[Integrity]

Just wanted to share some pics with everyone. The STi has been at the dealer for about two weeks now. On friday I went in to get an update on its status.

The bad news; The engine failed the compression and leak down tests miserably. Cylinder number 2 was below factory spec, numbers 1 and 3 were just barely over the minimum, and number 4 was toast.

Some pics;

The view of the engine bay from under the car... somethings missing.


The block outside of the car with the heads removed.


The number 4 cylinder.


The number 4 piston with whats left of the piston ring.




The good news; I'm getting four new pistons. The dealer is also going to replace my clutch since the engine's out and mine is abnormally worn after only 11K miles.

[chmura]

So what is the story behind your car? How was it driven? Any track time? Mods? Etc?

[Garrett]

Take that broken Piston land and have it analysed... I bet Subaru changed the Silicon content of their pistons and they are probably 12% or greater, thus too brittle and the reason why we have had 5% failure rate on the newer STI's ...!





-Garrett

[Subpra]

These failures are really going to hurt the reputation of Subaru and the STi.

By the looks and sounds of it one would assume you ran this car hard. I don't know, but if you didn't, it doesn't look good for the rest of us. I will be interested to hear how you drove it and what mods you had.

[SR20steve]

Good old hypereucracktic pistons.

[Integrity]

Originally Posted by chmura

So what is the story behind your car? How was it driven? Any track time? Mods? Etc?

I drive it pretty hard, but thats why I bought it. Car was stock and I spent one evening at a dragstrip.

Originally Posted by Garrett

Take that broken Piston land and have it analysed... I bet Subaru changed the Silicon content of their pistons and they are probably 12% or greater, thus too brittle and the reason why we have had 5% failure rate on the newer STI's ...!





-Garrett

Can't. I asked if I could keep the number 4 piston and the tech said all parts that get replaced under warranty have to be sent back to Subaru.

[r1eater]

well crap I just traded in a totally realiable car for a time bomb

[GhoSStRyda]

at least the OP is getting 4 new pistons and a new clutch... sad to say but the new sti is kinda like a ticking time bomb...

i didn't drive my sti hard and cylinder 4 still failed @ 12k miles... seems like at least one new blown motor every week...

[torquemada]

Originally Posted by Garrett

Take that broken Piston land and have it analysed... I bet Subaru changed the Silicon content of their pistons and they are probably 12% or greater, thus too brittle and the reason why we have had 5% failure rate on the newer STI's ...!





-Garrett

5 % you mean 50 %

[WRXGuyInUSA]

Originally Posted by Garrett

Take that broken Piston land and have it analysed... I bet Subaru changed the Silicon content of their pistons and they are probably 12% or greater, thus too brittle and the reason why we have had 5% failure rate on the newer STI's ...!





-Garrett

Where do you come up with this stuff?!

[johnsm]

nothing wrong with the pistons its a ghetto ass tune!

[samleeiii]

I've heard from more than one reliable source that it's the pistons.

[houdni]

i do not know why they put these pistons in boosted cars...they are fine for N/A applications but not boost...they are sensitive to detonation. as the same piston materials were in mustangs 5.0 since 93...

[GunKata]

I tracked my car again this weekend, so far, so good :: fingers crossed :: , but looking to get a comp and leakdown test soon - while it's still running. If anything is abnormal - I may ditch the car, I don't know - but I do know it gets scarier reading this stuff on here every day

[WRXGuyInUSA]

I would be happy to pay $500 more MSRP for forged... they should make an option!