Oil Leak \ Petrol Smell in Oil (Subaru Legacy B4)

[Heylin]

Girlfriends legacy B4 (153,000 kms on the clock) has developed an oil leak, noticed a burning smell coming from the engine bay so its landing on something hot.

After checking the oil level I noticed when wiping the stick that the oil is very very thin, black, and smells strongly of petrol.

The oil is coming up 12 months old but has only had about 6000 kms on it as the car is used mainly for short trips.

Ive heard that cold running and lots of short trips can cause a petrol build up in the oil making it smell, and also making it thinner, could the fact the oil is thinner be the culprit in regards to the sudden oil leak ?.

[celica_xr9145]

Does it smoke at all?

[Heylin]

Nope no smoke, and has never used oil or required topping up between changes. Ive always changed the oil every 10,000kms or 6 months, but since we only use it about 5000-6000 kms per year now, ive swtiched to 12 monthly changes.

Had the car since 69,000kms.

Always used Valvoline VR1 Semi-Sythetic with Proma MBL8 Additive (Same as my MR2), oil filters, air filters etc always changed as well.

[sergei]

Oil leak on Legacy very common, it is most likely from rocker covers.
Short trips + Turbo + over 100k = change oil more frequently, normally it is recommended to change every 5000kms anyway, so it is overdue.
I would also suggest change oil once in 6 months regardless of usage, as long as it is being used.

[Heylin]

Yeah, im definately going to be doing the oil in the MR2 and the Legacy every 6 months now. I thought I could get away with 12 for low Kms, but hey its only $120 every 6 months.

[KinLoud]

Yeah change oil every 6 months if you are doing low kms
You end up with lots of moisture and fuel in the oil
Also - older oil loses some of it's lubricating properties (change of chemical composition of something)

Subaru...
- minor oil leak from cam covers
- split cv boot will throw grease all over exhaust also

Ken

[Heylin]

Its definately dripping about 2 drops of fresh oil after running, on the passenger side at the rear of the engine bay.

Could be the cam cover, gather thats a new gasket ? 1 hour work to take the cam cover off ? and $50 for a gasket ?

[sergei]

Its definately dripping about 2 drops of fresh oil after running, on the passenger side at the rear of the engine bay.

Could be the cam cover, gather thats a new gasket ? 1 hour work to take the cam cover off ? and $50 for a gasket ?

Allow more than 1 hour, it is pain in the ass if you do it first time.
Also they leak PS fluid from O ring where the reservoir goes on pump, that might be the problem, although burning ATF is very distinct.

[rollaholic]

the PS res is more on the drivers side too.

you can be 95% certain its a cam cover gasket, never seen a sub over 100k without a leak from those buggers

in my experience subarus are mostly used up by 150kms, time to move on

plenty leak from cam / crank seals around those kms too if they were not changed with the cambelt (unlikely)

[THA SHZ]

could also be leaking from the kidney plate as they regularly do , factory they are plastic , subaru aftermarket fix , make it out of metal , wow why not do that in the first place
otherwise the cam cover gasket as been ststed and the job takes longer than you think

[Crucible]

dont forget front oil pump o/ring which is also common and should be replaced along with cam seals.
and as for replacing RC gaskets...the tricky bit is getting the cover past the exh/ cam saddle bolts without knocking the gasket off, generally passenger side is the tightest.

fun.

[Heylin]

I can see why people hate subies now warrented the MR2 is a pain to work on, but Toyota stuff lasts well past 150,000kms, im running up to 220,000 now and most of my stock stuff didnt need replacing until 200,000.

The only stock old items left on my car (the major jobs anyway)

- Engine internals
- Gearbox
- Power Steering Pump
- Master brake, clutch cylinder
- Structural items and cosmetic items
- electrics

[B1NZ]

I can see why people hate subies now warrented the MR2 is a pain to work on, but Toyota stuff lasts well past 150,000kms, im running up to 220,000 now and most of my stock stuff didnt need replacing until 200,000.

The only stock old items left on my car (the major jobs anyway)

- Engine internals
- Gearbox
- Power Steering Pump
- Master brake, clutch cylinder
- Structural items and cosmetic items
- electrics

Have you not heard of superstrut suspension? I have seen quite a few older RS legacys still running after 200,000km's with no major problems, as long as they are regulary serviced they are no worse than any other car.

I am sure 3SGTE's suffer from the same thing occaisionally that you seem to be in your subbie.

[sergei]

I would not bag subarus.
It is just the demographic contingent of people who own them, happens to be the kind that thrash them and/or neglect.