Buying A 1995 Liberty gen2

Bobbrumby · Post by **Bobbrumby** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:00 pm

I am thinking of buying a gen2 liberty with the 2.2l motor and dual range box with 170k km on it. I have owned a Brumby in the past and loved it, just looking to upgrade, I used to read allot about the 'older generation' of soobs but the only thing I know about 'new gen' is that their motors make a good transplant for them.

Is there anything that goes wrong with these cars, like how the 2.5 likes to eat HGs for breakfast?

How often do you change the t belt? Is it an interference motor?

What oils should I run in it? I live in sunny Brisbane btw (Looking to change all the fluids once I get it)

Just any information would be greatly appriciated.

INEEDABEER · Post by **INEEDABEER** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:27 pm

It is an interference motor.Usually thr t/belt would be done every 100,000ks so it will go a while yet,however if you are unsure of it's service history you may want to do it anyway.With regards to oil,get the best you can afford.I used mobil1 synthetic and redline in the box.The 2.2 is better than the 2.5 for HG's,in my opinion they are the best of all.If you want a good mechanic i reccomend Mike Collins At Scorpion Subaru.

__JC__ · Post by **__JC__** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:28 pm

The EJ22 is pretty much bulletproof, there isn't much that goes wrong with them. Just look for something with service records (regular oil changes are VERY important due to engine design) and you shouldn't go too far wrong.

Timing belt is every 100,000km/6 years (whatever comes first) and as far as I'm aware and it should not be interference with a standard cam.

For oils I run Castrol Magnatec and Syntrax in the Gearbox/Diff.

EJ22 Gen II's are a great car imo, unbreakable if respected and superb fuel economy. My AWD Wagon averages around 7.5L/100km Highway and low-mid 8's combined.

Suby Wan Kenobi · Post by **Suby Wan Kenobi** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:49 pm

Another thing to do when you get it is to give it a can of upper engine cleaner, as said they are pretty much bullet proof and the EJ22 is a clearance motor.

Bobbrumby · Post by **Bobbrumby** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:23 pm

Sweet that sounds awesome went down and checked it out/test drove it today, it does have the odd oil leak but other than that and the hail damage seems like a good solid car.

One think I noticed when reving it between 1900-2100 rpm you can hear a sound like liquid running thru a pipe, I suppose this was the heater core, this normal or may it have an air buble in it?

It had solid history up untill 125000 so it had 50000 of backyard mechanic doing services, if someone was to only keep topping up the oil for this time, would it blow smoke? I got my dad to follow me and he only saw the usual warming up steam, while giving it a flogging, shift out of first at redline and dump the clutch into second.

Oh and just a rant just becuase a car has been written off becuase it is un-cost effective to fix hail damage does not mean it should be not able to driven to the centre to get its status revoked and be able to reregister it. Bloody Queensland Transport, they will tell you one thing one moment and something completely different half an hour later after forking out $60 for ctp. So looks like ill have to trailer it to an inspection yard to have someone tell yeh its fine its just dents afterall. Next question anyone got a flat bed trailer I could borrow, ill probably just get one from mobil?

Cheers Guys

INEEDABEER · Post by **INEEDABEER** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:16 pm

Well make sure you join the Subi club when you get it.

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:39 pm

Gen 2 - you wont have any problems, I have 1996 Gen2 wagon 5MT D/R and now 272,000kms and have plenty of meat left on it, nothing really goes wrong with it - just service it and maintain the car properly then it'll look after you. Timing is 100,000kms, can do it yourself in couple of hours.
Cheers
AP

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:40 pm

Where is the oil coming from? ie. sump? or rear right of the engine or under power steering pump?
Cheers
AP

SUBYDAZZ · Post by **SUBYDAZZ** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 7:20 am

Timing belt interval for the EJ22 is 100,000km or 4 years not 6, whichever comes first. The last 2 times I have done my belt on km it has looked near new.

The gushing noise can be an airlock in the cooling system and can be very hard to purge. Suggest parking uphill with and trying to bleed from air-bleed on radiator (screw on driver's side) - not while hot! I have had this on and off for a long time, and it doesn't seem to cause any trouble at all, if there is too much air in the system, you will know about it.

Try not to use too thin an engine oil like your full synthetics unless it has had that oil in from near new. Castrol Magnatec seems to be a good oil that many are using. It is a 10W-40. This or a 15W-40 are recommended.

Oil seeps came as a standard factory fittment, but it shouldn't leak. As already mentioned, regular oil changes and upper engine cleans are they key. Standard interval was 12,500km.

I am also led to believe it is a non-interference motor / clearance motor too.