Subaru Tribeca engines
The appearance of this star did not happen at all in the land of the rising sun, as one might assume, paying attention to the brand of the car. This Subaru model was never produced in Japan. It was manufactured at the Subaru of Indiana automotive.Lafayette plant in Indiana, USA. There is also a certain relationship between the name of the model - Tribeca, and the name of one of the fashionable areas of New York - TriBeCa (Triangle Below Canal).
Perhaps, given the American pronunciation, it would be correct to pronounce "Tribeca", but the pronunciation has taken root with us is precisely this - "Tribeca".
The model debuted in 2005 at the Detroit Auto Show. It was created on the basis of the Subaru Legacy / Outback. Installing a boxer engine significantly lowered the car's center of gravity, making the Tribeca very stable and well controlled even with a ground clearance of 210 mm. Body layout - with a front engine. The salon could be five-seater or seven-seater. Already at the end of the same year, the car went on sale.
Subaru Tribeca compares favorably with many similar models from other brands. Its main advantages were:
- spacious, roomy interior;
- the presence of permanent all-wheel drive with a lockable center differential;
- excellent handling for a car of this layout.
And what's under the hood?
Equipped with the first production Tribeca engine EZ30 with a volume of 3.0 liters. With the help of a 5-speed automatic transmission, he rotated the four-wheel drive quite quickly, which is equipped with most Subaru cars. The modification was made in 2006-2007.
The 3 liter boxer engine was launched in 1999. It was a completely new motor for that time. There were none like it at the time of release. It was installed on the largest cars. The engine block was made of aluminum. Cylinders - cast iron sleeves with a wall thickness of 2 mm. The block head was also aluminum, with two camshafts that controlled the opening of the valves. The drive was carried out using two timing chains. Each cylinder had 4 valves. The motor had a power of 220 liters. With. at 6000 rpm and a torque of 289 Nm at 4400 rpm.
In 2003, a restyled EZ30D engine appeared, in which the cylinder head channels were changed and a variable valve timing system was added. Depending on the speed of the crankshaft, the valve lift also changed. This engine has an electronic throttle body. The intake manifold has become larger, and they began to make it from plastic. It was this unit that made it possible to obtain those same 245 hp. With. at 6600 rpm and raise the torque to 297 Nm at 4400 rpm. They began to install it on the Tribeca of the first release. The production of this engine continued until 2009.
Already in 2007, the second generation of this model was presented at the New York Auto Show. The futuristic look of the front grille was slightly corrected. Along with the new look, the Subaru Tribeca also received the EZ36D engine, which replaced the EZ30. This 3.6-liter engine had a reinforced cylinder block with cast-iron liners with a wall thickness of 1.5 mm.
The cylinder diameter and piston stroke were increased, while the engine height remained the same. This engine used new asymmetrical connecting rods. All this made it possible to increase the working volume to 3.6 liters. The block heads have also been redesigned and equipped with variable valve timing. The function of changing the valve lift height was absent in the design of this engine. The shape of the exhaust manifold has also been changed. The new engine produced 258 hp. With. at 6000 rpm and a torque of 335 Nm at 4000 rpm. It was also installed in tandem with a 5-speed automatic transmission.
* installed on the considered model from 2005 to 2007.
** not installed on the model in question.
*** not installed on the model in question.
**** Reference values, in practice they depend on the technical condition and style of driving.
***** values are for reference, in practice they depend on the technical condition and style of driving.
****** interval recommended by the manufacturer, subject to servicing at authorized centers and using original oils and filters. In practice, an interval of 7-500 km is recommended.
Both engines were quite reliable, but also had some common drawbacks:
- rather noisy timing drive;
- tendency to overheat;
- high fuel consumption.
Sunset
Already at the end of 2013, Subaru announced its intention to stop production of the Tribeca in early 2014. It turns out that since 2005, only about 78 cars have been sold. This pushed the model to the bottom of the list of best-selling cars in the US in 000-2011. And so the story of this crossover ended, although some copies can still be found on the roads.
Is it worth it to buy?
It is definitely impossible to answer this question. There are many points that should be considered when buying and future use. Of course, you can only buy a used car. You need to make a reservation right away that it will not be so easy to find a good copy, if only because few cars were sold.
Given the excellent cross-country ability for this class and sufficiently powerful engines, it may well turn out that the former owner liked to “burn out” on his Subaru. And if you take into account the propensity of engines to overheat, you can get to a sample that has already developed scuffs on the cylinder walls and may have a burnt head gasket. Of course, the cost of professional diagnostics will pay off by making the right purchase decision, otherwise it may turn out that immediately after buying a car, the engine will start to “eat” oil, and the coolant will constantly decrease.
With a run of more than 150 km, you need to carefully monitor all the details and components of the cooling system. The radiator needs regular flushing. You may need to replace the thermostat. Well, about the control of the level of the coolant, it’s somehow tactless to remind.
After 200 km, and maybe even earlier, the timing chain drive will be asked to be replaced. It is almost impossible to make a replacement on a boxer engine on your own, so you need to immediately think about whether there is a reliable and high-quality service near the place of future operation. Not every minder will undertake the repair and maintenance of Subaru engines.
If the above nuances are taken into account, you can think about what kind of engine is required. Of course, a motor with a large volume will last longer under the same operating conditions and timely maintenance. This is due to the fact that it produces maximum power at a lower crankshaft speed and the fact that the geometric parameters will provide a smaller amplitude of moving parts, and hence less wear. The EZ36 will pay the price with higher fuel consumption, as well as more than doubling the transport tax levied in the Russian Federation. Just at the mark of 250 liters. With. his rate is doubled.
With the right choice and responsible use of the car, Subaru Tribeca is sure to reward its owner with faithful service for many years.
