Does anyone have experience on Subaru engines? I am curiouse about reliability on these engines.

How is fuel burn & would you use/buy one?
Looking to possibly buy a Rebel with a Suby.
Thanks
byeBill

No direct knowledge, but know of a RV6 that caught on fire on landing as fuel rail broke and was leaking gas.
Not real sure where the fault was just passing it on. Total loss!
GT

cessnaford wrote:Does anyone have experience on Subaru engines? I am curiouse about reliability on these engines.

How is fuel burn & would you use/buy one?
Looking to possibly buy a Rebel with a Suby.
Thanks
byeBill

I think they are great in Subaru cars. I would never buy an airplane with one. I have no ownership experience, but of all the airplanes I have seen with them installed, they just do not perform or stay together.

I have no airplane experience with them either but couierguy had one so I hope he chimes in. They are great engines in cars. I am a subaru lover and have experience working on the EJ22 and EJ25. I wouldn't install one in a plane I was building but I would have no qualms flying one that did as long as I was happy with the CG and the performance.

I put 70,000 miles on my EJ22 before I sold it (180,000 total miles) and my wife has ~40,000 on her EJ25 (~100,000 total miles). I don't know what RPM they turn in a airplane but if you can keeps the temps down and don't over work them they are a very reliable engine. If you over work them up they will blow the head gasket.

Most days at the local ski area above my place, the percent of Soobs driven by the hard core locals is over 50%, they are hugely respected around here. I know MANY that have over 300K on them, and have been thrashed by some knuckle dragging snowboarder the whole time, they really hold up. I have had 2 I bought for 1K with well over 200K, and then dragged along behind the crane and generally abused, and then sold for what I paid for it after a couple years of service and no problems whatsoever.

My EA-81 in my first S-7 held up well for 1300 hrs, it was professionally modded as a complete system by a great mechanic and pilot who was smart enough to keep it simple. His company name was Stratus, now defunct I believe, he sold it after finding a real job. The crank and basic guts of the engine were bullet proof in his estimation, so as long as the little details (fuel delivery, reduction system, and ignition ) were also done "right", you were good to go. Car conversions have a bad rap, mostly deserved, but a careful gleaning of the cause will almost always show the cause was the "little details". I know nothing of the model you mention, but it will only be as good as the sub systems!

I did not go with another Soob for my current plane, as the 912 was now available in a 100 hp version, I had a bit more discretionary income, and saved a few hundred hours in kit construction time by sticking with the extremely well engineered and thought out Rans firewall forward kit. As a result my re-sale is now higher, I use about 1 GPH less, and cruise about 8 to 10 MPH faster, due to the slimmer and lighter Rotax. If I build a third S-7 (getting that itch, again), I'd go with the FI version of the 912S, for even better/less fuel burn.

PM Nevada Jim. I am not sure if it is the same model as this but he flew behind a Soob in a Glastar and even ordered an Eggenfeller Subaru for his Tundra but decided not to install it after an ignition problem caused him to force land the Glastar. There was no redundancy for the electronic ignition and that was the game changer for him. He sold it and then bought a used I-O-360 Superior for his project.

I think the EJ-22's are a great engine but I have heard nothing good about them in planes (except Courierguys). They are a great conversion in the VW Vanagons. The early EJ-25's had head problems that are easily fixed with the new metal head Gasket. I did one in my daughters car and it was not much fun as I didn't take it out of the car. It is a great time to buy one (whole car) right now because a lot of people will find out their heater quit working this summer. It is the exhaust being pushed into the water jacket. Dealer will charge $1800 to fix it so there is always a lot for sale about now.

I know of 2 aircraft that had Subaru engines , both with serious problems . #1 RV-6a with egfather (Florida ) engine with all new gearbox / stuff /engine couldn't keep tempature under redline this was on a RV built by veteran RV builder (1/2 dozen expementals ) Richard S. #2nd (Tim Q.) Was glass star with Subaru engine (new from egfather Florida also) quit running and made it back to runway barely . In next weeks engine shut down at a alarming rate engine was removed and sold on eBay -- gone for ever we hope. These are my experience and I will NEVER SIT BEHIND A SUBARU AGAIN except in a ground bound car. Real (Cont./lyc) aircraft engines are built and Certified to carry you for hours of Reliable dependable power ----- much more costly to buy than there ground bound counterparts.

182 STOL driver wrote:RV-6a with egfather (Florida ) engine

Haven't heard of him. Must be a new player.

Zzz wrote:

182 STOL driver wrote:RV-6a with egfather (Florida ) engine

Haven't heard of him. Must be a new player.

Eggenfeller Subaru

GT

Gentleman,

Thank you. I think I'll sit on the sidelines & not buy it (with a Murphy Rebell behind it).

My heart is on a Rans. & I think I might find it. With a little sweat & patience.

Thanks again
byeBill

M6RV6 wrote:

Zzz wrote:

182 STOL driver wrote:RV-6a with egfather (Florida ) engine

Haven't heard of him. Must be a new player.

Eggenfeller Subaru

GT

Right George I didn't get spelling right BR

cessnaford wrote:Does anyone have experience on Subaru engines? I am curiouse about reliability on these engines.

How is fuel burn & would you use/buy one?
Looking to possibly buy a Rebel with a Suby.
Thanks
byeBill

EVERY FLIGHT IN A Experiential You are the test pilot .

I checked my log and Bill is right. My plane started in phase I testing and now is in Phase II where it likely will stay. I will always be a test pilot, but without experimental aircraft there would never be production ones and ALL pilots will be left complaining about cost of ownership, 60 year lags in engine technology and regulatory hurdles and lockdown of design improvements.

As a group, members on this board appreciate freedom and hands-off style government very highly.
The experimental aircraft category is the largest celebration of both freedom and responsibility that exists anywhere in aviation.

There are good experimental engine/frame combinations out there. You just need to find the right one.

182 STOL driver wrote:

cessnaford wrote:Does anyone have experience on Subaru engines? I am curiouse about reliability on these engines.

How is fuel burn & would you use/buy one?
Looking to possibly buy a Rebel with a Suby.
Thanks
byeBill

EVERY FLIGHT IN A Experiential You are the test pilot .