Subaru EJ20 and EJ25 timing belt kits: SOHC or DOHC, and which kit fits

Every Subaru Liberty in our timing belt listings (2.0 and 2.5 litre EJ engines, from April 1998) takes one of two kits, split by camshaft layout: the SOHC kit for the EJ201, EJ202, EJ251, EJ252 and EJ253, or the DOHC kit for the EJ25D, EJ204, 2.0 turbo and EJ255. Each comes with or without a hydraulic tensioner.

For the change interval, use your car's own service book. Subaru Australia's January 2019 handbook, for 2018-onwards WRX, WRX STI, Levorg, Liberty and Outback models and the 2018 Forester, says 125,000 km or 60 months where a cam belt is fitted. We couldn't check the older books.

Source: our product listings (titles and "Fits" lists) for the SOHC and DOHC Subaru timing belt kits, read 5 October 2026. Rows are merged where the listing gives the same engine code; gaps in the listing's dates are kept. The hydraulic tensioner version of each kit lists exactly the same cars.

The camshaft layout picks the kit, not the turbo or the engine size

Our listings split the EJ engines into SOHC and DOHC, and three things catch buyers out:

• Turbo isn't the test. Every turbo engine in our listings is on the DOHC kit, but the DOHC kit also lists non-turbo engines: the EJ25D in the 1997 to 1999 Liberty and Outback, and the EJ204 in the Impreza G3 and the imported BL Liberty.
• EJ20 vs EJ25 isn't the test either. Both kit families list 2.0 litre (EJ20) and 2.5 litre (EJ25) engines.
• "EJ20" on its own isn't enough. The bare code appears on the SOHC kit (Forester 1998 to 2002, Impreza GD 2002 to 2005) and on the DOHC kit (WRX GF, 1998). Use the full code, the series and the build date.

Around late 1998 both kits list a 2.5 Liberty and Outback: the BG with the DOHC EJ25D, and the BH with the SOHC EJ251. The series and engine code tell them apart.

One car isn't in the table: the 2005 to 2007 Impreza 2.0 non-turbo (GG). If that's yours, or you don't know your engine code, send us your VIN or registration and we'll confirm it.

What's the Subaru Liberty timing belt replacement interval?

Use the interval in your car's own warranty and service book or owner's manual.

The only Subaru Australia schedule we could read is the Warranty and Service Handbook effective 1 January 2019, for new 2018-onwards WRX, WRX STI, Levorg, Liberty and Outback models and the 2018 Forester. It lists "camshaft drive belt (replace if applicable)" at the J service: 125,000 km or 60 months, whichever occurs first. Subaru adds that under abnormal or severe conditions "more frequent servicing may be required", and that its handbook schedule may differ from the owner's manual. We haven't been able to check the handbooks for earlier EJ cars, so we don't quote a figure for them. Every dated Liberty, Outback and Forester row in our table is from before those model years, so use your own book for those cars.

We also haven't found a current Subaru or belt maker document that says which of these engines are interference engines (where a broken belt lets the valves hit the pistons), so we don't state it. Get a mechanic to fit the kit unless you have Subaru's workshop manual and the tools it calls for. Our listings say the parts "should be fitted by a professional and fitted to vehicle specifications".

Which Bearings Express kit fits

All four kits list an Optibelt belt.

• Pick the SOHC timing belt kit for Liberty, Impreza, Forester and Outback (pn316) for an SOHC engine in the table if you don't need a new hydraulic tensioner. The listing gives GMB and KAT bearings, high-temperature seals and the belt, and says it doesn't include the hydraulic tensioner.
• Pick the SOHC timing belt kit with hydraulic tensioner (pn318) for the same engines if the tensioner is being replaced too. It lists GMB bearings, high-temperature seals, the belt and a hydraulic tensioner.
• Pick the DOHC timing belt kit for Impreza, WRX, Liberty, Forester and Outback (pn295) for a DOHC engine in the table if you don't need a new hydraulic tensioner. It lists GMB bearings, high-temperature seals and the belt, and says it doesn't include the hydraulic tensioner.
• Pick the DOHC timing belt kit with hydraulic tensioner (pn300) for the same engines with a new tensioner. It adds a GMB hydraulic tensioner.

Kits for other engines are in timing belts and kits.

Questions people also ask

Does a Subaru timing belt kit include the tensioner?

Two of our four include the hydraulic tensioner. The other two listings say they don't include the hydraulic tensioner.

How much does a Subaru timing belt replacement cost?

We can't quote workshop labour. Each kit's price is on its listing, and a workshop can quote the fitting.

Related reading

• Hyundai Getz and Accent timing belt kits: belt or chain, and which kit fits
• How to change the air and cabin filter in your car

Sources

• Subaru Australia, Warranty and Service Handbook SA1180, effective 1 January 2019 (maintenance schedule and service interval table), https://docs.subaru.com.au/3194-warranty_service_handbook_5_year_cps_sa1180_v6.pdf, read 5 October 2026.

Checked against Subaru Australia's 2019 Warranty and Service Handbook and Bearings Express product listings on 5 October 2026.