The same thing happened to my 2006 a couple of months ago. Pickup tube broke, engine starved and ended up throwing a rod through the top of the block. Short block was replaced in about two weeks.

 

Interesting.

The shop manual shows in the engine lube section, under the trouble shooting area that if there's 'no oil pressure' or 'low oil pressure' then one cause may be a broken oil pick up tube.

Seems this is not such an odd failure afterall...

Chuck.

 

Oddly enough I was talking about the same problem with my local tuner the other day. It had recently happened to them during a race and said he's seen it in every MY since at least 04

 

uugh not another thing to worry about on my 07.

 

I didn't say that he said it happens all the time or anything, just that it could happen to any year. One of those random gremlins that kinda haunts our motors. Anything can break though. Heck an owl could fly through your windshield just as easily (this happend to me by the way)

 

it's happened to more people than I'd like to believe.

 

Good thing I'm installing an Oil Pressure gauge soon. Much better than the useless light in the dash.

 

/start hijack

PM me when you put in pressure sensor in. I'm curious about which location you choose and how it goes. Saw a thread where they used stock sensor location under alternator. I used plug on the back and it was a major pita

/end hijack


I'm curious if it broke, by the time the gauge reported loss of pressure could you really kill the engine fast enough to avoid major damage?

 

Is there a preventive remedy for this for us with no warranty to speak of? If I went to get my engine replaced under warranty they would stroke out from laughter. Anything aftermarket available?

 

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Very curious to know.

 

Guys, this is not an isolated failure. I have counted atleast 10 people this has happend to. Not including the ones chimed in on this thread.

there are a couple threads on NASIOC that have started due to these concerns.

Subaru's oil pump pickup tubes are a VERY VERY bad design.

They are brazed and not welded. They crack suddenly and leave you with a blown motor. I would really, really like to see an updated part from subaru. Supposedly, if you read these links provided, Subaru has come out with an updated part and sent them to dealerships on "special" order. The consumer, me and you, cannot purchase this part. It's like they are hiding around something. They know they have a problem. They don't want to admit it.

I want a Subaru redesigned WELDED tube...or an aftermaket tube that uses the OEM pan. You can buy a new oil pan and tube aftermaket....but not for the OEM pan.

read these links, and look at these pics:


I think I "blowed-up" my STi. HELP! - Factory 2.5L Turbo Powertrain - NASIOC


04 STI motor failure root located - Warranty Issues & SOA Problems - NASIOC


STi engine, seized. - Warranty Issues & SOA Problems - NASIOC

OK... here are some photos of the culprit:

Word is that Subaru has since changed the design. The angled brace allowed for vibration that ultimately led to these failures. The new pick-up tube has a brace that is straighter preventing the vibrations - reportedly.

It really sucks that this DESIGN FLAW cost me about $5k and weeks without my car. Of course, I'm spending far more than that on additional mods! :disco:

Mike

 

Guys, this is not an isolated failure. I have counted atleast 10 people this has happend to. Not including the ones chimed in on this thread.

there are a couple threads on NASIOC that have started due to these concerns.

Subaru's oil pump pickup tubes are a VERY VERY bad design.

They are brazed and not welded. They crack suddenly and leave you with a blown motor. I would really, really like to see an updated part from subaru. Supposedly, if you read these links provided, Subaru has come out with an updated part and sent them to dealerships on "special" order. The consumer, me and you, cannot purchase this part. It's like they are hiding around something. They know they have a problem. They don't want to admit it.

I want a Subaru redesigned WELDED tube...or an aftermaket tube that uses the OEM pan. You can buy a new oil pan and tube aftermaket....but not for the OEM pan.

Im taking my in for 30k service to renick this week i will have to ask them about it they are very good place i dont think will BS me around

 

It happened to this guy TWICE! once on the bone stock motor....and NEARLY on his 5k "built" motor.

Well, Troy (and the rest of you).... You're gonna LOVE THIS. Since my rebuild, I've noticed the oil pressure steadily dropping over time at the same engine speeds. Where it was once 75 psi... was now 50 psi. At idle it was 25 - 30... now 10 - 12. Then at a stop light, I watched the pressure go to below 10 and the light came on. Crap!!! I took it back to Japtrix last Friday.

Today, they dropped the oil pan, and GUESS WHAT!!! The BRAND NEW oil pick-up tube is CRACKED at the braze!! NO KIDDING! It hadn't broken all the way through, yet. But, it was DEFINITELY cracked! The car has only 5000 miles on it since the rebuild. And, this was a new short block (and oil tube) direct from Subaru. And, the pick-up tube had the newly designed brace. WTF!! So, Japtrix is ordering ANOTHER pick-up tube.

This begs the question (and I think I know the answer): Are there any aftermarket pick-up tubes?? (I'm guessing no.) Next question is what can be done to reinforce the weak point?

The moral of the story: If you don't have a GOOD set of gauges, GET SOME NOW. And, if you do... WATCH THEM! I spent about $1500 on gauges, and it just saved me from another blown engine.

Unbelievable, eh???

Mike

 

^^^^from same guy

Thanks, Magnum. You'll enjoy what is to come...

I just got my STi back from Japtrix 2 hours ago. BTW, BIG PROPS to Japtrix. They are the best!! Very diligent, concerned technicians and excellent service from everyone there. My compliments to Nate, Bala, Roger, and Roger. They took good care of me.

New pick-up has been installed. I feel vindicated that it wasn't my imagination that the oil pressure was steadily dropping. Thank gawd I was keeping an eye on the pressure! The NEW (5000 miles old) pick-up tube from SUBARU was cracked... BIG TIME. It would not have been much longer for it to separate completely.

I'm posting some new photos of the old pick-up tube first with some closer views of the fracture point. This is not due from an impact, folks. Subaru better come clean on this, or the consequences to their reputation and sales may be quite dire.

OK... Here we go:

Original pick-up tube that caused engine to go boom:

Close-up of mounting flange:

Close-up of broken end of tube:

Whole assembly:

OK... Here we are 5000 miles after a new short-block (and obviously new pick-up tube. Notice the brace is a different, straighter design. Unfortunately, they didn't solve the problem.

Whole assembly of the NEW pick-up (#2):

Close-up of crack at mounting point side of tube #2... WTF??

Going around at about 90-degrees at a time for a good view:

Still going...

And going... I'm pretty sure I could finish ripping it apart with my bare hands.

Amazing, eh???

Mike

 

Wonder if its happens to maybe certain setups or driving styles more. After 5k miles i think we would here more about it if they were so prone to break that early.

 

Man that sucks... Looks like it happen to all different year STi also... uh... oh.

 

you would think the bean counters at SOA would notice that it might be cheaper on the long run to sell these revised version of pick-up tubes than replacing shortblocks under warranty.

 

ya you would think so.

How long ago was that subaru tech post? maybe they do sell them now?

 

got me real nervous now....

 

Been picked up by the LGT guys as well. Seems the pick-up tube for the LGT is the same part #. There's a little part # info there as well.

Oil pickup tube failures - important! - Subaru Legacy Forums

 

Damn, 72K miles on 06 STI? I have only 10K on mine, and yes Oil Pressure Gauge is my next mod.

 

Found another one posted today:

On a related note, a recent engine I tore down that had complete loss of oil supply while on track (sump tube failed), the wrist pins had to be beat out with a huge slide hammer. I did not measure to see if they were bent...but they were well stuck in the engine pretty well.

Maybe the stock ECU in this car caused the sump tube to break?

 

Here's the part number for the tube they replaced when my engine blew about a month ago: 15049aa110

Basically, the same thing happened to me that everyone is reporting. Oil light came on, then about 20 seconds later my engine was seized. Tech reports that pickup tube was broken and short block needed to replace.

 

From what I understand, the stock pressure sensor is essentially an on-off switch. It won't let the car know the oil pressure is low until it's near 0 psi. At that point, you've already been driving for a while with way too little oil. A gauge should give plenty of warning.

 

Does anyone know if the 08 models have a revised oil pickup tube, or if it is the same as the 07's?
-mark

 

anyone?
-mark

 

06 sti 76,000KM (47,000miles)
just broke (or cracked as the dealer has stated).

 

^^did they cover you under warranty?

 

well, i just bought an 06 sti from a friend of mine, whos oil pick up tube broke at 48k miles and the entire motor, heads, turbo was all replaced. now, at 82k miles i lost oil pressure, immediatly shut it down and towed to my shop, pulled the pan and yup, another broken tube. and this one was the NEW version thats not suppose to break, oh well, im gettin a moroso pan and aftermarket pick up tube, no more subaru crap

 

It happened to my 04 thats why I sold it.

 

Here ya go...

Upgraded Oil Pickup Tube - Engine Rebuild and Upgrade Center

 

This is just OUTRAGOUS.

What is SOA doing? Wating for every motor to fail so the car will be out of warranty and the owner will have to pay 5K for a new short block?

I'm really not liking this at all.

I think we should collect data about this ASAP. Year and milage of cars that had this part failure and how they addressed it.

It doesn't seem like Subaru addressed this right, since the new part failed again.

So then what? you have to pay $229 for an aftermarket part and the seller claiming no responsibility for your engine.

WOW...........just wow.

I have a perfectly good motor now and an oil pressure gauge as well. I'd be very very pissed if this POS little part breaks and ruins a perfectly good engine.

I emailed SOA with my VIN and awaiting an answer.

Very disappointing to hear these things out of an engine that won so many awards.