rpiereck

it's been posted before, but here is mine...

Exploring some local roads after a light snow fall

When I bought my Loyale I immediately noticed the air filter had some oil soaked on the element, and some pooled on the bottom of the filter box. I replaced the filter with a new one, and wiped the box, and all the air connection all the way to the throttle body. Most of the oil seems to be running from the breather hose attached to the intake to the box, as the TB had very little oil at all, just a light film. Today I opened the filter box and noticed the brand new element started to show some oil too. None had soaked the element yet, but a little bit was pooled on the rubber lip of the filter. The air flow sensor showed a light bead of oil running down it, and the culprit breather hose shows more oil... How can I remedy this? Can I just disconnect the breather hose from the intake hose and then use a catch can or breather filter on the hose? I would also plug the hole on the intake hose. What could be the cause of so much oil running back to the intake? This engine is not consuming much oil at all... Oil coming from the breather hose Oil in the intake hose Bead of oil running down the sensor into the filter box

Good idea, I got one on m Forester from the dealer...

So, I guess my EA82 Loyale was supposed to have a skidplate from the factory... funny 'cause right now there's nothing but air below the oil pan, I had no clue a plate came with it. I work at an aircraft repair facility and we have all the resources to make one, including 1/4" steel plates that have been collecting dust on a corner, begging to be put to good use. I am already making a plate for my Forester, I got the measurements from someone, now I am considering making one for the Loyale too. Now, can someone do me a favor and send me a pic of the underbelly of an EA82 with the plate installed? I don't know exactly where this thing is supposed to bolt to. I'm going to fabricate a stand in beforehand out of cardboard, then measure the thing properly and then cut the steel piece. Measure twice, cut once...

I'm sure tires are a big part of the equation, the Forester has nice Blizzaks while the Loyale has el-sheapo studded tires. The Forester is also a while lot heavier than the Loyale, but I am sure the way the manual drivetrain on the Forester works provides much better traction than the automatic on the Loyale. The manual Forester proides 50-50 distribution of torque at all times, while the Loyale seems to send the torque to the wheels that have the least resistance...

I figured the Loyale and the Legacy had different systems. My Loyale has the 3AT tranny, with the selectable 4WD system. My Forester has the 5MT, which behaves completely different from the Loyale, it feels like it gets much better traction on snow and ice, the Loyale likes to spin its rear wheels on ice, and going up snowy slopes is tricky...

I think it's a case of switch jealousy... I recently bought my 91 Loyale and it has the FWD switch on the gearshift, and he really liked that idea. He wants to be able to switch in and out like me, I guess. I don't know if the system on the Loyale works similar to the one on the Legacy. I actually didn't think the switch would hurt the transmission, but I told him I'd check anyways. I bet he'll be happy and switched in by weekend's end. Thanks!

I got a buddy at work who's an anti internet type () and he's got a mid 90s Legacy Wagon with automatic transmission. He's got the place in the fuse box where he can insert a fuse for FWD, and he's wondering if he can wire in a switch inside the cabin so he can have front wheel drive when he wants for economy instead of all wheel drive. I told him he'll still be dragging the whole rear wheel portion of the drive system and his fuel economy wouldn't be that much greater but he wants to do it anyway. If he wires in a switch will that damage his Legacy in any way? Is the FWD fuse to be used only in emergenies for a limited distance? I told him to read his manual, but of course he's lost it.... thanks!

Exactly what I was thinking of, splicing the turn signal wires into the front parking light wires. The parking lights seem to be bright enough for me. Ive been trying to figure out where to mount a set of fog or driving lights and the bumper turn signal recesses look very nice for some square lights.

My idea is to remove the turn signals from my 91 Loyale's front bumpers, rewire them to the turn signals next to the headlights, and install fog or driving lights on the original location of the signals. Anyone ever tried this? The turn signal box is 5.9" wide, and there are plenty of square lights that would fit nicely in there.

My Loyale is a seasoned Alaskan veteran, it starts up at -30 with not a hiccup It just takes forever to warm up!!! I ordered some Wagan heated seat cushions to remedy that!

The clock on my Loyale has given up miles and miles ago, and I stare at that blank display everyday, wondering what to do with it. I really like the idea of adding a plaque in memory of the Subaru Clock Division workers , and the idea of adding a small GPS is brilliant too! The clock on my Forester is too new to fail yet (!!) but I bet somewhere inside it a solder is wearing thin, the inevitable waiting to happen... For Forester owners (maybe others too), here's a fix up: http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f77/oh-no-my-clock-doesnt-work-3350/

Thanks mate!

This is Subaru oil filter that was on the engine (one of the Puroleakers, and yes, it was leaking): And this is the FRAM filter I installed:

My 91 Loyale has the 3AT with selectable 4WD and it shifts smooth. The car came with 138k miles and all maintenance paperwork since 1994. Can't say the transmission is the same as original, but it shifts smooth. I wish I had more gears as it's running at 3000+ rpm at highway speeds.

Sweet land Rover in the back, I always loved those beasts. If I had the money right now I'd get this one: http://anchorage.craigslist.org/cto/957743876.html

Beautiful! Looks like fun again! Nice group of Loyales you guys got there!

I saw those when I went to Europe a few years back... another case of Europe getting all the cool cars!

Good to know that Subaru is investing in the future... do you think they will come up with a boxer 4 battery arrangement?

LOL, hey now, that's the nickname for my Loyale and I ain't complaining!!

Looks like you guys had a lot of fun!

Ah, the hydro lifter sound... I only have that sounf when I first start the engine in the morning and it lasts a good 5 to 10 secs, depending on how cold it is outside. No tick of death other times.

What's a "TOD" noise?

I put 4.2 quarts, I bought 5 quarts and there's one bottle with just a bit missing off the top, so I know I didn't put 5 quarts in. I added the oil and didn't drive the car for two days, so I know it's not the oil splashing around making it look full. My dipstick has the metal loop on top, not a yellow handle. I didn't know they made the yellow dipstick for the Loyale.