Kurt or Davis (or other Sub guys)

[C_Note]

I haven't had a chance to look at it, yet, but my wife says (she's over in NC with her family) that the Outback is loosing oil. Since I haven't seen it, I don't know where the oil is coming from / going, but I'm trying to look up parts blindedly to get an idea of how much it'll cost to fix it.

Do Subarus have a tendancy to leak oil in any one particular area? Its an Impreza Outback Sport 2.2 automatic. I found that there is no gasket between the oil pan and the block, just one little o-ring in the rear corner of the oil pan.

Is there something else I should look for when she gets here Tuesday?

[Kurt_W]

A better question to ask when dealing with older Subarus is where DOESN’T it leak!? But in all seriousness, the main location I found that leaked on my old 2.2l was the inspection plate o-ring on back of the passenger side head. This o-ring isn’t particular hard or expensive to replace, though I doubt you’d notice a notable amount of oil loss through that ring. The valve cover gaskets tend to leak a bit on most older Subarus, but I don’t remember mine leaking. If you need a hand taking a look at it when she gets back, by all means get a hold of me and I’ll throw my $.019 in.

On a side note, the 2.2l was one of the cheapest to maintain engines I have ever owned. It was also easy to work on.

[C_Note]

Thanks Kurt, I'll look into that. I appreciate the offer, but if you look at my location, I'm back in the South... again.

[Kurt_W]

Thanks Kurt, I'll look into that. I appreciate the offer, but if you look at my location, I'm back in the South... again.

Oh, sorry, I had transmission on the brain and missed your location...just got finished shoving the 4EAT back into the SVX.

You shouldn't have much trouble finding a major leak on your 2.2l. It will likely be one of the valve cover gaskets, the inspection plate o-ring or the pan seal. Other possible leak areas include the the front, rear and cam seals, though they are much less likely. I don't recall what the breathers on the valve covers look like on the 2.2l, but I know they leak a lot on the SVXs...you should be able to see that leak running down the valve covers (if there are breathers that is.) Sorry if this isn't particularly helpful, as its been about 3 years since I had the engine out of my 95 (which I traded on the WRX in 2003.)

[C_Note]

Thanks again, Kurt. I'll let you know how helpful you were next weekend... :wink:

Now she says its rattling... and its making her nervous, so I have to give up my new Tahoe in favor of her piece of mind.

Women!

Knowing her, she probably sabotaged it just so she could get her grubby little hands on my Tahoe.

[ShortysTRM]

If you have a Suby, screw the tahoe!

Kurt...if you get to attend an autocross this year in SWVR, bring the SVX. I love those things but no one ever actually uses them.

[Kurt_W]

Thanks again, Kurt. I'll let you know how helpful you were next weekend... :wink:

Now she says its rattling... and its making her nervous, so I have to give up my new Tahoe in favor of her piece of mind.

Women!

Knowing her, she probably sabotaged it just so she could get her grubby little hands on my Tahoe.

So how'd it go with the car? Oh yeah, you know its a Subaru because they they start to rattle after about 5 years of 100,000 miles, whichever comes first ;)

I don't know why she'd want to give a good car for a Chevy though...

[C_Note]

My old man just bought another Sub this weekend (this is his.... 17th?), with 250k on it. He thought that was good for another 200k.

I just got the Sub back Thursday, and Erica took the Tahoe over and is back in NC with her family this week. Been unpacking, so I haven't had a chance to look at the leak yet. But I ran to Walmart last night, and noticed the smell of a leak when I got out of the car (like oil dripping on the manifolds or exhaust). It wasn't bad, but I could detect it.

I did start another thread in General, though (Time to play), if you have a chance to look at it and throw some links up for me.

Will probably be this weekend before I get a chance to look at/for the leak, with work and unpacking left to do.

[C_Note]

Well, I don't really see a leak, and the pan seems to be holding oil (at the same level as it was a week ago). But several times this weekend (Friday when I drove to Florence and back, Friday night when I drove to Charlotte, and just now when I got back), when I got out of the car, it sure smells like oil is burning. I'm not really sure what it is.