outback_97

Does it look like this? That's what mine looked like when the oil pump o-ring was leaking, oil was pooling in the bottom of the timing belt cover and seeping through the t.b. cover gasket. No big drips on the ground, it would just blow back when driving. I had my timing belt replaced when the oil leak was fixed, for the same reasons mentioned above (concern that the belt was compromised). Hope this helps. Steve

Here's how I've done mine: http://users.sisna.com/ignatius/subaru/mods/jack/ It's an Impreza, so same basic design underneath as your Forester. Be safe. Steve

http://users.sisna.com/ignatius/subaru/headgasket.html Hopefully this link will answer some of your questions. Steve

I should clarify too... I don't think it's necessary for you to be under the car, just put the drain pan under the car. Reach from the side and you can get the drain pan under the car and reach the plug with your wrench. I'm 6'4" and skinny... just under 200 lbs. But that shouldn't matter as long as your arms are long enough to reach the plug, and would I think they are. The first time I drained it, I jacked the car up, put it on stands, and got at it from the front. It was a pain working under there. Then, when I looked at it from the driver's side, I realized I could just get at it from there. Much easier, less chance of burning yourself on hot exhaust stuff. Steve

shortlid: I got to mine very easily from the driver's side, behind the front tire IIRC, but mine's an Outback. Don't know how much difference the slightly higher OB clearance makes. Driving onto some pieces of lumber, like 2x10's or something similar, would make yours sit about as high as the OB, right? Mine's a '97 but I'd think they're the same underneath. Steve

SeaFoam really likes this formula, it's pretty much identical to their "Deep Creep Penetrating Lubricant and Cleaner" Steve

Note: the motor cleaner and trans tune have the same components but vary in percentage between the listed figures. The numbers after the names are "EPC" numbers. I have no idea what that means. Normally an MSDS lists CAS numbers (Chemical Abstracts Service) which is a unique identifying number assigned to various chemicals. Example: Toluene is CAS # 108-88-3. PALE OIL 4229 40-60% NAPHTHA 20 25-35% IPA 125 10-20% I'll throw in my $.02: I got the "Pale Oil" definition from a Chevron webpage: PALE OIL - straight naphthenic mineral oil, MVI to HVI, straw or pale yellow in color, used as a once-through lubricant and in the formulation of process oils. Naptha is a petroleum derived, hydrocarbon solvent. IPA is probably Isopropyl Alcohol. In doing some searching I came across a lengthy discussion of the SeaFoam on a Honda website. Someone posted the formula and said naptha = mineral spirits and IPA can be bought at your local pharmacy. Well, not quite. In the paint industry (my background) Naptha is quite different from Mineral Spirits. And you can't normally buy straight IPA in a store, it's diluted with water to 70% (or less) and sold as "rubbing alcohol". It's possible the SeaFoam product has some water in it, but I would doubt it. Steve

That offset # looks pretty far off. This thread from nasioc has some good information: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=335263 Going by what's listed there, I'd say no, not a good idea for your bearings or suspension/axles and they probably won't even fit. Steve

http://www.honda-acura.net/forums/archive/index.php/t-28843.html Read this, are you sure your buddy's rims are 5x100??? I'll quote the post: "The bolt pattern for the RSX is 5 on 114.3mm and the offset is 38mm". That's from an RSX owner, maybe they're wrong, but... Here's another 2 threads in the same forum: http://www.honda-acura.net/forums/archive/index.php/t-37006.html http://www.honda-acura.net/forums/archive/index.php/t-45335.html Ahhh, Google. So many answers Steve

Ok, the bolt pattern must match, but you also have to have a similar offset. Make sure that you're within a few mm of the offset on the rims or you're asking for problems down the road with things like wheel bearings and tire wear. Here's a handy wheel chart which covers some OEM Subaru wheels and many aftermarket wheels (unfortunately your Acura ones are not included) http://wac.addr.com/auto/obs/wheels.html My $.03 Steve

www.nasioc.com has a very good classified section, unfortunately it's mainly geared towards Imprezas but sometimes you can find things for Legacies and Outbacks there. I have purchased the following from people at nasioc: set of WRX wheels / tires, fog lamp relay, fog lamp switch, a wiring harness for map lights, map light assembly. No real problems with any transactions, most people there are great. You know there's a classifieds section here on USMB too, right? Steve

Googling for info on swirl pot... http://www.sbdev.co.uk/Fuel_Systems/Fuel_Filters/Fuel_Filters.htm Seems to go inline with the fuel system to stop "fuel surge" in this application. Still don't really know what that means. Here's a better one: http://www.beardmorebros.co.uk/website%20pages/new_project_engine_page7.htm The fifth picture down on the RHS is good, and a little explanation. Does seem to be primarily on .uk websites, so a British term. The point about all occurrences happening after recent coolant replacement is interesting. I'm sure there would be people who object to that on theotherskip's list of people who have experienced HG failure, but then again air could exist in the system for a long time and not cause a problem until heavy loads are put on the engine on a long uphill climb, etc. Steve

mutant_dan: Thanks for posting this, it is very interesting. Are there any differences in how these engines are used in a plane that would change how this is implemented in a car? Do you have any photos that you could add to it? That would be most helpful. I'll consider adding this to my page with links to information regarding the head gasket issue: http://users.sisna.com/ignatius/subaru/headgasket.html Thanks again! Steve

Thanks Setright! Driving to work today I looked under a few Toyota trucks and 4Runners that were lifted, looked similar underneath. Thanks for your help, let us know if you find out anything else! Steve

http://users.sisna.com/ignatius/subaru/headgasket.html You may have already stumbled upon this, but it may give you some information you haven't seen yet. I don't think the "coolant conditioner" will help you out, unfortunately. Good luck, I'm hoping I don't join the club. Steve

Urban Coyote: Just another data point: http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=26971&highlight=2.2+emily Read Emily's post in the above thread, something to consider. Steve

Morgan: Are you sure, look closely under the driver's door. Plus the text mentions "Toyota Hilux" ??? Where's Bjork, she can read this for us. I could see her driving a Subaru for some reason. Steve

Makes sense now, thanks. I should have mentioned this before: sorry about your soggy Subie I too like the new(er) Foresters and will probably be deciding between one of those and an '05+ Outback when it comes time to replace mine, hopefully a long time from now though! Steve

Just curious... you're talking about the sedan, right, but why not consider the new Legacy wagon? The Legacy platform will have more room than the Forester, which is based on the smaller Impreza platform. There was a link on Nasioc (I posted it in a thread here) which compares the Legacy, Forester, Impreza in terms of cargo space. I'll see if I can find that again. Link: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=689844 Steve

They're not? Did you click on the link or are you referring to the photo with the bigger tires? This has to be the same car, there just can't be that many Legacies like that on a Toyota frame. Agreed on the cracy Icelanders though. Steve EDIT: OTOH what's the deal with the roof rack... there's one on the super monster tire one but not on the big tire one. I wish I could read Icelandic... is it similar to Danish? Maybe one of our Danish members will pitch in?

Ok... no it's not my car, it is from Iceland, here's another link to what I assume is the same car, although with smaller tires and no fender flare / cover thingies. http://www.f4x4.is/bilar/Subaru/Subaru01.html When you try to (free online machine) translate from Icelandic to English, this is what you get: SUBARU SITUATION 1993 ;fn) is Subaru Situation '93 whom I hef verið snuggle up to variable. Megnið af with drifbúnaðinum is Toyota Hilux, while esophagus is Subaru. Well struggle var snuggle up to come framhjólabúnaðinum underneath, while everything tókst there snuggle up to lokum. He is illiterate and credit with rundown hlutföllum. Deck are 33". Not is öllu heldur change lokið, t.d. are brettakantar after, and kanski lock. Form messenger Emil City September 1999. So... Toyota frame... 33" tires... no idea what anything else might be. "esophagus is Subaru?" Steve

Dan: Good idea, but I'm not sure how many (new) users visit the USRM. For that matter, I'm not sure how many people even read FAQ-type pages, I see evidence suggesting otherwise every time I log in here or other forums. Nevertheless, I idealistically like to believe that some people seek out information on their own before posting, either via FAQ's or searching. It doesn't matter to me where this info is, I just think it might help people and so that's why I put it together. Ron: Glad you mentioned that, I think I danced around the dates, saying something like, "most '99's... most '00's" because I wasn't exactly sure on that... I'll try to incorporate something like that into it. When I originally wrote the page it was specific to Legacies, but now that I'm including other models I'll try to fix that part. Thanks. Steve

http://users.sisna.com/ignatius/subaru/headgasket.html I updated my HG page I've had for a long time to reflect some new information and add some content. I feel it helps explain a lot of the questions that people have, or at least helps them find some relevant links. It seems like there's a lot of confusion on internet message boards particularly regarding the differences between Phase 1 and Phase 2 engines, and even what that means. Please provide feedback to help improve this, I think it's worthwhile and frankly I'm tired of the same information being repeated ad nauseum. Steve

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=24488&highlight=tires+losing+air Mainly just a reiteration of what's been said, but I remember I posted in this recent thread too, same question. Steve

Mattocs: Had the same problem with one of my 15" OB rims, some weeks it lost 1 psi per day. Took it to shop #1, they said there's nothing you can do. Tried again at another shop (don't give up), they said, "Oh yeah, those Subaru rims have that problem sometimes, I think we can fix it." They buffed the bead of the rim to smooth it out, put the tire back on, and that fixed it 90%. Still have to check it periodically of course, but now I can go for weeks w/o having to put air in it, as opposed to a few days or a week. Steve