no engine damage from piston slap

[Michael R Kirschner]

I just got my oil analysis back for my car . I have a 02 outback base
wagon with 32 k miles on it . I have had the car diagnosed with piston
slap at 6k miles . I use mobil 1 5w40 in the winter and 10w40 in the
summer I change the oil at 5 k intervals . My oil came back normal for
my engine . No abnormal wear due to the slap problem . So I guess SOA
is right that it does no damage to the engine . I sent the oil to
Blackstone labs . It cost 20 bucks and they supply the shipping
container .
Well I felt so good about my car that I gave it a good detailing to
day at work .
I now feel alot better and I'll just have to learn to live with the
noise .

Mike

 

[me]

I just got my oil analysis back for my car . I have a 02 outback base
wagon with 32 k miles on it . I have had the car diagnosed with piston
slap at 6k miles . I use mobil 1 5w40 in the winter and 10w40 in the
summer I change the oil at 5 k intervals . My oil came back normal for
my engine . No abnormal wear due to the slap problem . So I guess SOA
is right that it does no damage to the engine . I sent the oil to
Blackstone labs . It cost 20 bucks and they supply the shipping
container .
Well I felt so good about my car that I gave it a good detailing to
day at work .
I now feel alot better and I'll just have to learn to live with the
noise .

Mike

why live w/ the noise. my dealer replaced pistons, rings etc under
warranty this summer to get rid of the piston slap. car now runs
better/quieter/stronger.

k

 

[mmaggard]

I secant that this winter it's going to get worse real loud.
I am real suppressed that the dealer heard anything .
There normal policy is to hear nothing sounds good to me that's normal.
Demand a new short block .
Don't settle for any thing less .
And it's real hard to sale a car with piston slap.
Either the dealer pays now or you pay later.
Don't get me wrong I love my OB wagon. there is no car like it .
the way it rids and the handling in snow and ice .
but the piston slap is a problem and it will get louder with time .

Good luck

 

[Michael R Kirschner]

I have tried to have the dealer replace the short block they say no.
The only time they change short block is if the noise is there all the
time .I have a case # with SOA for the noise . The DSR gave me a 7
year 100k subaru gold warranty to show that piston slap does no engine
harm .
By the way what year is your outback .

mike

 

[mmaggard]

{Other than noise, how's does piston slap affect the car in the long
term?}


piston slap is a piston that 'slapping' or rattling against the cylinder
sides.
this is normally only tell the motor reaches temp .
your pistons round out as the motor warms up .
and the extra space is filled in and the nose goes away .
so way is this bad .
well that extra play the 'slapping' or rattling against the cylinder sides.
eats away at your cylinder little
by little and it takes longer for the knocking to go away . the cylinder get
larger and you get more blow by the{ black smoke} at start up that shortens
the life of your catalytic converter my converters where $700. each x2 and
the shop that put them on well not warranty them
because the piston slap and mileage so after I passed my vet test and a few
months later the Light is back on .
so now I have a real nice looking car that I cant sale .
that sounds like hell when its cold .
that I will have to replace the motor or keep replacing both the catalytic
converter It steel runs and drives and looks like new . but real
disappointing my last Toyota had 335K before it wet 6 feet under.
I am at 120k on my OB
My Dad has had 4 Subaru's and never a problem with them nothing major
So I know how good they can be .
So if your having slap at 6k good luck making it to 120k
I don't think you'll make it.
but that's just my 2 cents .

hell I was a nice guy and let it slide .
from now on I am not a nice guy when it come to this kind of stuff its to
costly .

{And how long will the piston slap stay away with a new block?}
forever or 10 sec's how bad dos your luck run .


{I plan on living forever... so far, so good}


ME TO

 

[Mike B.]

Start-up noise. Thought it was valve tap.
My '01 Outback was making a start-up noise. Thought it was a valve tap at
52K. Really loud when cold (30 degrees or less). After few minutes would go
away. On warm start-up no problem.
Brought it to dealer. Timing belt tensioner !. Warranty replacement
Getting the belt replaced ($80)while they replace the tensioner.
Would swear it was a valve tap.

 

[mmaggard]

Hay your covered That's grate don't worry be happy .
I did not know you had the ex warranty sounds like you have a good dealer
The DSR gave me a 7 year 100k subaru gold warranty