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Second opinion of shops advice, dead engine?
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nellson
New User
Oct 12, 2008, 6:29 PM
Post #1 of 2
(1167 views)
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Second opinion of shops advice, dead engine?
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My 1999 Subaru Forrester 4 Cylinder Manual with 97,000 miles on it had been eating oil for about a year or so. Just recently the check engine light started blinking while I was on the freeway, and I started to loose power. Bringing into a shop on my way home they diagnosed that my #4 cylinder had only 115-120 compression and the other 3 had 175 (psi?). I was putting oil in my combustion chamber and fouling the plug. They said this was my seals around the piston, and why I was burning oil. The only repair option I was given was to get another engine.
Up top this point I always had full synthetic oil in my car from Oil Can Henry's, or the like. My Dad was a fan of the stuff, and on a number of 3 month oil changes I would be off the stick. But I have never run it hot. I was told by the shop (a west coast chain) that they would put in the engine for $1,300 labor but I would need to buy the engine myself as they do not sell used parts directly to customers. They estimated a total of $2,800.
Does that sound like something that would need to be done or should I have this checked out? (and if it does sound right, what gotcha's should i watch for in obtaining a used motor?)
Nick
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 12, 2008, 8:39 PM
Post #2 of 2
(1162 views)
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Re: Second opinion of shops advice, dead engine?
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Was that "check engine" a red oil warning light or CEL for misfiring/computer code stored?
Hey - letting this go off the stick for any problem is a no no big time and you know that! There could be more wrong than just wear in one cylinder.
Have you considered changing the type and viscosity (bit higher/heavier) of the oil, perhaps using an oil fouler for that plug and just keep on with this motor if it runs ok with a good plug?
If you really want to bail out on this engine I'd check locally for sources a well checked out used, perfect matching engines with warr from salvage yards and the like. Local salvage should be able to direct you to installers of their engines,
T
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