Subaru EJ201 engine
Content
Among the many powertrains, the Subaru EJ201 stands out not only for its layout, which is not very popular in the modern auto industry. This motor is quite reliable and powerful, which determined its value for motorists. But, it also has features that need to be taken into account.
Engine description
This power plant was produced at the facilities of the Subaru concern. At the same time, many engines were produced by contract partners. Technically, they do not differ, the only difference is in the markings on the motor, a specific manufacturer is indicated there. Moreover, contract engines were produced longer than the originals.
This engine was produced from 1996 to 2005. During this time, it was regularly installed on several car models. Due to technical features, it did not look good in every version.
Technical specifications
Let us consider in more detail the main characteristics of this unit. The main points are presented in the table.
| Engine displacement, cc | 1994 |
| Maximum power, hp | 125 |
| Maximum torque, N * m (kg * m) at rpm. | 184 (19) to 3600 186 (19) to 3200 |
| engine's type | Horizontally opposed 4-cylinder |
| Add. engine information | SOHC, multipoint port injection |
| Fuel used | Gasoline AI-92 Gasoline AI-95 |
| Fuel consumption, l / 100 km | 8.9 – 12.1 |
| Cylinder diameter, mm | 92 |
| Number of valves per cylinder | 4 |
| The piston stroke, mm | 75 |
| Compression ratio | 10 |
The manufacturer does not indicate the exact resource of the motor. This is due to the fact that the engine can be installed on different car models. In different layouts, the load on the power plant is different, which affects the service life in different ways. As a result, the resource can vary between 200-350 thousand kilometers.
The engine number can be seen near the junction with the box. It is not covered by anything, so you do not have to partially disassemble the body kit to check the markings.
Reliability and maintainability
There are very different data on the reliability of this motor, some drivers say that this internal combustion engine does not cause problems at all, except for planned work. Other owners claim that the motor breaks down regularly. Probably, the difference in opinion is due to improper operation. All Subaru engines require maintenance. Any deviation from the recommended plan may lead to unforeseen breakdowns. It is important to monitor the oil level, even the slightest lack of it can lead to engine seizure.
It is worth noting some difficulties in the repair. In particular, all work, except for changing the lubricant, can only be done on a removed motor. Therefore, it is quite difficult to repair the unit, especially if there is no fully equipped garage.
But, along with this, there are no problems with the acquisition of components. You can always purchase original or contract parts. This simplifies the operation of the vehicle, and also significantly saves money.
What kind of oil to pour
Quite often, drivers wonder what kind of lubricant to use. The fact is that modern engines are very demanding on engine oil. But, ej201 belongs to the generation of the 90s, then the units were made with a large margin of safety.
Therefore, any semi-synthetics can be poured into these motors. There are no special requirements for this series of Subaru power units for oil. The only thing worth looking at is the viscosity. It must be fully consistent with the requirements of the season.
Car list
These motors were installed on several different Subaru models. This is due to the excellent technical characteristics of this engine. At the same time, in some cases, the behavior of the motor may vary, this is due to the characteristics of specific vehicles, because the mass of the vehicle and the layout with other units directly affect the behavior of the motor.
The engine was installed on the following models:
- Subaru Impreza I and II generation, can be found on cars from 1996 to 2005, installed on sedans and station wagons;
- Subaru Forester (2002 - 2005) suv, II generation, SG.
Tuning
Quite often, drivers seek to improve the technical performance of the motor. But, in boxer engines, this is quite difficult to do, because the most common option is with cylinder liners boring. In boxer power units, the block walls are quite thin, which makes boring impossible. Replacing connecting rods is also impossible, there are simply no analogues available.
The only tuning option that can be used is the installation of a turbine from turbo engines of the same series. Alterations of the engine itself are almost not required. Such a refinement will increase the engine power to 190 hp, which is generally not bad, given the initial performance.
When increasing power, it is worth remembering that the standard gearbox is not designed for such loads. There is a chance that she will simply refuse, and this will happen quite quickly. Therefore, it is recommended to install a gearbox from ej204, it is fully suitable both for fastenings and for compatibility with the flywheel.
SWAPO
The name "SWAP" refers to a type of repair or tuning, when the engine is completely replaced. This is done in the following cases.
- Repair. It is necessary to capitalize the existing motor. In some cases, work + spare parts will not cost much less than a contract installation.
- Tuning. Instead of a standard motor, a more powerful unit is installed. This work has some peculiarities.
It is not difficult to figure out the installation of a similar motor, so we will analyze the options for installing another engine. When choosing a model for replacement, the possibilities of fasteners should be taken into account, its elements must completely match. Usually the following motor models are used:
- EJ255;
- EJ205
These motors can be installed almost without any additions. Moreover, if we are talking about the EJ205 motor, then even the regular “brains” can be left. The control unit is simply flashed and that's it, the machine can be operated. For the EJ255, it will be necessary to partially change the electronic filling, here you need to understand that this motor is newer, and many sensors were not used on previous generations.
Car owners reviews
As already mentioned, reviews about this motor are different. Here are a few of the most typical.
Andrei
The EJ201 engine was on my father's Forester. Despite the bad reviews about Subar engines, this one departed about 410 thousand kilometers. And only after that he refused. They did not repair. They just took a contract analogue. At the moment, he has already passed 80 thousand, no complaints.
Maksim
I've owned several cars, and I also work as a taxi driver, and I bump into cars regularly. I have never seen a more unreliable motor than the EJ201. For six months while I had the car, I had to pull out the engine three times, and all for a trifling repair.
Sergei
When I bought the Impreza II, there was a feeling that the previous owner had no idea about the existence of a service station. The first year had to regularly carry out repairs. But, as a result, I was able to bring the engine to normal. This allowed the car to operate without problems.
