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Oil Pump Failure?

PostPosted: Fri May 04, 2012 7:40 pm
by Gary75
I was told today that the Subaru engine can suffer oil pump failure between 60 and 80000 miles?? causing engine damage beyond repair :shock: Is this correct :?:

PostPosted: Fri May 04, 2012 8:21 pm
by John Mc
Who told you that?

That sounds like the kind of obvious-but-pointless shit that I would say, with absoloutely no knowledge of cars at all :lol:

If you think about it, the oil pump blowing could cause fatal damage but the mileage is irrelevant bollocks as it could happen anytime!

Hope that helps.

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PostPosted: Fri May 04, 2012 8:59 pm
by Gary75
John Mc Tiddler (Dogging Expert) Tiddler (Dogging Expert) wrote:Who told you that?

That sounds like the kind of obvious-but-pointless shit that I would say, with absoloutely no knowledge of cars at all :lol:

If you think about it, the oil pump blowing could cause fatal damage but the mileage is irrelevant bollocks as it could happen anytime!

Hope that helps.

Was this review helpful? No / No


I run a company called GMC Automotive services but my preference today was to have my brake fluid changed at a Subaru specialist to attain a receipt for work done by Subaru. Daz at Subaru Central told me about the oil pump failure on these engines. I was unable to respond at that time due to lack of knowledge of this engine. General servicing / replacement components seem straight forward, as for specific weak points i have limited knowledge.
Yes i agree ,failure of components can happen anytime :?: but would rather air on the side of caution..

PostPosted: Fri May 04, 2012 9:30 pm
by John Mc
Gary75 wrote:
John Mc Tiddler (Dogging Expert) Tiddler (Dogging Expert) Tiddler (Dogging Expert) wrote:Who told you that?

That sounds like the kind of obvious-but-pointless shit that I would say, with absoloutely no knowledge of cars at all :lol:

If you think about it, the oil pump blowing could cause fatal damage but the mileage is irrelevant bollocks as it could happen anytime!

Hope that helps.

Was this review helpful? No / No


I run a company called GMC Automotive services but my preference today was to have my brake fluid changed at a Subaru specialist to attain a receipt for work done by Subaru. Daz at Subaru Central told me about the oil pump failure on these engines. I was unable to respond at that time due to lack of knowledge of this engine. General servicing / replacement components seem straight forward, as for specific weak points i have limited knowledge.
Yes i agree ,failure of components can happen anytime :?: but would rather air on the side of caution..


It's the same as saying your timing belt should be changed at 50k. There is nothing to say it wouldn't last until 100k, other than the condition of it. It might fail at 10k if it was over/under tensioned.

It's all about perceived risk. People will suggest things that may make you think you should spend more money but a lot of the time there is no good reason to change something unless it looks or sounds worn! How long do brakes last? Tyres last? a tank of fuel last :lol: ? depends on how you drive and where you drive! Nobody can say with any certainty when something is going to fail.

Your guess is probably as good as the "specialists" on this. If they are saying possible failure between 60-80k miles, that could cover a period of 2-4 years depending on how many miles you do!! :lol:

PostPosted: Fri May 04, 2012 10:03 pm
by Gary75
Point taken on all comments. :thumb:

As for a tank of fuel, ive done 77.4 miles, filled tank to brim, gauge is now just above half full :wtf2: ive squeezed the throttle a couple of times :shock:

Whats the average miles per tank?

I calculate about 236.6 miles to a tank :?:

PostPosted: Fri May 04, 2012 10:12 pm
by John Mc
:lol: I think Mega got about 50 miles to a full tank of VPower at Brunters?? :cry: :lol:

When I had mine I think I remember hitting 300miles driving very carefully on a motorway! I averaged about 230 overall I think.

PostPosted: Sat May 05, 2012 7:08 am
by Gary75
John Mc Tiddler (Dogging Expert) Tiddler (Dogging Expert) wrote::lol: I think Mega got about 50 miles to a full tank of VPower at Brunters?? :cry: :lol:

When I had mine I think I remember hitting 300miles driving very carefully on a motorway! I averaged about 230 overall I think.


:omg: :cry: :cry:

PostPosted: Sat May 05, 2012 9:46 am
by Steveyk
The guage lies, it drops slowly for the first half tank and then goes down like a pork chop at a barmitzvah after that. I've seen as little as 160 miles on the road and as much as 280 driving like miss daisy.

PostPosted: Sat May 05, 2012 10:18 am
by Megaman
John Mc Tiddler (Dogging Expert) Tiddler (Dogging Expert) wrote::lol: I think Mega got about 50 miles to a full tank of VPower at Brunters?? :cry: :lol:

When I had mine I think I remember hitting 300miles driving very carefully on a motorway! I averaged about 230 overall I think.


Yer but yours had the wrong turbo on it you nugget!

Yes 55miles to a tank at brunters the second year i went. I stayed behind at the end to give all the RAF cadets and the marshals a few goes around so ended up using up quite a lot that year. :lol:

PostPosted: Sat May 05, 2012 10:24 am
by Megaman
Gary75 wrote:
John Mc Tiddler (Dogging Expert) Tiddler (Dogging Expert) Tiddler (Dogging Expert) wrote:Who told you that?

That sounds like the kind of obvious-but-pointless shit that I would say, with absoloutely no knowledge of cars at all :lol:

If you think about it, the oil pump blowing could cause fatal damage but the mileage is irrelevant bollocks as it could happen anytime!

Hope that helps.

Was this review helpful? No / No


I run a company called GMC Automotive services but my preference today was to have my brake fluid changed at a Subaru specialist to attain a receipt for work done by Subaru. Daz at Subaru Central told me about the oil pump failure on these engines. I was unable to respond at that time due to lack of knowledge of this engine. General servicing / replacement components seem straight forward, as for specific weak points i have limited knowledge.
Yes i agree ,failure of components can happen anytime :?: but would rather air on the side of caution..


Well if your car is used as a daily driver road car I think the normal subaru recommended service intervals are fine. If the car gets a bit of abuse and the odd track day then thats when I would start looking at preventative maintenance being an owner. No idea with regards to mechanically when these things normally go.

PostPosted: Sat May 05, 2012 10:39 am
by WR 1mposter
Megaman wrote:
John Mc Tiddler (Dogging Expert) Tiddler (Dogging Expert) Tiddler (Dogging Expert) wrote::lol: I think Mega got about 50 miles to a full tank of VPower at Brunters?? :cry: :lol:

When I had mine I think I remember hitting 300miles driving very carefully on a motorway! I averaged about 230 overall I think.


Yer but yours had the wrong turbo on it you nugget!

Yes 55miles to a tank at brunters the second year i went. I stayed behind at the end to give all the RAF cadets and the marshals a few goes around so ended up using up quite a lot that year. :lol:


had 35miles on 3/4 of a tank at brunters 5 were from the vpower shop :lol:

PostPosted: Sat May 05, 2012 10:41 am
by WR 1mposter
Back on topic never heard of any oil pump failures regarding sti's :?

PostPosted: Sat May 05, 2012 8:14 pm
by WR 1mposter
Back on topic never heard of any oil pump failures regarding sti's :?

PostPosted: Sat May 05, 2012 9:35 pm
by Gary75
WR 1mpostor (aka number 1 moderator) wrote:Back on topic never heard of any oil pump failures regarding sti's :?


That will do for me, leave well alone. Was quoted £350 to change to a modified pump, timing belt and anti freeze.

PostPosted: Sun May 06, 2012 11:32 am
by Steveyk
Funny, that. I was quoted £1500 to get the gearbox out to fix a noise that turned out to be the up-pipe heatshield. Not gone back there again...

PostPosted: Sun May 06, 2012 12:16 pm
by Gary75
Steveyk wrote:Funny, that. I was quoted £1500 to get the gearbox out to fix a noise that turned out to be the up-pipe heatshield. Not gone back there again...


Theres some dodgy bast@rds out there, why cant people just do good job for decent price :x

Im going to do the servicing myself and any specialist work leave to Subaru specialist.

This car is cheaper to do an oil change than my Vectra and Ford Focus
£15.64 for 4 lts Castrol Magnatec 10w40 and £8.90 for filter and sealing ring :lol:

PostPosted: Wed May 09, 2012 2:59 pm
by asperformance
oil pump failure is generally a "myth", most commonly 'failed' oil pumps are caused by an engine/bearing failure that then transmits debris through the pump and hence it "fails"
the oil relief valve is known to occassionally stick on older cars but again not a general problem - i have first hand knowledge of a number of early 2.0 turbo cars that have done over 200K with no major issues or replacement engine parts

as for Magnatec i personally wouldn't use in a dishwasher..............you have a high performance engine and IMO you need a "proper" high quality oil - we only use race style ester based full synthetics in our workshop

PostPosted: Wed May 09, 2012 4:14 pm
by Gary75
asperformance wrote:oil pump failure is generally a "myth", most commonly 'failed' oil pumps are caused by an engine/bearing failure that then transmits debris through the pump and hence it "fails"
the oil relief valve is known to occassionally stick on older cars but again not a general problem - i have first hand knowledge of a number of early 2.0 turbo cars that have done over 200K with no major issues or replacement engine parts

as for Magnatec i personally wouldn't use in a dishwasher..............you have a high performance engine and IMO you need a "proper" high quality oil - we only use race style ester based full synthetics in our workshop


I was told to use fully synthetic in these engines and 10w 40 was recommened as anything lower ie 0 or 5w is to thin an oil.

Can you recommend a good 10w 40 oil :?:

PostPosted: Wed May 09, 2012 4:34 pm
by W1 KRB
I was recommended Fuchs Titan race pro s 5-40 fully synthetic for a standard wr1 engine, I feel sure every 2nd person will have a slightly different opinion on this though

PostPosted: Wed May 09, 2012 6:19 pm
by WR 1mposter
5/40 is the standard oil iirc ! Our local Subaru dealer used to use shell super helix.

I used to use Motul 300V Power 5W-40 Racing Engine Oil when standard

Car is now modified so I use Silkolene PRO S 10W-50 Ester Synthetic Oil

Have a word with oilman(Guy) he is on most forums including here,

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/default.aspx

PostPosted: Wed May 09, 2012 7:18 pm
by asperformance
Gary75 wrote:
asperformance wrote:oil pump failure is generally a "myth", most commonly 'failed' oil pumps are caused by an engine/bearing failure that then transmits debris through the pump and hence it "fails"
the oil relief valve is known to occassionally stick on older cars but again not a general problem - i have first hand knowledge of a number of early 2.0 turbo cars that have done over 200K with no major issues or replacement engine parts

as for Magnatec i personally wouldn't use in a dishwasher..............you have a high performance engine and IMO you need a "proper" high quality oil - we only use race style ester based full synthetics in our workshop


I was told to use fully synthetic in these engines and 10w 40 was recommened as anything lower ie 0 or 5w is to thin an oil.

Can you recommend a good 10w 40 oil :?:


unfortunately you seem to have spoken to the "wrong" people on a few things.............
10w40 is the min weight fior a classic generally but for the new-age cars they can happily run a 5w
personal choice would be Millers or Motul race synthetic ranges or for extreme race use then we also supply Shell Racing products

we can & do have various members deals and are generally not bettered on price having dealt with high performance cars, components & lubricants for in excess of 15yrs - if you think you have been offered a better deal simply ask, no gimmicks or time limited offers here 8)