Last year our trusty MY95 Liberty wagon with 350K km on the clock became the 2nd car when we purchased a MY08 2.5i manual Outback that had clocked 75K Km.
While the Liberty ran well and everything worked the Outback was a big improvement in areas like sound system, air con and seat comfort.
However while performance is better than the Liberty it seems to be slower than it should be.
Examples of this are:
- Driving up steep hills it has difficulty holding a brisk pace unless you red line it in a low gear.
- Quick take off from lights are slow, even if you make an effort other cars are much faster including similar model Outbacks/Liberty's (they can't all have been 3.0/3.6's)
Today I had the chance to do a 0-100km/h test and it took around 15secs, according to Redbook it should be around 10 secs.
For the record at the time the car only had me in it and it was running on premium.
Have raised this with our mechanic who is a Subaru specialist but as his engine diagnostic computer didn't report any issues he didn't think there was an issue.
Also fuel use is OK, 8.6 km/l on average around Canberra.
So is this the sort of performance you get with a MY08 2.5i manual Outback?
If not any ideas what the cause might be or at least who I should see about getting it checked out?
Thanks
MY08 Outback Performance Query
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RSR 555
- Elder Member
- Posts: 6951
- Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2007 10:42 am
- Location: ATM... stuck in Rockingham
Hi and Welcome to AUSubaru
I would say she could be due for a can of Subaru Upper Engine Cleaner
I would say she could be due for a can of Subaru Upper Engine Cleaner
You know you are getting old when the candles on your birthday cake start to cost more than the cake itself.
RSR Performance
Home of the 'MURTAYA' in Oz
Subaru Impreza WRX based Sportscar
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Disclaimer: Not my website but hyperlink here to Subaru workshop manuals
RSR Performance
Home of the 'MURTAYA' in Oz
Subaru Impreza WRX based Sportscar
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Disclaimer: Not my website but hyperlink here to Subaru workshop manuals
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Brumby Kid
- General Member
- Posts: 1297
- Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:19 pm
- Location: Belair S.A.
Hey.
We have an 08 liberty 2.5L.
We average 9.2 L/100km according to the inbuilt gps.
I can tell you now, if you put your foot down, it will certainly go.
Defianatly try some SUEC.
Our liberty might have done 40,000km tops. 13,000 when we bought it 2 years ago.
It has always been serviced by Subaru and UEC is always used.
Cheers Cam
We have an 08 liberty 2.5L.
We average 9.2 L/100km according to the inbuilt gps.
I can tell you now, if you put your foot down, it will certainly go.
Defianatly try some SUEC.
Our liberty might have done 40,000km tops. 13,000 when we bought it 2 years ago.
It has always been serviced by Subaru and UEC is always used.
Cheers Cam
When life gives you a corner, drop a gear, pitch, and stomp the loud pedal
Bianca: 1991 Subaru Brumby
My First / Project car
EA81 Rebuilt by Tony Knight from knight Engines
2" body lift
25" 185r14 Yokahama Delivery Star, light truck tyres
2" Sports exhaust
Rear Aguip step/bar
Liberty seats
Mums Car 08 Liberty Wagon
Bianca: 1991 Subaru Brumby
My First / Project car
EA81 Rebuilt by Tony Knight from knight Engines
2" body lift
25" 185r14 Yokahama Delivery Star, light truck tyres
2" Sports exhaust
Rear Aguip step/bar
Liberty seats
"Bianca"
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Dads Car: 02 Impreza WRX STi[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Mums Car 08 Liberty Wagon
Thanks for the welcome and feedback.
As our Outback is a MY08, has done only 90K km and has been serviced regulaly I'm surprised that the upper engine needs a clean but will look into it.
If anyone else has ideas on what the cause and/or fix for this might be please post them to this thread.
BTW: Following on from my original post this afternoon from a standing start a Kia Sorrento diesel left me for dead, this is getting embarrasing
Cheers Paul
As our Outback is a MY08, has done only 90K km and has been serviced regulaly I'm surprised that the upper engine needs a clean but will look into it.
If anyone else has ideas on what the cause and/or fix for this might be please post them to this thread.
BTW: Following on from my original post this afternoon from a standing start a Kia Sorrento diesel left me for dead, this is getting embarrasing
Cheers Paul
Couple of ideas
Reasonable/normal economy probably means fuel:air are being metered properly. If it was anything, it would be tending towards lean I suppose.
Lack of power could be due to some sort of restriction.
1) Check the air filter isn't partially blocked? E.g. hasn't been changed for a while or contaminated or perhaps the Canberra autumn leaves have got in and are partially obstructing airflow.
2) Not sure what type of throttle body you have...mechanical or electronic throttle? If it's mechanical perhaps the linkage isn't adjusted or working properly and you're not getting 100% throttle opening when floored. This of course would also aid economy and wouldn't show as a fault to the computer (you're just never using full throttle). Had this happen to my old Pulsar, throttle cable replacement gave back a whole lotta go as the old one was only partially opening the throttle body (cable stretch and housing damage over the years).
3) Restriction in the exhaust e.g. due to broken part in muffler/cat? One of the experts here could probably comment more appropriately.
Just some ideas and one experience!
Lack of power could be due to some sort of restriction.
1) Check the air filter isn't partially blocked? E.g. hasn't been changed for a while or contaminated or perhaps the Canberra autumn leaves have got in and are partially obstructing airflow.
2) Not sure what type of throttle body you have...mechanical or electronic throttle? If it's mechanical perhaps the linkage isn't adjusted or working properly and you're not getting 100% throttle opening when floored. This of course would also aid economy and wouldn't show as a fault to the computer (you're just never using full throttle). Had this happen to my old Pulsar, throttle cable replacement gave back a whole lotta go as the old one was only partially opening the throttle body (cable stretch and housing damage over the years).
3) Restriction in the exhaust e.g. due to broken part in muffler/cat? One of the experts here could probably comment more appropriately.
Just some ideas and one experience!
Patrick
Ex- 2010 Forester Diesel
Ex- 2010 Forester Diesel
Thanks again for all the posts.
Spoke to my mechanic today, he said they used UEC on all their services so we can rule that option out.
He still had no idea what the cause was so said the next step would be to get the car checked out on a dyno.
There's a tuning place near us with one and they know Subarus so I'll book it in there.
Once I have their report I'll post an update here.
BTW: For the record we get our Subaru's serviced at Subaroo at Mitchell. There you get to talk to the mechanic who works on your car unlike the dealerships where you can only talk to a smarmy suit.
Cheers Paul
Spoke to my mechanic today, he said they used UEC on all their services so we can rule that option out.
He still had no idea what the cause was so said the next step would be to get the car checked out on a dyno.
There's a tuning place near us with one and they know Subarus so I'll book it in there.
Once I have their report I'll post an update here.
BTW: For the record we get our Subaru's serviced at Subaroo at Mitchell. There you get to talk to the mechanic who works on your car unlike the dealerships where you can only talk to a smarmy suit.
Cheers Paul
How do you find Subaroo at Mitchell, Paul? Been wondering whether to take ours there. Mind you, it's a diesel and given the dealers don't know a lot about 'em, others may not too.
As for the 'smarmy suit', that'd be an upgrade...
Mind you I'd prefer to talk to the mechanic too.
Good luck, hope it turns out to be something simple and cheap.
As for the 'smarmy suit', that'd be an upgrade...
Mind you I'd prefer to talk to the mechanic too.Good luck, hope it turns out to be something simple and cheap.
Patrick
Ex- 2010 Forester Diesel
Ex- 2010 Forester Diesel
Well the dyno session didn't show up anything obvious.
The only thing that they could point their finger at was the output was at the low end of the normal range.
With modern manufacturing processes I'd assumed engines are pretty well shrink wrapped now but the dyno guys said that there can be be up to 20% variation in power output.
Based on that our Outback may be one on the low end of that scale
Anyhow they thought that a bad batch of fuel may have partially clogged the injectors so advised using BP premium for a few tanks and adding a bottle of fuel system cleaner.
Have to say that the fact the engine runs perfectly smoothly means the low power is probably not due to blocked injectors or a faulty O2 sensor.
As regards Subaroo at Mitchell we've been going there since 2004 following a drive to the coast when one of our spark plugs blew out because a service by an authorised dealer had stripped its thread
Anyhow we've had no issues with the quality of service at Subaroo and the charges seem to be reasonable though I haven't done a direct comparison.
As I said before the best thing about them is that you get to talk to the mechanic or at least someone who knows what your car is like and tells you how it is.
Diesel technology is quite different to petrol so I can't say if Subaroo service oil burners yet but give them a call and they'll give you the "good oil".
The only thing that they could point their finger at was the output was at the low end of the normal range.
With modern manufacturing processes I'd assumed engines are pretty well shrink wrapped now but the dyno guys said that there can be be up to 20% variation in power output.
Based on that our Outback may be one on the low end of that scale
Anyhow they thought that a bad batch of fuel may have partially clogged the injectors so advised using BP premium for a few tanks and adding a bottle of fuel system cleaner.
Have to say that the fact the engine runs perfectly smoothly means the low power is probably not due to blocked injectors or a faulty O2 sensor.
As regards Subaroo at Mitchell we've been going there since 2004 following a drive to the coast when one of our spark plugs blew out because a service by an authorised dealer had stripped its thread
Anyhow we've had no issues with the quality of service at Subaroo and the charges seem to be reasonable though I haven't done a direct comparison.
As I said before the best thing about them is that you get to talk to the mechanic or at least someone who knows what your car is like and tells you how it is.
Diesel technology is quite different to petrol so I can't say if Subaroo service oil burners yet but give them a call and they'll give you the "good oil".