Zakster87 Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 Well, I'd like to say it's been a blissful ownership... Because the whole reason I moved up into a 5th Gen was because of my 4th Gen having consistent issues, and I needed a reliable daily. So March of 2014 I bought my 2010... Guy I bought it from was in the local club, but not active. Said he had an AP in it for a couple months, but unmarried and sold it because of divorce bills and child support etc (same reasons he ended up having to sell the GT). Other than that, he was the 2nd owner and had only put about 20k on the car. So, 61k on the clock, and stock, with the exception of a K&N air filter. Pefect for what I needed. Now, I have a 100mi round trip M-F and also drive during the day, so I knew the miles were gonna climb quickly. A year later and almost zero issues besides a random hard miss when I would really get on it on the on ramp after work. Normal maintenance, oil changes always done at 4500miles, etc. I kept it in the best shape possible for as many miles as I was racking up. As the next 6 months or so progressed I started having random issues, funny idling, cold start dying, P0301 and P0304 missfire codes, and gradually declining gas mpgs (from almost 31mpg to 20mpg on the hwy) I figured I'd do some research, and figure out what might be causing all these issues. Came to the conclusion that I might have a burnt exhaust valve, and borrowed a friend's compression tester... Much to my dismay, my car that had nothing but highway miles put on it since I bought it, Cyl 1 had low compression @ 25psi. So I bought ANOTHER daily(2005 Impreza RS, 152k, which has decided to snap a rod as a result of randomly running out of fuel) and proceeded to drive that for the last year, while I stockpiled parts. Now that I've started fixing it, I decided I should start a thread so my fellow 5th Gen people can follow along with my "build" and I'll be dropping random bits of thought in here as I go. Mod list Stock Replacements: New OEM waterpump STi fuel pump (3500 miles on it) Newer set of dark blue 565cc injectors (3500 miles on them) Power: ARP headstuds Nameless catted downpipe - TBI GFB BPV - TBI RacerX chargepipe - TBI AccessPort - TBI/To be tuned by BoostedPerformance/Graham Gaylord Drivetrain: Exedy Stg 1 clutch - TBI Perrin shift bushing Clutch damper delete - TBI Other: Niche Verona M149's 19x8.5 Toyo Proxes 4 Plus 245/40/R19 GR STi rear sway bar/bushings/links Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLlegacy Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 Either you found us too late or you didn't heed the advice of getting off the stock tune. You are probably the 3rd or 4th burnt exhaust valve I have read about on here. Glad to see you have a plan now, good luck with the build! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zakster87 Posted November 3, 2017 Author Share Posted November 3, 2017 Teardown began 2 weeks ago. Got it pulled and down to the block. Here's what I found: Definitely a bad valve. 1st pic - light from the front, 2nd pic - light from the back Word came back from the shop, 2 burnt and bent valves. Needless to say which one was the one above Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTEASER Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 As FLlegacy mentioned, the stock tune kills these motors in short order because they run it too lean. Even a Cobb OTS Stage1 tune is safer because its richer, but obviously a custom Stage1 tune for your specific car would be best. Sorry to hear your trials and tribulations but hopefully you'll get her back up and running soon. GTEASER's 2012 Legacy GT - Sold GTEASER's 2009 XTeaser - Sold GTEASER's 1992 Legacy SS - Sold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zakster87 Posted November 3, 2017 Author Share Posted November 3, 2017 Got the tops of the pistons cleaned up, and re-installed the passenger side head the other night as well as the ARP headstuds... Ready to crank up the boost now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zakster87 Posted November 3, 2017 Author Share Posted November 3, 2017 Either you found us too late or you didn't heed the advice of getting off the stock tune. You are probably the 3rd or 4th burnt exhaust valve I have read about on here. Glad to see you have a plan now, good luck with the build! Yep, I was late to the "get off the stock tune" party on this one. Thanks for the encouragement! As FLlegacy mentioned, the stock tune kills these motors in short order because they run it too lean. Even a Cobb OTS Stage1 tune is safer because its richer, but obviously a custom Stage1 tune for your specific car would be best. Sorry to hear your trials and tribulations but hopefully you'll get her back up and running soon. I had no idea, my 4th Gen was Cobb Stg2 OTS when I bought it, and I had nothing but issues with it. I figured the old "stay safe, stay stock" saying would apply, but apparently not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zakster87 Posted November 3, 2017 Author Share Posted November 3, 2017 Also figured I'd get everything ready to go get tuned with my gofast parts, so I tore apart the turbo and ported the wastegate in preparation of ever going with a aftermarket catback with the Nameless downpipe debacle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLlegacy Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 When my engine goes I am getting a built short block, fortunately I think it will be a long ways off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilesA Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 How many miles did you have when you found the valve damage, Zakster? Do you know how the bent valves happened? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTEASER Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 How many miles did you have when you found the valve damage, Zakster? Do you know how the bent valves happened? Not bent, burnt. GTEASER's 2012 Legacy GT - Sold GTEASER's 2009 XTeaser - Sold GTEASER's 1992 Legacy SS - Sold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilesA Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 Not bent, burnt. Word came back from the shop, 2 burnt and bent valves. Needless to say which one was the one above Did you watch the video? Or read what he wrote? I guess not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTEASER Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 Did you watch the video? Or read what he wrote? I guess not. I did not see the little snippet below the pic with the video link. It sure as hell looks bent. Thank you for correcting me sir. It looks bent from getting burned (overheated) and then being pounded into the valve seat by the valve spring, bent at the dome, not the neck where valves would typically get bent from an impact with a piston. GTEASER's 2012 Legacy GT - Sold GTEASER's 2009 XTeaser - Sold GTEASER's 1992 Legacy SS - Sold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilesA Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 It looks bent from getting burned (overheated) and then being pounded into the valve seat by the valve spring, bent at the dome, not the neck where valves would typically get bent from an impact with a piston.Probably so, looks like the OP doesn't have all that many miles on the car, so I'm surprised to see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falcor Posted November 6, 2017 Share Posted November 6, 2017 As FLlegacy mentioned, the stock tune kills these motors in short order because they run it too lean. Even a Cobb OTS Stage1 tune is safer because its richer, but obviously a custom Stage1 tune for your specific car would be best. Sorry to hear your trials and tribulations but hopefully you'll get her back up and running soon. Is this anything I should be worried about with my new (to me) GT? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLlegacy Posted November 6, 2017 Share Posted November 6, 2017 Is this anything I should be worried about with my new (to me) GT?Yes, especially if you only have 91 octane and aren't careful about using top tier gas stations. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTEASER Posted November 6, 2017 Share Posted November 6, 2017 Is this anything I should be worried about with my new (to me) GT?Does this apply to you? Hell yes it does. Get an AP ASAP. GTEASER's 2012 Legacy GT - Sold GTEASER's 2009 XTeaser - Sold GTEASER's 1992 Legacy SS - Sold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falcor Posted November 6, 2017 Share Posted November 6, 2017 Would a tune from XRT do the same thing as the AccessPort? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cww516 Posted November 6, 2017 Share Posted November 6, 2017 Yep- basically, as long as you get away from the stock fuel mapping and on to something that doesn't run quite as lean, you'll be in good shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zakster87 Posted November 6, 2017 Author Share Posted November 6, 2017 How many miles did you have when you found the valve damage, Zakster? Do you know how the bent valves happened? Honestly, I started noticing the random miss around 65k, but it wouldnt do it all that often. it's got 112k on it now, and the last 5k miles or so were painful. I stayed out of boost 80% of the time just babying it along. I always ran 93oct in it, but here in Iowa, even our 93 can have up to 10-15% ethanol in it, so I'm not sure if that helped or hurt my situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zakster87 Posted November 6, 2017 Author Share Posted November 6, 2017 I did not see the little snippet below the pic with the video link. It sure as hell looks bent. Thank you for correcting me sir. It looks bent from getting burned (overheated) and then being pounded into the valve seat by the valve spring, bent at the dome, not the neck where valves would typically get bent from an impact with a piston. Yep, you are 100% correct. Both were bent and burnt, the non-rocky one was just starting to burn and pit on the seat of the valve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A_A_ron Posted November 6, 2017 Share Posted November 6, 2017 Hey a fellow Iowan! with a 2010 LGT no less. Looks like your's is Silver, not the ISM but the other one I can't remember the name of. My tag shows Omaha but I grew up in Council Bluffs and went to ISU (we can still be friends right?). I am tuned for 93 with a custom dyno tune on a Cobb Accessport. It does wonders for my engine and power band. I do notice a difference in mileage though when I get my hands on some 93 with no ethanol. Build Thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falcor Posted November 6, 2017 Share Posted November 6, 2017 I'm starting to think I bought a time bomb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTEASER Posted November 6, 2017 Share Posted November 6, 2017 I'm starting to think I bought a time bomb. No, just a finniky, quirky car that needs the proper love for it to last. You bought a Subaru turbo. You just need to adjust your mentality to it. GTEASER's 2012 Legacy GT - Sold GTEASER's 2009 XTeaser - Sold GTEASER's 1992 Legacy SS - Sold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zakster87 Posted November 6, 2017 Author Share Posted November 6, 2017 Hey a fellow Iowan! with a 2010 LGT no less. Looks like your's is Silver, not the ISM but the other one I can't remember the name of. My tag shows Omaha but I grew up in Council Bluffs and went to ISU (we can still be friends right?). I am tuned for 93 with a custom dyno tune on a Cobb Accessport. It does wonders for my engine and power band. I do notice a difference in mileage though when I get my hands on some 93 with no ethanol. Mine is that Steel Silver Metallic. Found that out when I accidentally posted in the Ice Silver Metallic pictures thread and was chastised for it :lol: Oh, and a Cyclone? ...I don't know if we can be friends... LOL. So who did your tune? I think the closest 93 without ethanol I have found is in Milan, IL at a dinky little shell station if I remember correctly. I'll probably put 91 with ethanol in it to get tuned, that way I don't have to fret too much if I cant find 93 on a road trip or something. I'm starting to think I bought a time bomb.No, just a finniky, quirky car that needs the proper love for it to last. You bought a Subaru turbo. You just need to adjust your mentality to it. Yea. I know your feeling Falcor, but GTEASER's right. With the right love, these are very nice cars. I just wish I would have spent more time on here when I got it. And as far as the Subaru Turbo comment, that's pretty much dead on. I've never been around a Subaru enthusiast's turbo car without some sort of issue at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgoodhue Posted November 6, 2017 Share Posted November 6, 2017 Is this anything I should be worried about with my new (to me) GT? Your GT has relatively low miles if I remember right. Get it on a safe tune and it should be good quite a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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