Subaru EJ20
The most famous problem of engines of this family is high oil consumption.
Subaru Legacy/Outback engines
Subaru Legacy / Outback is a Japanese off-road and compact class station wagon. Produced by Subaru since 1989. Legacy was created to conquer and oust the competitive models of its class from the North American market. In 1996, the Outback all-terrain vehicle was released on its base, the name of which literally sounds like “wilderness”. Since 2014, the 6th generation of the Legacy model has been released. The name of the car is translated as “heritage”. Cars are made in the USA and Japan.
The Subaru Legacy/Outback was offered with 9 engines since 1989 (8 petrol, 1 diesel). Displacement ranges from 1.8 to 3.6 liters, power output from 115 to 328 hp. 6 use a timing chain and 3 a timing belt. 4 are turbocharged. The longest rated lifespan belongs to the Subaru EZ36 (about 320,000 km).
Subaru Legacy/Outback engines by generation
| Engine | Years | Volume | Power | Fuel | Timing | Oil | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Legacy 1 (BC) 1989–1993 | |||||||
| Subaru EJ20T | 1989–1993 | 2.0 L | 170–328 hp | petrol, turbo | belt | 4.7 L | ~225,000 km |
| Subaru Legacy 2 (BD) 1994–1998 | |||||||
| Subaru EJ25 | 1994–1998 | 2.5 L | 155–310 hp | petrol, NA / turbo | belt | 4–4.6 L | ~300,000 km |
| Subaru Outback 1 (BG) 1994–1998 | |||||||
| Subaru EJ25 | 1994–1998 | 2.5 L | 155–310 hp | petrol, NA / turbo | belt | 4–4.6 L | ~300,000 km |
| Subaru Legacy 3 (BE) 2000–2003 | |||||||
| Subaru EZ30 | 2000–2003 | 3.0 L | 220–245 hp | petrol | chain | 5.7–5.8 L | ~300,000 km |
| Subaru Outback 2 (BH) 2000–2004 | |||||||
| Subaru EZ30 | 2000–2004 | 3.0 L | 220–245 hp | petrol | chain | 5.7–5.8 L | ~300,000 km |
| Subaru Legacy and Forester. This motor was seriously upgraded 2003 | |||||||
| Subaru EJ20 | 2003 | 2.0 L | 115–190 hp | petrol | belt | 4 L | ~300,000 km |
| Subaru Legacy 5 (BM) 2009–2015 | |||||||
| Subaru EZ36 | 2009–2014 | 3.6 L | 250–260 hp | petrol | chain | 6.3 L | ~320,000 km |
| Subaru EE20 | 2009–2014 | 2.0 L | 147–150 hp | diesel, turbo | chain | 5.6 L | ~250,000 km |
| Subaru FB25 | 2012–2015 | 2.5 L | 172–185 hp | petrol | chain | 4.8 L | ~250,000 km |
| Subaru FA20 | 2012–2014 | 2.0 L | 200–300 hp | petrol | chain | 5.1–6.3 L | ~230,000 km |
| Subaru Outback 4 (BR) 2009–2014 | |||||||
| Subaru EZ36 | 2009–2014 | 3.6 L | 250–260 hp | petrol | chain | 6.3 L | ~320,000 km |
| Subaru EE20 | 2009–2014 | 2.0 L | 147–150 hp | diesel, turbo | chain | 5.6 L | ~250,000 km |
| Subaru Legacy 6 (BN) 2014–2019 | |||||||
| Subaru FA20 | 2014–2019 | 2.0 L | 200–300 hp | petrol | chain | 5.1–6.3 L | ~230,000 km |
| Subaru Outback 6 (BT) 2021–present | |||||||
| Subaru CB18 | 2021–present | 1.8 L | 177 hp | petrol, turbo | chain | 4.3 L | ~200,000 km |
| Subaru Legacy and Forester. The power unit in most versions was equipped with a proprietary AVCS phase control system | |||||||
| Subaru EJ20 | 2.0 L | 115–190 hp | petrol | belt | 4 L | ~300,000 km | |
| Subaru Legacy and Forester. This power unit existed in two degrees of forcing: 125 or 135 hp | |||||||
| Subaru EJ20 | 2.0 L | 115–190 hp | petrol | belt | 4 L | ~300,000 km | |
Subaru Legacy/Outback engine FAQ
What engines were used in the Subaru Legacy/Outback?
Subaru Legacy 1 (BC) (1989–1993): Subaru EJ20T; Subaru Legacy 2 (BD) (1994–1998): Subaru EJ25; Subaru Outback 1 (BG) (1994–1998): Subaru EJ25; Subaru Legacy 3 (BE) (2000–2003): Subaru EZ30; Subaru Outback 2 (BH) (2000–2004): Subaru EZ30; Subaru Legacy and Forester. This motor was seriously upgraded (2003): Subaru EJ20; Subaru Legacy 5 (BM) (2009–2015): Subaru EZ36, Subaru EE20, Subaru FB25 and Subaru FA20; Subaru Outback 4 (BR) (2009–2014): Subaru EZ36 and Subaru EE20; Subaru Legacy 6 (BN) (2014–2019): Subaru FA20; Subaru Outback 6 (BT) (2021–present): Subaru CB18; Subaru Legacy and Forester. The power unit in most versions was equipped with a proprietary AVCS phase control system: Subaru EJ20; Subaru Legacy and Forester. This power unit existed in two degrees of forcing: 125 or 135 hp: Subaru EJ20.
Which Subaru Legacy/Outback engine is the most durable?
By rated service life the most durable Subaru Legacy/Outback engines are: Subaru EZ36 — about 320,000 km; Subaru EJ20 — about 300,000 km; Subaru EJ25 — about 300,000 km. Actual lifespan depends heavily on maintenance and oil change intervals.
How much oil does the Subaru Legacy/Outback 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 EZ30 — 5.7–5.8 L (5W-30); Subaru EZ36 — 6.3 L (5W-30); Subaru FA20 — 5.1–6.3 L (0W-20 (FA20D) 5W-30 (FA20F)); Subaru FB25 — 4.8 L (0W-20).
Does the Subaru Legacy/Outback have a timing belt or chain?
Timing chain: Subaru CB18, Subaru EE20, Subaru EZ30, Subaru EZ36, Subaru FA20 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 Legacy/Outback available with a diesel engine?
Yes: Subaru EE20.
Engine details
Subaru EJ20T
The key to long-term operation of a turbo engine is oil pressure control.
Subaru EJ25
The main complaints of car owners with such an engine are related to oil consumption.
Subaru EZ30
First of all, this engine consumes a lot of fuel and is prone to oil leaks.
Subaru EE20
The first years of production in these units, the crankshaft could not withstand the load and burst.
Subaru EZ36
Most often, the network complains about high fuel consumption and regular oil leaks.
Subaru FB25
Unlike the 2-liter counterparts, this engine is not famous for its strong oil consumption.
Subaru FA20
At first, these units were shaking at low speeds, but the firmware fixed everything.
Subaru CB18
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
- Subaru Forester 7 shared engines
- Subaru Impreza 4 shared engines
- Subaru Impreza WRX 3 shared engines
- SAAB 9-2X 2 shared engines
- Subaru Tribeca 2 shared engines
- Isuzu Aska 1 shared engine
- Subaru Baja 1 shared engine
- Subaru XV 1 shared engine