ofairlane Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 while changing the plugs on the 2.2 9 legacy, i noticed oil on each plug and i was told at dealer valve covers ar leaking. sounds like this is common. what is involved in changing the gaskets? i am new to the foriegn car world and the valve coers i am used to are easy to repair. how are these to replace? the engine looks very intimidating, not that i am afraid of it. where can i find a good manual on the design and operation of this machine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Setright Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 Pretty simple really, the only problem is the tight space between the cam covers and the chassis. Depeding on the age of your engine there are either 3 or 4 bolts holding the covers on. Let the engine cool before your work on it and clean the area around the covers before opening them, this stops dirt getting inside the engine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwatt Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 while changing the plugs on the 2.2 9 legacy, i noticed oil on each plug and i was told at dealer valve covers ar leaking. sounds like this is common. what is involved in changing the gaskets? i am new to the foriegn car world and the valve coers i am used to are easy to repair. how are these to replace? the engine looks very intimidating, not that i am afraid of it. where can i find a good manual on the design and operation of this machine? On a 2.2 engine, there are 5 bolts that hold each cam cover (valve cover) to each cylinder head. Under the head of each bolt is a special sealing washer that MUST be replaced when valve cover gaskets are replaced (because the neoprene part of each sealing washer becomes hardened, compressed, and cracks with age). Matter of fact, the sealing washers tend to leak more oil than the valve cover gaskets themselves. There is a large valve cover gasket that seals the perimeter of each valve cover. There are two smaller "spark plug opening" seals inside each valve cover; they seal the area of the valve cover where each spark plug passes thru the valve cover. So those "spark plug opening" seals are leaking oil onto the spark plugs of your engine. The price (at a Subaru dealer) of these seals and gaskets, especially the valve cover bolt sealing washers, will likely astonish you. I found a much more reasonable price on everything by ordering from 1stsubaruparts.com Even though my 2 Subarus have the 2.5L engine, (which uses 6 bolts to hold each rocker cover in place), the "basics" for the 2.2 are the same..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnuman Posted May 11, 2005 Share Posted May 11, 2005 On a 2.2 engine, there are 5 bolts that hold each cam cover (valve cover) to each cylinder head. Under the head of each bolt is a special sealing washer that MUST be replaced when valve cover gaskets are replaced (because the neoprene part of each sealing washer becomes hardened, compressed, and cracks with age). Matter of fact, the sealing washers tend to leak more oil than the valve cover gaskets themselves. There is a large valve cover gasket that seals the perimeter of each valve cover. There are two smaller "spark plug opening" seals inside each valve cover; they seal the area of the valve cover where each spark plug passes thru the valve cover. So those "spark plug opening" seals are leaking oil onto the spark plugs of your engine. The price (at a Subaru dealer) of these seals and gaskets, especially the valve cover bolt sealing washers, will likely astonish you. I found a much more reasonable price on everything by ordering from 1stsubaruparts.com Even though my 2 Subarus have the 2.5L engine, (which uses 6 bolts to hold each rocker cover in place), the "basics" for the 2.2 are the same..... I have seen 2 and 3 bolts holding the rocker covers on, but never 5. in bot the 2 bolt and 3 bolt applications, they are 10mm bolts. Everything else you said is spot on though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwatt Posted May 11, 2005 Share Posted May 11, 2005 I have seen 2 and 3 bolts holding the rocker covers on, but never 5. in bot the 2 bolt and 3 bolt applications, they are 10mm bolts. Everything else you said is spot on though. I "fat fingered" that one................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.