Subaru Legacy timing belt change

August 19, 2025
Subaru Legacy timing belt change The timing belt on this flat four Subaru engine is nicely accessible and is a pleasure to change
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This 2005 Subaru Legacy 2.0 had been imported by the present owner in 2018, and he was keen to keep the Subaru in the best condition. He had plans to continue owning the motor for quite a few years, and always ensured it was correctly maintained.


Unlike the vast majority of engines, if the timing belt on this Subaru fails, damage due to piston and valve contact is unlikely to occur. That doesn’t mean that such a failure would not be inconvenient and it is of course not desirable. A preventable timing belt failure would be quite frustrating.

With a book time of only 1.4 hours, there is little reason to put this job off longer than necessary. The replacement interval is set at 95,000 kilometres / 60,000 miles, or five years. The owner was happy to be cautious and have the belt replaced a little earlier than the recommended interval.

This is a nice straightforward job, and the procedure is not too complex. The owner was happy for the full kit consisting of the timing belt, tensioners and the water pump to be fitted, ensuring a few years of worry-free motoring.

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