou have to rev the guts out of them to get them to go anywhere.. 6 months later the oil rings have gone and you have smoke billowing out the exhaust all the time... 3 months later you have to put 2l of oil in every 400km. 3 months later timing belt snaps destroying the POS motor. You'll be glad when that happens.
drop an ej22 or 25 block in. Get the heads cleaned up, throw some new gaskets in. Some seals, a timing belt and w/p kit amd yur set.
you wont know how you lived with the 2.0l after that.

Yes the impreza motor will work but I wouldn't recommend it! Feel free to ask me any questions.. if you want to call and discuss feel free. Just message me ;)
 
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Bugger, DM.

Sorry to hear that. All the best with the conversion/replacement, mate.
 
Davidov said:
In my forester I put in an ej251 from a liberty. Used the Ej20 manifold with the ej25 injectors. Behaves a lot like a slightly more torquey EJ20 I think due to the manifold. Quite slow for an ej25, but much more torque than an EJ20 without any pinging issues, and I get 9.5L/100 around town.
Click to expand...

Very interesting something I might consider... How long have you been running this setup? I would be slightly concerned that the ej20 ecu might make it run a tad lean but good to know it works.

taza said:
Go an ej22 or 25.. I might be able to get you a good one and send it over for a deal?? I.e; You build my offroad gearbox and I freight you a good motor ;)
Click to expand...
Haha, I dont think that would be economical after shipping a motor and gearbox and assorted parts across the country... Plus I think I have had enough of gearboxes for a life time.

taza said:
drop an ej22 or 25 block in. Get the heads cleaned up, throw some new gaskets in. Some seals, a timing belt and w/p kit amd yur set.
you wont know how you lived with the 2.0l after that.
Click to expand...

I hear what you are saying taza but I really need to get this sorted asap before the car gets taken off the road and I think an interim replacement ej20 will be a better option than a rushed ej25 mod and for a few hundred for the ej20 it is not going to break the bank for some peace of mind.

To get the ej25 to run well though and get the real performance from the engine you really need to do some ECU work as well as what you mentioned? I am definitely considering this for the future but want to take my time on it and get it how I want it.
 
Yes thats true. Ive ran my EJ25 on the ej20 computer for almost 2 years. However I have to run it on premium fuel or it will ping. Performance wise its one of the best 2.5l ej power subarus I've driven.. maybe the full rebuild is part of that verse a tied used engine. Although I have myaelf a wrecled MY05 SG Forester thats manual for my repkacement gearbox, ECU and wiring.

I guess for a few hundred $$ the ej20 will keep you going until you move onto something else.


you'd be surprised how cheap shipping across the country is!
 
EJ20J ('97-'98) go EJ22

EJ202 ('99-) go EJ25
 
Maybe pm hydrowill about his h6 motor?
 
idw said:
Maybe pm hydrowill about his h6 motor?
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Thought about it. Unfortunately the gearing in my gearbox really would not be suited to the H6 with 3k+ revs on the freeway. As awesome as it would be the conversion is also a lot more work, more than just a weekend job thats for sure.
 
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Try and get a manual one if you want to use the ECU and the works. Try to get one qith lowish km. Its common for high km ones to blow a little smoke when cold.
 
Yeah that is my plan for some time in the future. Ill see how I go with a working ej20 first though as my current gearing is really suited to an ej20.
 
What other gear ratio besides 5th gear that your running is different from the standard 5mt box
 
What other gear ratio besides 5th gear that your running is different from the standard 5mt box
 
catchya said:
What other gear ratio besides 5th gear that your running is different from the standard 5mt box
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Im running an SF box with a 0.825 5th but im running 4.44 diffs. This make everything shorter

Ratios are
3.545
2.111
1.448
1.088
0.825

this is equivalent to the following ratios on 4.11 diffs
3.832
2.282
1.565
1.176
0.892

Compared with the Standard SG ratios
3.454
2.062 - RB (Cant remember 2nd)
1.448
1.088
0.78

In short my ratios are not suited to the more powerful engine and fuel consumption may suffer. When/if I swap to the 2.5 I would probably have to put a 0.738 5th gear in (or was it 0.721 cant remember) for highway cruising although the 4th -5th gap will be getting very large.
 
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3k rpm isn't too bad on the highway. It certainly gives you heaps of overtaking power in 5th and can comfortably cruise in 5th up hills at 60kmhr, etc...

To be honest I am/are considering 4.44 for the short 1-4 gear ratio around town. I want a litrle more get up and go when im running the larger tyrea. The 4.44 would do this for me.
5th gear is your overdrive, aslong as you can maintain 100kmhr+ up moat hills with a medium load then thats adequate. For me I reckon the stock SG 5th with 4.11 is spot on. 2600rpm at 110kmhr is perfect!
4th still revs out to 140 or so, if you really need to overtake you have that option.
 
Yeah I now understand what you're saying dedman looking at those ratios.
 
Replacement engine is in

I put my replacement engine in today and happy to report that it is working well. Ended up getting an ej20 from a 99 auto forester with 167000kms on the clock. Cost me $200 and spent another $100 on new seals and oil.
Did the valve clearances and made a custom labyrinth style seal on the crankshaft pulley to try keep water out of the timing cover as all the timing bearings on my old motor were showing signs of deterioration despite only being 15000kms old. Hopefully this new seal will make it much harder for water to get in.

The replacement engine does not seem to smoke and has significantly more low rpm torque than the old one which is great. Max power output does not seem to have increased noticeably but the low rpm torque increase makes it much more pleasant to drive. Overall very happy:raz: as long as it lasts that is....
 
A healthy ej 20 is a pretty good engine. Not a bucket of power but pretty good if your not towing or anything
 
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