I4 vs H4 ... Evo vs STi ... which engine is easier to work on?

[TuffGuy]

How hard are boxer engines to work on? Every time I look under the hood, the WRX/WTi engines scare the crap out of me.

It looks like a tangled mess, and it looks like they would be difficult/tedious to work on. Are they?


Anthrax - Safe Home

 

[Demon-Xanth]

From what I've seen, boxers are a pita to work on. The only one I've worked on personally is a VW engine, and you need to yank the engine to do anything to it.

 

[kami333]

Never worked on a I4 but the H4 is a pain even without the turbo. Even to change a timing belt you have to remove the radiator.

 

[Confused]

Give me a few days and I can ask my dad.

He's leaving the Mitsubishi dealer he's worked at for the past 20 years at the end of this week to go work for a Hyundai/Subaru/Isuzu dealer 3 doors down the road from where he lives.


Confused

 

[Anubis]

boxers are a PITA end of story

 

[StageLeft]

I would say the mitsu will be easier because it will break so frequently that you'll become comfortable and experienced with working on it :evil:

 

[Lifer]

Originally posted by: kami333
Never worked on a I4 but the H4 is a pain even without the turbo. Even to change a timing belt you have to remove the radiator.

changing the timing belt should be once or twice the lifetime of the car. not a biggie IMO.

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: Lifer

Originally posted by: kami333
Never worked on a I4 but the H4 is a pain even without the turbo. Even to change a timing belt you have to remove the radiator.

changing the timing belt should be once or twice the lifetime of the car. not a biggie IMO.

True. But I was just using it as an example. What kind of work are we talking about anyways? Like an engine rebuild?

 

[freebee]

I've got the 2.5 H4....its not too bad in the phase IIs, in the phase I's you had to remove half the intake to get to the spark plugs. Sti with that intercooler may be a little harder to get to, but most of the components (as far as routine service and checks) are clearly marked and visible.

Speaking of which...I still have yet to find my front diff fluid...been looking for 2 years.....

 

[fs5]

evo-8
http://www.atpturbo.com/root/monstermate/mitsuevo8.htm

plenty more room under the hood than the WRX.

 

[TuffGuy]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I would say the mitsu will be easier because it will break so frequently that you'll become comfortable and experienced with working on it :evil:

mitsu engines are bulletproof, especially the 4G63.

 

[TuffGuy]

Originally posted by: Confused
Give me a few days and I can ask my dad.

He's leaving the Mitsubishi dealer he's worked at for the past 20 years at the end of this week to go work for a Hyundai/Subaru/Isuzu dealer 3 doors down the road from where he lives.


Confused

thanks.

that should give him firsthand experience with the two. but so far, it sounds like the H4 would be a pain to work on.

:beer:

 

[Jejunum]

Basic maintenance on an H4 is pretty easy.

Originally posted by: freebee
I've got the 2.5 H4....its not too bad in the phase IIs, in the phase I's you had to remove half the intake to get to the spark plugs. Sti with that intercooler may be a little harder to get to, but most of the components (as far as routine service and checks) are clearly marked and visible.

Speaking of which...I still have yet to find my front diff fluid...been looking for 2 years.....

front differential fluid on an automatic subaru? I recently wrote up a how to guide on changing it if you want (diagrams pics etc etc). pm me if ur interested

 

[Flyermax2k3]

Originally posted by: TuffGuy

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I would say the mitsu will be easier because it will break so frequently that you'll become comfortable and experienced with working on it :evil:

mitsu engines are bulletproof, especially the 4G63.

Word!
4G63 powah baby!
It's not the engines that break, it's all the other stuff attached to em

 

[geno]

mitsu engines are bulletproof

Yeah especially the ones in first gen DSMs that crankwalked like it was going out of style

Not *all* of their engines are bulletproof

 

[PowerMac4Ever]

Originally posted by: TuffGuy

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I would say the mitsu will be easier because it will break so frequently that you'll become comfortable and experienced with working on it :evil:

mitsu engines are bulletproof, especially the 4G63.

It looks like SOMEONE can't take a joke.

 

[TuffGuy]

Originally posted by: geno

mitsu engines are bulletproof

Yeah especially the ones in first gen DSMs that crankwalked like it was going out of style

Not *all* of their engines are bulletproof

that was in the second gen, it was limited to a couple of years, did not happen on both turbo models (IIRC), and occurs due to abuse (IIRC).

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: TuffGuy

Originally posted by: geno

mitsu engines are bulletproof

Yeah especially the ones in first gen DSMs that crankwalked like it was going out of style

Not *all* of their engines are bulletproof

that was in the second gen, it was limited to a couple of years, did not happen on both turbo models (IIRC), and occurs due to abuse (IIRC).

sorry, it was the early years of the 2nd gen right? I've heard otherwise about the abuse issue, that it's under very heavy loads

 

[TuffGuy]

Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever

Originally posted by: TuffGuy

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I would say the mitsu will be easier because it will break so frequently that you'll become comfortable and experienced with working on it :evil:

mitsu engines are bulletproof, especially the 4G63.

It looks like SOMEONE can't take a joke.

i know it was a joke.

i'm very familiar with him or nfs4 taking jabs at mitsu.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: geno

mitsu engines are bulletproof

Yeah especially the ones in first gen DSMs that crankwalked like it was going out of style

Not *all* of their engines are bulletproof

It was the 2nd gen ('95-'99) that had the crankwalk problems.

Subaru H4 engines are not that hard to work on (or at least not that hard when compared to other newer cars). Changing the sparkplugs in the DOHC engines (WRX EJ20, STi EJ25) is a pain in the ass, but everything else is not that hard. The top-mounted intercooler does not get in the way, it is actually mounted behind the engine above the transmission.

IIRC, the final drive dipstick for a Phase II SOHC EJ25 is located under the hood on the right side of the transmission (left side when looking at from the front of the car) near the firewall.

 

[TuffGuy]

Originally posted by: geno

Originally posted by: TuffGuy

Originally posted by: geno

mitsu engines are bulletproof

Yeah especially the ones in first gen DSMs that crankwalked like it was going out of style

Not *all* of their engines are bulletproof

that was in the second gen, it was limited to a couple of years, did not happen on both turbo models (IIRC), and occurs due to abuse (IIRC).

sorry, it was the early years of the 2nd gen right? I've heard otherwise about the abuse issue, that it's under very heavy loads

now define "under very heavy loads". does "normal use" or "stock power" fall under that category?

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: TuffGuy

Originally posted by: geno

Originally posted by: TuffGuy

Originally posted by: geno

mitsu engines are bulletproof

Yeah especially the ones in first gen DSMs that crankwalked like it was going out of style

Not *all* of their engines are bulletproof

that was in the second gen, it was limited to a couple of years, did not happen on both turbo models (IIRC), and occurs due to abuse (IIRC).

sorry, it was the early years of the 2nd gen right? I've heard otherwise about the abuse issue, that it's under very heavy loads

now define "under very heavy loads". does "normal use" or "stock power" fall under that category?

heavy loads = high HP levels through mods (more than stock)
Again, from what I've read.

 

[TuffGuy]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: geno

mitsu engines are bulletproof

Yeah especially the ones in first gen DSMs that crankwalked like it was going out of style

Not *all* of their engines are bulletproof

It was the 2nd gen ('95-'99) that had the crankwalk problems.

Subaru H4 engines are not that hard to work on (or at least not that hard when compared to other newer cars). Changing the sparkplugs in the DOHC engines (WRX EJ20, STi EJ25) is a pain in the ass, but everything else is not that hard. The top-mounted intercooler does not get in the way, it is actually mounted behind the engine above the transmission.

IIRC, the final drive dipstick for a Phase II SOHC EJ25 is located under the hood on the right side of the transmission (left side when looking at from the front of the car) near the firewall.

IIRC, it occured during the middle of the 2nd gen's run, and was fixed before the '99 model.

 

[TuffGuy]

Originally posted by: geno

Originally posted by: TuffGuy

Originally posted by: geno

Originally posted by: TuffGuy

Originally posted by: geno

mitsu engines are bulletproof

Yeah especially the ones in first gen DSMs that crankwalked like it was going out of style

Not *all* of their engines are bulletproof

that was in the second gen, it was limited to a couple of years, did not happen on both turbo models (IIRC), and occurs due to abuse (IIRC).

sorry, it was the early years of the 2nd gen right? I've heard otherwise about the abuse issue, that it's under very heavy loads

now define "under very heavy loads". does "normal use" or "stock power" fall under that category?

heavy loads = high HP levels through mods
Again, from what I've read.

ie, abuse. running the engine way over spec.

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: TuffGuy

Originally posted by: geno

Originally posted by: TuffGuy

Originally posted by: geno

Originally posted by: TuffGuy

Originally posted by: geno

mitsu engines are bulletproof

Yeah especially the ones in first gen DSMs that crankwalked like it was going out of style

Not *all* of their engines are bulletproof

that was in the second gen, it was limited to a couple of years, did not happen on both turbo models (IIRC), and occurs due to abuse (IIRC).

sorry, it was the early years of the 2nd gen right? I've heard otherwise about the abuse issue, that it's under very heavy loads

now define "under very heavy loads". does "normal use" or "stock power" fall under that category?

heavy loads = high HP levels through mods
Again, from what I've read.

ie, abuse. running the engine way over spec.

ie, something a bulletproof engine should take