Tell me about Subaru diesels ...

[grump]

I'm looking to change over my aging Outback, and am considering another manual. But most of the manual OBs are diesel, and the interwebs are full of tales of woe - mainly about clogged particulate filters (whatever they are). My use would be 90% short city driving.

What I'd really like is a 3.6, and I'll look at those too, even though they are auto - and the ones in my price range are old, too.

So, what can you tell me about Subaru diesels?

 

[Kevin]

My use would be 90% short city driving

The Subaru Diesel is no good for this; even Subaru recommended against it for diesels. Subaru dropped the diesel for good reasons
With sportshift you can drive like a manual if you want.

 

[Ratbag]

Don't. Just don't.

Inchcape told me exactly what Kevin said. Clogged up the DPF in their office demo one in around 500 kms of city driving.

 

[PauSum]

Surely no no if 90% city driving as I'm driving a diesel CVT outback unless you don't mind replacing the DPF regularly.

 

[grump]

Diesels are removed from my search list. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Ben Up North]

Go the 3.6!

 

[ateday]

Tribeca perhaps.......That`s 3.6 isn`t it?

 

[El_Freddo]

Further to the DPF issues, a member on another forum who owns and runs a Subaru specialist workshop reckons one of the main issues with the Subaru diesel is the engine main bearing mounts would fatigue and crack from the huge pressures exerted on them from the diesel combustion.

He too highly recommends avoiding these engines due to their longevity issues.

I’ve seen that a “slightly” modified 3.6 goes well with “some” boost... heard of Super Gramps??

Cheers

Bennie

 

[El_Freddo]

Here’s a bit of info he shared (from a discussion about bottom end reliability)

As the main line clearances open up, they drop oil pressure and volume to the rods eventually leading to rod bearing failure.

Subaru is well aware of this effect - take a look at the failed Subaru diesel engine - they knew the aluminium block main journals would never hold the cylinder pressures of a diesel, so they cut out the mains and made the journals from cast iron inserts that are bolted into the aluminium block. Alas they crack and this was the end of the diesel Subaru experiment. They were junk.

Cheers

Bennie

 

[Kevin]

Tribeca perhaps.......That`s 3.6 isn`t it?

I heard it's a slug even with the 3.6

 

[El_Freddo]

I heard it's a slug even with the 3.6

Yep. Too heavy and combined with a slush box = high fuel consumption and not enough get up and go (from what I keep hearing).

If you go a tribeca, the series two has the best styling IMO.

Cheers

Bennie

 

[ateday]

It has been written, somewhere in some motoring magazine I read long ago:
"Subaru have made some good cars, the Tribeca is not one of them"