To buy or not to buy?

Corax · Post by **Corax** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 10:35 pm

Hey Suba dudes,

Had a look at a GT forester 99 model with 230000 on the clock. Body was good, electrics all worked, interior was A1, looking underneath it it appears to have never done any real offroad work and there were no obvious oil leaks. My only real hesitation stemmed from the fact that when I started it up it had noticeable (what I would call) tappit/lifter noise, not loud but louder than my parents forester which basically has the same kms. Now is this an indication that the motor is shagged? I remember hearing somewhere this is what happens when the wrong oil is used? Is it possible to fix? Took it for a test drive and the motor had lots of life ie went like a shower of s**t. Oh and the price was $7500. Your thoughts please!

Cheers,
Corax.

SUBYDAZZ · Post by **SUBYDAZZ** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 1:40 am

Service history or reports / receipts?

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 4:13 am

price sounds good, good enough to fit another motor if need be

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 11:20 am

So, ah, where can I find this guy's details???

Bennie

Post by **TOONGA** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 12:32 pm

could be hydraulic lash adjusters or does that model have the adjustable drive train?

or does it have the variable valve timing?

having said that I know where there are a set of EJ20 forester heads for sale

if it truely needs them

at that price I would buy it and do the happy dance

TOONGA

Chrus · Post by **Chrus** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 12:51 pm

I'm fairly certain AVCS (variable valve timing/black magic) only came in 2002 and then it was on the inlet only of the WRX STi....I think...

Id go for it Dave at that price and then hit Paul up to sort the heads..if it really needs it

Corax · Post by **Corax** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 1:40 pm

Hi Guys,

Yeah has the service history with it, though the last entry is the 200000k service and that seems fairly comprehensive but there is nothing written in the log book since then. Maybe the motor needs to be flushed through a couple of times and some decent quality oil chucked in. Dont think they have been running it on premium either by the sounds of it.
Oh yeah, read all your posts and have bought it. Am now going outside to do my happy dance. Thanks all for the input:D

Cheers,
Corax.

d_generate · Post by **d_generate** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 3:32 pm

My WRX used to tick like a bomb so I drained the oil and poured 5L of diesel in the motor and let it idle for about 10 min giving it a couple of very light revs, because of all the detergents in the diesel it gives it a thorough clean, you should have seen the gunk that came out...........ticked like a swiss watch after that and has done since.

Corax · Post by **Corax** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 5:20 pm

Thanks D gen sounds like the way to go. Oh yeah, when I went to buy it I managed to beat him down to $7000!:-D:-D:-D:-D. Outside for another happy dance!

d_generate · Post by **d_generate** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 7:04 pm

Is this the black one from Katanning that I put you on to or a different car.

Corax · Post by **Corax** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 7:27 pm

Nah a different one. The one in Katanning was sold before I could even get a look at it unfortunatly. Still this one will do nicely, doesnt even have any mods on it which is a good thing.

Chrus · Post by **Chrus** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 2:45 pm

d_generate wrote:My WRX used to tick like a bomb so I drained the oil and poured 5L of diesel in the motor and let it idle for about 10 min giving it a couple of very light revs, because of all the detergents in the diesel it gives it a thorough clean, you should have seen the gunk that came out...........ticked like a swiss watch after that and has done since.

diesel? wow is that really recommended Tom?

We'll have to see the Forry out in action Dave on the next trip

Post by **TOONGA** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 3:15 pm

the diesel in the engine "trick" works but i would be very careful about doing it as dieseling may occur and it could destroy your engine

5 litres of diesel oil is a better option and way less flammable and you can run your engine on it for 500-1000 km then change it to a good synthetic brand and use an engine additive to stop the noise

TOONGA

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:39 pm

Diesel is an oil in it's own right.. pretty much just the stuff we bring straight out of the ground, bit of refining for running through injectors but other than that.. same same

Like Tom says.. it's a great cleaning agent but not good as a lubrication, so like Tom did, you have to make sure not to put the engine under any loads or you'll do damage to your Big End Bearings

light revs are fine but no more.

JUST REMEMBER PEOPLES.. USE THE DIESEL IN PLACE OF YOUR ENGINE OIL.. NOT YOUR FUEL

sorry I've already had one person bring their car to me because they did this exact thing

spend a day cleaning out their fuel system.

After this is done, make sure you flush the engine out with some cheap K-Mart (or similar) oil then replace oil and filter with some quality stuff.

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:41 pm

Oh.. and sorry.. Well done Dave.. I'll do a happy dance for you too

Make sure you come up and show me and hopefully out on a trip with us

Post by **Alex** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:41 pm

i might do this to my patrol this weekend. Its got a very prominant lifter or lash adjuster tick.

Corax · Post by **Corax** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:54 pm

Well picked up 'Gumpy' today and drove her home from Perth. Filled her up with ultimate and by the time I got to Mandurah she seemed to be running a bit smoother though that might have just been wishful thinking:) Think she had been sitting for a while or only been on short trips. Motor is ticking (or clacking) over ok.
Gotta admit love all the bells and whistles

Particularly the sunroof. Have to admit there are a couple of buttons that I have no idea what they do:) In all honesty the only thing that I have found that doesn't work is the roof mounted clock, it doesn't appear to have any power. Fixable?
Next step is to get my tame subaru mechanic (dont tell him I said that, he WILL kill me) to give her a full service and go talk to a mate who does a bit of spray painting on the side to touch up the years of neglect that Gumpy has suffered.
Thank goodness I have another project. Was wondering what I was going to dowith all my spare cash:rolleyes::rolleyes:

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Tue Sep 14, 2010 9:13 am

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Tue Sep 14, 2010 12:39 pm

Corax wrote:Was wondering what I was going to dowith all my spare cash:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Who's got that stuff these days? Mine's already allocated before I've even got it

Bennie

Corax · Post by **Corax** » Tue Sep 14, 2010 11:35 pm

Was kidding about the spare cash, made a list of what I want to do to Gumpy today and the only way I could afford it is if I dont eat for the next 2 years:)
Will try and post some photos but given the fact that I am an analogue person in a digital world I will probably just end up headbutting my laptop.