Playing with Subaru Engines

Post date: Dec 20, 2015 3:16:35 PM

I played with a 2.5 ej235 Subaru engine yesterday. Wasted a lot of time but learned some things.

1. It may be impossible to remove the SOHC camshaft drive wheel bolt once the head is off, or even before!

2. Using a large deep well socket to push valves in to remove keepers (with a magnetic probe stuck in the middle of the socket works but be careful not to crack the valve stem guide. Can't imagine putting them back together this way.

3. If you're doing a cheapo valve job, the thick glass over wood with sandpaper glued on as a machining tactic seems to work very well. The head I was playing with was from .002 to .003 off and after about 100 strokes on 220 grit sandpaper, its was less than .002.

4. I'm going to try this technique for grinding valves. The leakdown test I did on the engine before taking the head off showed that the exhaust valves were leaking pretty badly.

6. The cheap Harbor Freight leakdown tester works ok but the secondary gauge only goes to about 20lb and I read that leak down tests should be run much higher. The original gauge...

I found a 100psi gauge in the spares box and swapped it. Switched over to the 100psi...

Was able to test at 60psi, although at that pressure, it really wanted to turn the engine! Also at that pressure, it was really apparent that the leaking was largely from valves.. mostly exhaust but at least one cylinder was primarily leaking from the intake valves.

Had to modify the HF storage box that came with the tester.. very easy with a utility knife...