Diagnose me: Leaky Subaru : Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Nov. 11, 2011 11:44 a.m. mikeatrpi New Reader

Wife drives an 01 Subaru Legacy Limited sedan, and its leaking oil. It leaves a few drops on the cardboard on the garage floor, and also drips onto something hot and smells - and occasionally smokes.

I have pics here: http://z.modeltrainguide.com/subaru/

I think its the headgaskets weeping. Its not overheating. I can't tell if the power steering rack is leaking too, of its just got crud from the oil leak running downhill. The reservoir level is unchanged.

She's due for a timing belt. Do I pull the heads too? Thanks for the wisdom and advice!
Nov. 11, 2011 11:47 a.m. N Sperlo SuperDork

Check under the valve cover before really tearing it apart. Could drip onto the exhaust. I have a minor leak similar in my escort.
Nov. 11, 2011 11:59 a.m. 16vCorey SuperDork

It's probably the head gasket. Very common on those cars. Despite what a shop may tell you, you don't have to pull the engine to change them.
Nov. 11, 2011 12:17 p.m. Hocrest HalfDork

Before you do the head gaskets, do the cam comer gaskets, cam and crank seals.
Nov. 11, 2011 12:35 p.m. SlickDizzy SuperDork

Hocrest wrote:

Before you do the head gaskets, do the cam cover gaskets, cam and crank seals.

+1. Do the "mickey mouse" oil pump seal, too. All of the gaskets listed previously can create weird leaks that are often misdiagnosed.
Nov. 11, 2011 12:44 p.m. Taiden Dork

subarus typically leak from

well

everywhere

but I'd first check the various valve cover gaskets

then the cam seals

and finally the more expensive crap
Nov. 11, 2011 12:50 p.m. Taiden Dork

Just looked at the pics. My vote is one of two things

1) rear main seal

2) this thing here labeled as #3

http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo298/GabachoSwine/Engine3.jpg
Nov. 11, 2011 12:51 p.m. mikeatrpi New Reader

Wow, that's a lot of replies! Thank you!

As far as I can tell the valve cover gaskets are not leaking. I'll check out the cam seals and I don't even know where the crank seal is - hopefully the front of the engine - not the rear main seal...?
Nov. 11, 2011 12:54 p.m. mikeatrpi New Reader

Taiden wrote:

Just looked at the pics. My vote is one of two things

1) rear main seal

2) this thing here labeled as #3

http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo298/GabachoSwine/Engine3.jpg

Not terribly interested in pulling the engine, sigh. That thing labeled #3 is some kind of plate that is known for leaking, I also forgot the name but remember reading about it in my google research.
Nov. 11, 2011 1:16 p.m. SlickDizzy SuperDork

3 would be the oil separator plate.

Pulling a Subaru engine is incredibly easy, takes about 45 minutes. It helps that the bellhousing bolts are smack in the middle of the engine bay! In my opinion it is easier to pull the engine to do seals & gaskets than it is to do it with the engine in the car, and if you're taking a day to piss with it anyways, might as well spend the extra hour and a half to make the rest of the work that much easier.
Nov. 11, 2011 1:26 p.m. ValuePack Dork

^"seperator plate", for wrist pin access. Always leaks before the rear main.
Nov. 11, 2011 2:40 p.m. Taiden Dork

It should take you about 2 hours to pull the motor if you've never done it before. Installation is the reverse of removal, as they say.
Nov. 11, 2011 2:55 p.m. mikeatrpi New Reader

Fair enough. I'll plan to pull the motor. Any recommendations for parts sources?
Nov. 11, 2011 3:59 p.m. ValuePack Dork

Rockauto has full gasket kits for under $300, though I'd want OE Subaru or better for headgaskets... Just personal preference. Too many horror stories about cheap HG failures.

Do let us know how it works out.