Difference between Outback 2.2 and 2.5?

dragon8504 · #1 10-25-2006, 09:18 PM

is there a way you can break down the Vin of a Subaru Legacy Outback model to tell the difference between an Outback model with the 2.2L enging or the 2.5L engine? I know the breakdown for a Acura Integra second generation but have no idea about the Subaru's. Also what other ways can you tell? It seems like the block might be bigger but that would be hard to tell from not being there in person. I know this isn't exactly SVX stuff but it still is Subaru stuff and as much as we all love our SVX's i know we love Subaru's more. Or if someone has one for sale or knows of one for sale let me know.

Manarius · #2 10-25-2006, 09:38 PM

Outbacks starting coming with 2.5's in 96. These are 160hp (or thereabouts) engines with the same general design as the EJ22. They are notorious for having headgasket problems (although, reports say that only 10-15% of engines are affected). Replacement of the HG's fixes this problem permanently as the stock HG was of poor design. This EJ25 design is the design that started the current EJ25 design. The engine is interference and DOHC (later revisions went to SOHC then back to DOHC).

The basic EJ22 is a 16 valve design with ~130hp. The EJ22 in 95-96 has solid lifters, a change from the HLA design of 89-94. Also, starting with 96, the EJ22 is a single port exhaust design. In 97, the crown of the piston head changed and the engine became interference. In 99, the EJ22 went phase II with a few changes.

The EG33 is basically a 89-94 EJ22 with two more pistons as they share the same stroke, bore, and non-interference HLA design. However, the EG33 has a coil on plug system whereas the EJ22 and EJ25 have one coil.

dragon8504 · #3 10-25-2006, 09:48 PM

awesome man, thanks for that information. But Is there a way that i can tell the difference by looking at the VIN, well i know there is just let me know what that difference is. would there be a badge on the top of the engine block just like we have with some SVX's that says 2.5L or 2.2L??? or another note somewhere that states it has a 2.5L engine or a 2.2L engine?

A totally different question all together, how easy or hard would it be to drop a EJ33 into a outback or something of that sort wouldn't have to be the outback model but somethign of that idea. When my old SVX's tranny blew i was thinking about tearing out the engine and droppping it in a legacy or outback. Some where i read that someone else did it with not much modification. think they of course had to adjust engine mounting brackets and possible move the radiatior up an inch or so. I'll probably just search it tomorrow but if you know and can tell me that would be awesome.

Manarius · #4 10-25-2006, 09:50 PM

Front of the block under the alternator it's stamped in. Plus, the Card on the driver's side strut has the VIN, Engine code, transmission code, trim and color codes.

huck369 · #5 10-26-2006, 05:33 AM

The only Legacy Outbacks with 2.2's are the 95's, and hte 96 manuals, the rest have 2.5's....96-99 had DOHC 2.5's, the newer ones have SOHC 2.5's

Jedz123 · #6 11-19-2006, 02:14 PM

Quote:

the only Legacy Outbacks with 2.2's are the 95's, and hte 96 manuals

I beg to differ, my friend had a 96 Legacy Outback 5-speed and the engine code EJ25 was cast on the block.

benebob · #7 11-26-2006, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jedz123

I beg to differ, my friend had a 96 Legacy Outback 5-speed and the engine code EJ25 was cast on the block.

He didn't say that a 96 manual tranny couldn't have the 25 did he?

As for being able to tell by the vin, the 6th number/letter of the vin is for the engine, however the 22 and 25 according to my decoder both are 6s.