Subaru Forester engines

Subaru Forester is a Japanese compact crossover car, produced since 1997 at the Subaru brand plant. The car is very popular in the USA, Australia and Russia as a large family SUV. Outwardly, the model resembles a station wagon. The versions for the Japanese domestic market differ significantly from the export versions intended primarily for North America.

Subaru Forester, 1st generation (SF), 1997–2002

First generation Subaru Forester, 1997–2002 The first generation Subaru Forester, which debuted in 1997, was based on the Impreza platform. As conceived by the creators, the car, which became one of the first representatives of the crossover class, was supposed to combine the best qualities of a passenger car and an SUV. Forester had an all-wheel drive transmission with a center differential and a demultiplier.

Under the hood of the car was a two-liter four-cylinder boxer engine. The atmospheric version of this power unit had a power of 122–137 hp, a turbocharged version of 168–174 hp on export vehicles and 250 hp. on vehicles for the Japanese market. Later, the lineup was replenished with a modification with a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine that developed 165 hp. Gearboxes – five-speed manual transmission or four-speed automatic transmission.

In 2000, Subaru Forester received minor changes in appearance. In total, up to 2002, 520 thousand cars were produced.

Subaru Forester, 2nd generation (SG), 2002–2008

Second generation Subaru Forester, 2002–2008 The second generation of the model debuted in 2002. Subaru Forester received a completely new body, but the basic design remained the same: only four-wheel drive, boxer engines, manual or automatic transmissions. The two-liter engine developed 137–140 hp in the atmospheric version, and 220 hp in the turbocharged version. The 2.5-liter engine had a power of 173 hp, and its turbo version – 210-224 hp.

In 2000, a “charged” Subaru Forester STi appeared with a 265-horsepower 2.5 engine, a six-speed manual transmission and a sports suspension. Such crossovers were sold only in the Japanese market.

Restyling in 2005 completely changed the look of the Forester, and power units were also modernized at the same time. The two-liter naturally aspirated engine now developed 158 hp, and the power of the 2.5-liter turbo engine increased to 230 hp. In this form, cars of the second generation were produced until 2008, in total 675 thousand cars rolled off the assembly line.

Subaru Forester, 3rd generation (SH), 2008–2013

Third generation Subaru Forester, 2008–2013 The 2008 sample model has become longer, taller, more spacious, but at the same time it has lost one of its characteristic features – frameless doors. There were few changes in technology, the only noticeable innovation was a two-liter boxer turbodiesel for the European market with a capacity of 147 hp, this was the first diesel engine in the history of the company.

The Subaru Forester was also offered with naturally aspirated 2.0 and 2.5 petrol engines, developing 150 and 172 hp, respectively, as well as with a 2.5-liter turbo engine with 230 hp. In 2011, the Forester received a new generation of gasoline engines of the same volume, and the model range was replenished with a car boosted to 263 hp with a version of the 2.5-liter turbo unit. All crossovers were equipped with a manual or automatic transmission and had all-wheel drive.

The production of the fourth generation Foresters ended in 2013, in total more than 850 thousand of these machines were produced.

Subaru Forester, 4th generation, 2012–2018

Fourth generation Subaru Forester, 2012–2018 The fourth generation of the Subaru Forester crossover was produced in Japan from 2012 to 2018. Versions with petrol boxer engines 2.0 (150 hp) and 2.5 (171 hp) were offered, as well as with a two-liter turbo engine with 241 hp. The basic two-liter cars were equipped with a manual transmission, the rest of the options had a variator. The drive could only be complete.

Subaru Forester, 5th generation, 2018

Fifth generation Subaru Forester, 2018 The 5th generation Subaru Forester is a mid-size crossover that has been produced in Japan since 2018. In 2021, the company carried out a restyling of the model.

Cars are equipped with gasoline engines of 2.0 and 2.5 liters. All versions of the Subaru Forester model have all-wheel drive and a stepless variator.

The Subaru Forester was offered with 8 engines since 1997 (7 petrol, 1 diesel). Displacement ranges from 1.8 to 2.5 liters, power output from 115 to 328 hp. 5 use a timing chain and 3 a timing belt. 4 are turbocharged. The longest rated lifespan belongs to the Subaru EJ20 (about 300,000 km).

Subaru Forester engines by generation

EngineYearsVolumePowerFuelTimingOilLifespan
Subaru Forester 1 (SF) 1997–2002
Subaru EJ251997–20022.5 L155–310 hppetrol, NA / turbobelt4–4.6 L~300,000 km
Subaru EJ20T1997–20022.0 L170–328 hppetrol, turbobelt4.7 L~225,000 km
Subaru Forester 3 (SH) 2008–2013
Subaru EE202008–20132.0 L147–150 hpdiesel, turbochain5.6 L~250,000 km
Subaru FB202010–20132.0 L148–162 hppetrolchain4.8–4.9 L~250,000 km
Subaru Forester 2 2010–2013
Subaru FB252010–20132.5 L172–185 hppetrolchain4.8 L~250,000 km
Subaru Forester 4 (SJ) 2012–2018
Subaru FB202012–20182.0 L148–162 hppetrolchain4.8–4.9 L~250,000 km
Subaru FA202013–20182.0 L200–300 hppetrolchain5.1–6.3 L~230,000 km
Subaru Forester 5 (SK) 2018–present
Subaru FB202018–present2.0 L148–162 hppetrolchain4.8–4.9 L~250,000 km
Subaru CB182020–present1.8 L177 hppetrol, turbochain4.3 L~200,000 km
Other Subaru Forester engines generation not specified
Subaru EJ201989–20152.0 L115–190 hppetrolbelt4 L~300,000 km

Subaru Forester engine FAQ

What engines were used in the Subaru Forester?

Subaru Forester 1 (SF) (1997–2002): Subaru EJ25 and Subaru EJ20T; Subaru Forester 3 (SH) (2008–2013): Subaru EE20 and Subaru FB20; Subaru Forester 2 (2010–2013): Subaru FB25; Subaru Forester 4 (SJ) (2012–2018): Subaru FB20 and Subaru FA20; Subaru Forester 5 (SK) (2018–present): Subaru FB20 and Subaru CB18.

Which Subaru Forester engine is the most durable?

By rated service life the most durable Subaru Forester engines are: Subaru EJ20 — about 300,000 km; Subaru EJ25 — about 300,000 km; Subaru EE20 — about 250,000 km. Actual lifespan depends heavily on maintenance and oil change intervals.

How much oil does the Subaru Forester engine take?

Engine oil capacity with filter: Subaru CB18 — 4.3 L (0W-16, 0W-20); Subaru EE20 — 5.6 L (5W-30); Subaru EJ20 — 4 L (5W-30); Subaru EJ20T — 4.7 L (5W-30); Subaru EJ25 — 4–4.6 L (5W-30); Subaru FA20 — 5.1–6.3 L (0W-20 (FA20D) 5W-30 (FA20F)); Subaru FB20 — 4.8–4.9 L (0W-20); Subaru FB25 — 4.8 L (0W-20).

Does the Subaru Forester have a timing belt or chain?

Timing chain: Subaru CB18, Subaru EE20, Subaru FA20, Subaru FB20 and Subaru FB25; timing belt: Subaru EJ20, Subaru EJ20T and Subaru EJ25. Belts must be replaced on schedule: on many engines a broken belt bends the valves.

Was the Subaru Forester available with a diesel engine?

Yes: Subaru EE20.

Engine details

Subaru EJ20

Subaru EJ20

1989–2015 · 2.0 L · petrol · 115–190 hp · belt

The most famous problem of engines of this family is high oil consumption.

Subaru EJ20T

Subaru EJ20T

1989–present · 2.0 L · petrol · 170–328 hp · belt

The key to long-term operation of a turbo engine is oil pressure control.

Subaru EJ25

Subaru EJ25

1994–present · 2.5 L · petrol · 155–310 hp · belt

The main complaints of car owners with such an engine are related to oil consumption.

Subaru EE20

Subaru EE20

2008–present · 2.0 L · diesel · 147–150 hp · chain

The first years of production in these units, the crankshaft could not withstand the load and burst.

Subaru FB20

Subaru FB20

2010–present · 2.0 L · petrol · 148–162 hp · chain

The most famous problem of this unit is oil consumption from the first kilometers.

Subaru FB25

Subaru FB25

2010–present · 2.5 L · petrol · 172–185 hp · chain

Unlike the 2-liter counterparts, this engine is not famous for its strong oil consumption.

Subaru FA20

Subaru FA20

2012–present · 2.0 L · petrol · 200–300 hp · chain

At first, these units were shaking at low speeds, but the firmware fixed everything.

Subaru CB18

Subaru CB18

2020–present · 1.8 L · petrol · 177 hp · chain

This turbo engine has just appeared and there are no intelligible statistics of malfunctions, so we can only assume potentially problematic areas…

Models with the same engines

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