Basic engine replacement questions

[nopeda]

Vehicle Details: 2010 Subaru Forester 2.5L 170 hp engine EJ253
Even though this is an Outback forum maybe some people here could help.

I have a 2010 Forester with +200K miles but the underside looks good and clean and rust free which is fantastic for Maine. It has started knocking and stalling and the garage says it's a rod so with this many miles I should put a different engine in it or get rid of it. Being good underneath I'm thinking a used or remanufactured engine. I'm seeing remanufactured prices from $3.5K to $8K. Pretty well guess the $8K range might be for real, but can you get a remanufactured engine for around $4K with a 4 year warranty or is that necessarily a scam? Best legit sounding so far is 64K miles with a 90 day warranty, no core charge and free shipping. What I'm afraid of is that timing belt and head gasket horror those things have after 100K miles or so. Already went through that once and don't want to buy a used engine for $2500 and then in a year or two throw another $2K into it for that issue IF a remanufactured is possible for $4K or even $5K.

Is there a reasonable source for remanufactured engines that you guys are familiar with and would recommend?

Another thought is get a used engine with around 60K miles and have the garage replace the timing belt and head gaskets while it's still out of the vehicle. If they could do it for $1K or less that would be worth it maybe?

Thank you for any help learning this stuff!!
David
Maine, USA

 

[bmart]

There are a lot of JDM engines available as well as USDM. You can find with a quick Google search. Even Ebay usually has a bunch. Just be sure to get the right engine so that the connections are the same and electronics work properly without throwing codes. A Forester forum will likely have all of the answers that you seek.

 

[nopeda]

I don't know what JDM or USDM mean but I found several remanufacture selections and some of them say they are the EJ253 which I need. Hopefully the one from reman-engine.com is. They say it is and I ordered one for $4016 including shipping and I get $300 back from the core charge...30 days to get it to them. 5 year unlimited mileage warranty, so they say.

Should it come with heads do you think? The mechanic asked me that and I didn't know because I didn't think to ask. I wanted him to check into it, having made a simple list with phone numbers so he could find out stuff like that but he said it would be better if I did it. No valve covers, oil pan, etc... I don't know what all.

As you mentioned it seems a Forester forum would be very helpful but I posted to two of them and got not a single reply. You're the only one.

 

[bmart]

That is a ton of money for a used engine, especially an incomplete one, as you'll have to pay labor to have those items swapped over. I hope that it is complete plug and play and that it works for you. The warranty is really nice.

JDM is Japanese Domestic Market, and US is...you know.

 

[keith3267]

ATK reman from Jeggs is under $4400 plus install will run probably up to $2k

 

[Dukhnt]

Isn't there a reliable shop that deals with imports / Subarus that can pull, rebuild, install for you?