Subaru Impreza 2006: Why won't it start?
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Asked by Margo Ford
ON ABOUT four occasions since buying it new, my 2006 Subaru Impreza wouldn't start. Each time the NRMA was called and they couldn't start it either, but if we waited for 18-24 hours it would then start. It seemed as if it was flooded, and over-fuelling was a theory, but the latest explanation by Subaru is small pieces of carbon break off, sticking under the head of the valve which causes the fuel not to ignite. If it is carbon, soaking all valves in engine cleaner overnight would break down the carbon. There is also a carbon prevention, which is a fuel additive, and can be added every 6000km. Are they spinning us a yarn?
Answered by CarsGuide
11 Sep 2009WE CONTACTED Subaru with your question and asked for their response, which was: ``We recommend the use of fuel additive SA718 every 6000km to prevent flaking of carbon in the combustion chamber that can be caused by additives in some brands of petrol. Typically what happens is after a short run, usually just moving the car on a Sunday afternoon to wash it, the additive in the fuel soaks on the carbon deposit in the combustion chamber and causes it to flake off. Because of the characteristic of a boxer engine with its cylinders lying on their side, the flaking carbon falls onto the seat of the open exhaust valve. When the engine is cranked to start the carbon particle prevents the closing of the exhaust valve. This means no engine compression and therefore the engine doesn't start. The spark plug is soaked in fuel and this also prevents starting even if the carbon particle becomes dislodged during the cranking. If the engine starts it often runs roughly for a while as the excess fuel is burnt off. The additive that we recommend, SA718, acts to counter the additive in the fuel and stops the carbon from flaking.''
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