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Subaru engines

Subaru has impacted the auto industry in a number of ways, including dozens of award winning makes and models of cars.  Perhaps more than cars themselves, the parts produced by Subaru have made their mark.  Subaru engines have certainly been admirable in their performance, and among those that are admirable, the Subaru EJ series receives (and deserves) the most praise.

The line of EJ Subaru engines was introduced in 1989 with the EJ15.  This series of engines has become the staple of all Subaru engines, and is constructed from sixteen valve horizontal flat-4 pistons in one of two major operation configurations.  These configurations are either the single overhead camshaft or the double overhead camshaft.  Another alteration from model to model is whether they are naturally aspirated (with natural ventilation for engine cooling) or super charged.

In the early days of the EJ, the horsepower was a revving 120.  However, since that time the Subaru engines have been upgraded to the point that 320 is the typical horsepower of newer models (including the legendary Subaru Impreza WRX STI).  The engines of note include the EJ15, EJ16, EJ18, EJ20, EJ22, and EJ25 (with a turbocharged version of the EJ20 making its own mark).

In addition to being used in the Subaru line of cars, these engines have been used in other vehicles that may seem surprising to some.  The VW engine is often swapped, post manufacturer, for a Subaru.  Light aircraft have also been known to use the EJ Subaru engines.  Clearly, these engines are a force to be reckoned with.