Hi!
I have a friend who drives a 2013 subaru forester, abt 98k miles
They said their car soulds "like a tracktor" during a road trip and drove abt 3.5 hrs back home.
Just minutes before arriving, the oil light came on flashing. It DIDN't light when the noice occurs.
They also said the the oil warning light only come on while ideling and goes away when they press the gas.
There was barely any oil on the dip stick, only the tip can touch.
I send them youtube videos about rod knock and they said the noise sounded alike.
But they also personally think the noise gets dimmer when they press the gas, but this could be the engine revs covering the noise.
But not seing the car myself I can not tell.
So do people think the rod bearings are done? Or just topping up the oil / do a oil change will fix it?
Do this engine also burns oil as a common probem?
Also are the rod bearing accessible through the oil pan on this particular engine?
Thanks! I'll pay this friend a visit in a few days so I'm here looking for information.
soulds "like a tracktor" during a road trip and drove abt 3.5 hrs back home ... There was barely any oil on the dip stick
Sounds like "your friend" destroyed the engine.
When the engine makes tractor sounds it means it's chewing itself up.
It DIDN't light when the noice occurs.
Subaru engines do not tolerate low oil levels, The oil light on these means "your engine is totaled"
Same with overheating.
According to the internet "Even with a slight drop in the oil level, it may begin to make noise and knock"
They also said the the oil warning light only come on while ideling and goes away when they press the gas.
The only appropriate response to an oil pressure warning is to stop and shut down the car immediately.
Accelerating when you're having oil pressure issues is one sure way to blow up an engine.
Do this engine also burns oil as a common probem?
Yes - It's common to see a Subaru run out of oil when it's being driven harshly.
The 2.5L has much less oil consumption issues than the 2.0, but it's still not uncommon at all.
So do people think the rod bearings are done? Or just topping up the oil / do a oil change will fix it?
The engine is damaged, change the oil before doing anything else. do not drive without oil.
I'd get a sample of the oil left there and send it a place like Blackstone labs to see how bad things are.
Also I'd open the filter (might be quite difficult) to see just how much metal has gotten in there.
If you refill the oil and the noise goes away, maybe it'll be good for a bit. it's rarely only spun rod bearings.
Also are the rod bearing accessible through the oil pan on this particular engine?
After being driven for 3.5 hours without oil, you'll need an engine swap.
It's not just rod bearings, usually it's everything.
If the engine was run with little or no oil it's done. (In 2013 Subaru was having oil burning problems due to defective piston rings.) Much more than the rod bearings will have been damaged. The engine needs to be replaced.
Question is: is it wise to do a engine swap which will cost abt 2 to 3k or just sell it for scraps?
Depends on the condition of the rest of the vehicle. If your buddy wasn't even checking the oil I suspect that a lot of other maintenance has been skipped.
RIP
That's basically what I've thought. Thanks.
and yea, this is a friend lol.
Question is: is it wise to do a engine swap which will cost abt 2 to 3k or just sell it for scraps?
Well it depends on:
- How much would it cost you to buy a good replacement vehicle? Is that something you can easily afford in today’s market?
- Does the replacement engine come with a good warranty?
- How good of a condition is your car in? If your car’s paint is peeling and wasn’t serviced well it’s one thing, if the car is flawless and you kept up with maintenance (especially transmission fluid, even if it’s an AT) it’s a different story.
As a note: I don’t advise selling for scrap in general - a lot of the time people are willing to pay more then that for a car without an engine and do the work themselves (especially when it’s bellow 100k)
You are very correct about replacement cars, they are so expensive now.
So if we are to do a engine replacement, what are some advices before we go?
Also where should we go for such a job?
Personally I think junkyards that warranty their work (for at least 3 months) are your best bet (usually it’s also the cheapest)
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But I’d recommend just shopping around and asking multiple local mechanics if they know a good place.
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But first, just replace the oil (drain and fill) maybe the noises will go away - buying you time to wait until replacement cars will be cheaper.
Thank you! I'll update on my discoveries so people can see how it goes.
My friend is having a mental breakdown rn because of their car lol