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99 legacy outback wagon oil leak


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Hi all,

 

My 99 outback w/ manual transmission has recently sprung a leak, bad enough that I have had to add over a half a quart of oil in the past few weeks. The leak appears to be coming from the rear of the engine, above the oil pan, and is dripping down on to the exhaust just below the transaxle. It doesn't seem to leak while the car is sitting still, only while it is under load, or after it has freshly been shut down. 

 

My thoughts are that the likely source of the leak is the rear main seal. I was just curious as to whether or not anyone else has had similar issues with their real main seal, and whether someone could possibly confirm or deny my (somewhat of an educated guess) diagnosis.

 

 

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Yeah, I did a quick google and discovered references to that plate. Looks like I should be able to get to it as easily as the rear main seal though, without removing the engine, right? I'm doing a clutch job this summer anyway.

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If you have any other engine maintenance to do, it's easier to pull the engine that drop the trans to do the clutch.

Don't mess with the rear main, most of the time people that change it cause leaks.  

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Here is my guess as your description is kind of general.  Manual gearbox of that age probably has the output seals that are leaking.  Look closely around the drive shaft openings.  Clean them, then drive for a while and see if there is new oil.  Fix is actually easy.  After you disconnect drive shafts, those outside covers actually unscrew to reveal the seal and the bearing.  Mark the position they are at beforehand because they are under pre-load and you will want to match that setting.  Unscrew them using two big screwdrivers.  Replace the seals, and put it all back. This job is not very difficult - provided it is your problem.

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Engine oil leaking from the bellhousing will be either from the separator plate (very common, every single Subaru leaks oil from this by the time it reaches 150k) or it will leak from the diamond shaped access plate on the block half opposite of the separator. There's an o-ring behind it, it dries and cracks and will spew oil everywhere. Use an impact driver to remove the screws that hold it because they're usually stuck pretty good.

 

If you're doing the clutch pull the engine and fix those leaks. Also replace the valve cover gaskets since they'll be much easier to do with the engine out of the car.

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Well, I don't really want to pull the engine because the rest of it seems pretty solid (besides a slight leak from the timing belt cover that I take is probably a cam seal.) I'm already going to pull the tranny anyway because the front diff needs a rebuild, as it is grinding around corners. As the clutch it also getting old, the transmission removal seems an ideal time to replace it and fix any leaks behind the flywheel.

 

On that topic, does anyone have recommendations on where to get a clutch kit? It's my impression that exedy made the oem clutch, so I should get one from them. Also, does anyone know a good source for used transmissions? Most of the websites I've found so far are rather shady to say the least.

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Clutch is ready, oil leaks at the seperator cover and possibly the rear main (not unlikely with high mileage) at least one cam seal leaking.

I hear ya on wanting to do things the easy way and a lot of times the easy way is good-nuff. It's seldom the best way though. For my money I'd be pulling the engine, re-seal everything. While your at it and the engine and tranny are out, timing belt, water pump etc. cost you a few extra days and 3 hundred bucks.

Edited by shoebee2
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