2008 SUBARU IMPREZA STI Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING ON COLD START UP. COMPRESSION TEST WAS PERFORMED AND CYL 4 RESULTED IN ~50-70 PSI, WHICH IS LESS THAN HALF THE SUBARU SPECIFICATION. SHORTBOCK HAD TO BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT APPROX 20,000 MILES. NO ROOT CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE WAS DETERMINED. *TT

ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING. SET UP AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR THE NEXT DAY. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER THE KNOCKING GOT WORSE AND THE ENGINE STARTED SQUEALING AND LOSING POWER. ENGINE SEIZED UP AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE. *TR

CAR HAS AN ENDEMIC PROBLEM WITH BREAKING PISTON RINGLANDS, RESULTING IN COPIOUS OIL CONSUMPTION AND EVENTUALLY A SEIZED ENGINE WHICH, IF IT HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY, CAN BE THE EQUIVALENT OF SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES IN TRAFFIC. ENDANGERING SURROUNDING VEHICLES AND THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER IF THE OIL FILM ON THE ROADWAY AND THE WINDSHIELDS OF FOLLOWING CARS DIDN'T ALREADY CAUSE THEM PROBLEMS. *TR

DRIVING THE CAR ON A WINDY ROAD, ACCELERATED OUT OF A CORNER IN 3RD GEAR. CAR STARTED SHAKING, CLICKING, AND RUNNING POORLY. FAILURE OF CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS ON THE CRANK SHAFT. ENGINE LONG BLOCK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

THE SUBARU STI SERIES KNOWN AS THE GR IS PRONE TO BREAKING PISTON RINGLANDS IF DETONATION EVER OCCURS, WHICH HAPPENS EASILY ON THIS ENGINE, WHICH IS NOW TUNED FOR MORE POWER YET FEWER EMISSIONS. THE RINGLAND BREAKAGE RESULTS IN POWER LOSS AND EXTREME OIL CONSUMPTION DUE TO BLOWBY AND IF NOT NOTICED IN TIME WILL LEAD TO ENGINE SEIZING. IF DRIVEN AGGRESSIVELY ENOUGH, THIS SEIZING DUE TO OIL LOSS CAN HAPPEN IN AS FEW AS 10 MINUTES. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE FOR THE RINGLAND BREAKAGE TO BE SO SEVERE THAT THE ENGINE SPRAY-COATS A LARGE SECTION OF ROADWAY, MAKING FOR THE EQUIVALENT OF A BLACK ICE CONDITION FOR OTHER TRAFFIC. A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD I'M NOT AWARE OF HAPPENING WITH THIS VEHICLE YET BUT STILL POSSIBLE IS NOT ONLY THE LOSS OF CONTROL SHOULD THE ENGINE SEIZE AND THE DRIVER NOT BE MECHANICALLY SAVVY ENOUGH TO KNOW DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH...

PISTON #4 HAD RINGLAND FAILURE OF BOTH RINGLANDS ON SAID PISTON IN MY 2008 SUBARU WRX STI. *TR