Forester piston slap - long term effects

[Steve Bukosky]

I've 50,000 miles on my 2002 Forester and the temperature that the
piston slap becomes noticable has seem to rise from the 42F degrees
that it originally seemed to be to seemingly all the time. Even in
warm weather I have what I would have previously described as a lifter
tapping. I have the 80,000 mile extended warranty and had intended to
keep the Forester until "the wheels fall off", as I usually do with my
cars. I can live with the noise if it won't shorten the life of the
engine but am wondering if I should make a demand for it to be fixed?
It doesn't use any oil between changes.

 

[jabario]

Try 10w30 oil if you are in a warm climate or during summer. It will
greatly reduce/eliminate noise.

 

[Edward Hayes]

If the noise is piston slap and according to Subaru if it does not go
away withing 5 minutes after starting then it's warranted for 5/60,000
miles. You say you have the extended warranty and if it's a Subaru
factory warranty then it should be covered. As to how it effects
engine life I don't really know but, suspect of you want to drive it
into the ground (250,000 miles) then It will be a problem with oil
burning as the rings will get tilted more and more by wear from the
cyl/piston clearance. MHO. Ed

 

[Danny Russell]

I've 50,000 miles on my 2002 Forester and the temperature that the
piston slap becomes noticable has seem to rise from the 42F degrees
that it originally seemed to be to seemingly all the time. Even in
warm weather I have what I would have previously described as a lifter
tapping. I have the 80,000 mile extended warranty and had intended to
keep the Forester until "the wheels fall off", as I usually do with my
cars. I can live with the noise if it won't shorten the life of the
engine but am wondering if I should make a demand for it to be fixed?
It doesn't use any oil between changes.

As far as I know, the only know long-term problem with the piston slap is that it has a tendency to
make the wheels fall off, so you should be OK. -Danny

 

[philjackson]

dont make me come over there and piston slap you