98legacywv Posted March 28, 2005 Share Posted March 28, 2005 Ok some of you may have read my post about all of the troubles with my 98 legacy 2.5 gt. well it ended up being the gaskets i think.. the shop never really figured it out but replaced the gaskets with the latest version and it stopped overheating... looking at the car the left valve cover gasket was leaking like crazy.. they tried everything and could not get it to stop leaking.. then they replaced it.. it stopped.. excited i drove my car home for the first time in over a month and a half. i smelled oil buring and stopped to look.. it appears that the other valve cover gasket is doing the same thing... is this an indication that there has been further damage than the shop thinks?? the mechanic said the car looks fine and that he thinks i should keep it since the heads haved been cleaned and milled.. several internal parts have been cleaned up.... the car runs well.. being my first subaru i think the engine sounds crazy anyway so i have nothing to compare it to.. the car is back in the shop to have the oil leak fixed... i just put new brembo roters and akebono pads on it.. i seafoamed it, replaced the pcv valve.. i have redline oil ready to go into it.. ngk sparkplugs ready to go in.. now on to my real question.. should i keep this car? or get rid of it.. i bought the car for 8k... i have paid out over a grand on parts... the trade in value of this car is roughly 6k.... automatically i would be over 2k down plus the 1k i put in it..... so basically i am wondering if i should keep this thing or if its going to cause me problems from here on out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frag Posted March 28, 2005 Share Posted March 28, 2005 If the only problem you have is a leaking valve cover gasket, then keep the car! This is a frequent leak area on a Subaru and replacing this gasket is easy and unexpensive. When you say «they replaced it» when they finally cured the leaking cover, did you mean the gasket or the gasket AND the valve cover? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98legacywv Posted March 28, 2005 Author Share Posted March 28, 2005 If the only problem you have is a leaking valve cover gasket, then keep the car! This is a frequent leak area on a Subaru and replacing this gasket is easy and unexpensive. When you say «they replaced it» when they finally cured the leaking cover, did you mean the gasket or the gasket AND the valve cover? they tried to put a new gasket and some kind of sealer on it 4 times before replacing it... then they replace the actual valve cover.. now ther other side is doing the same thing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98legacywv Posted March 30, 2005 Author Share Posted March 30, 2005 now the damn thing is back here agian.. it never ends.. it still looks like it burning oil.. this time its not coming from either valve cover... its smoking from right in the y of the exhaust.. its really wierd though because it doesnt look like there is much if any oil on it yet i can watch white smoke rise off of it.. and it smells like burning oil.. any ideas.. i cant see anywhere that oil would be coming from.. both valve covers are dry as a bone... im lost.. the mechanics are not sure what else to do.. is it possible the smoke is coming from within the exhast for some crazy reason..? like the engine is allowing oil into the exhaust? please help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svxpert Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 <<they tried to put a new gasket and some kind of sealer on it 4 times before replacing it... then they replace the actual valve cover.. now ther other side is doing the same thing...>> if there trying to use a sealer, you should run fast, and run far from that place. if they can't solve the valve cover leak they shouldn't work on subaru's. <<now the damn thing is back here agian.. it never ends.. it still looks like it burning oil.. this time its not coming from either valve cover... its smoking from right in the y of the exhaust.. its really wierd though because it doesnt look like there is much if any oil on it yet i can watch white smoke rise off of it.. and it smells like burning oil.. any ideas.. i cant see anywhere that oil would be coming from.. both valve covers are dry as a bone... im lost.. the mechanics are not sure what else to do.. is it possible the smoke is coming from within the exhast for some crazy reason..? like the engine is allowing oil into the exhaust?>> did they remove the engine at any time during these failed attemps at fixing the problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccrinc Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 Good bet it's your power steering fluid leaking. Especially if it was filled recently. Smells just like oil burning when it drips on the exhaust manifold. And if it is, just let it run a bit low and don't worry about it. Emily http://www.ccrengines.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98legacywv Posted March 30, 2005 Author Share Posted March 30, 2005 Why would power steering fluid be leaking from the back of the engine? It hasnt been filled lately.. this is dripping right on the Y of the exhaust. im so sick of this car.. its been going on two months now and they can't get it right... Good bet it's your power steering fluid leaking. Especially if it was filled recently. Smells just like oil burning when it drips on the exhaust manifold. And if it is, just let it run a bit low and don't worry about it. Emily http://www.ccrengines.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98legacywv Posted March 30, 2005 Author Share Posted March 30, 2005 They were recommended by the subaru dealership I have a freind who works there. But the dealership won't deal with my warranty company.. they were putting a little black sealant on just the corners of the valve covers.. it didnt work and they ended up replacing both valve covers on the car.. the valve covers are not leaking anymore..but i dont know where its coming from.. its not as bad as before but its still there.. they pulled the heads on the car.. as far as what is involved in that i dont know.. i know the mechanic told me that he loosened or removed the engine mounts and used a small jack to lightly push up the side of the engine he was working on.. to allow him to reach it easier.. <<they tried to put a new gasket and some kind of sealer on it 4 times before replacing it... then they replace the actual valve cover.. now ther other side is doing the same thing...>> if there trying to use a sealer, you should run fast, and run far from that place. if they can't solve the valve cover leak they shouldn't work on subaru's. <<now the damn thing is back here agian.. it never ends.. it still looks like it burning oil.. this time its not coming from either valve cover... its smoking from right in the y of the exhaust.. its really wierd though because it doesnt look like there is much if any oil on it yet i can watch white smoke rise off of it.. and it smells like burning oil.. any ideas.. i cant see anywhere that oil would be coming from.. both valve covers are dry as a bone... im lost.. the mechanics are not sure what else to do.. is it possible the smoke is coming from within the exhast for some crazy reason..? like the engine is allowing oil into the exhaust?>> did they remove the engine at any time during these failed attemps at fixing the problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svxpert Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 <<now the damn thing is back here agian.. it never ends.. it still looks like it burning oil.. this time its not coming from either valve cover... its smoking from right in the y of the exhaust.. >> if its oil leaking from the rear of the engine its coming fromt the separator plate and/or the rear main seal. i guess the place thats working on your car really aren't familar with the subaru engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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