Is there a liquid I can put in with an oil change to take this away?
I know I had a Impala with the same issue, when to dealer and got a bottle of liquid for ticky engines, and puff no more tick. Quiet as a mouse in fact.
Likely Subaru's piece of crap hydraulic-only timing belt tensioner. Tick tick ticky until it's gotten pumped up to full tension.
Not that I'm aware of.
If it's HLA noise, then perhaps, but likely culprit in our engine is the timing belt tensioner. My vehicle I believe has had that part replaced about 5-7 times now.
Aftermarket units are available with a spring backup to the hydraulic tensioning. Subaru of course hasn't changed their original (and flawed) design.
-- Todd H.
2001 Legacy Outback Wagon, 2.5L H-4 Chicago, Illinois USA
Probably the infamous 'piston slap'. See:
The link states it affects years 97-99. Mine is 2002 Impreza. You may be right all the same.
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