So, I've gotten this 65k-mile MAP Phase II '00 RS motor swapped into my Outback after destroying everything frontside on my 180k-mile Phase I in an accident, and around 3k or so I'm getting some bottom end noise. Ordinarily, I'd say it was rod knock and decided "shit! I may as well drive it until it goes and then buy another block", but seeing as how I've driven it about 500 miles without it getting noticably worse, I'm thinking it's more piston slap than rod knock...? I know that the Phase IIs have a shorter skirt/lighter pistons than the Phase I's and are without oil squirters from my uderstanding and can see how both of these factors could lead to slap. This isn't my first rodeo by any means, but I'd like to hear from some of you other Subaru veterans before going ahead and writing this block off as a knocker.

The previous owner had a mild turbo kit on it (~4psi) for somewhere around 20k miles until he decided he wanted more power and pulled it in favor of a V.4 STi setup and RHD conversion, etc. I talked to him today and he was surprised to hear of the bottom end noise and insisted that he had never had a problem with it and only pulled it to make more power. I believe him and trust him as a friend not to sel me a knocking motor.

The skinny:
-Do Phase II blocks have a history of piston slap, or are they troopers even with rod knock?
-Who has a good Phase II block these days, or another compatible block (esp. EJ22T)?

Thanks fellas!
-mranlet

 

If you are in the area I can take a listen to the motor. You can drive on it with some knock but if you push it hard it will get worse. Plus the longer you drive on it the more damage you will cause. If it is making metal then you may damage your cams and heads from metal in the oil spreading to all parts of the motor. I would say dump your oil and see if you have metal flakes(will look like gold pearl) in it. This will be a sure sign that you have damaged the motor. If no metal noted then add fresh oil and keep an eye on it.

Josh

 

That's pretty much what I'm planning on doing Josh. After I first heard it I drained the 10-30 mobil 1 in favor of some 20w50 and the oil looked alright (free of debris).

Weren't you pushing these blocks to find their limit recently? What sort of problems were they developing under excessive boost?

 

no I have been running some high compression na application