[Adding Oil additives like Lucas Stop Leak or similar to a Subaru]

yeah I removed and cleaned- the blow or suck test works but I ordered one and will pick it up today at 2pm--

I am assuming that it will not reduce the leak though (what is your opinion?)  if not replacing that valve regularly blew my seal on the timing chain cover I leaned a big lesson- 

thanks

[Adding Oil additives like Lucas Stop Leak or similar to a Subaru]

On 2/3/2022 at 5:29 PM, idosubaru said:

buy a PCV valve.  That releases crank case pressures.  You should not be springing that many leaks back to back. It sounds like the high pressure just keeps finding the easiest path out.  
 

buy a new Subaru PCV valve and install. You can do that it’s easy.  Part number posted above in one of my previous replies. 
 

good luck let me know how it goes. 

That is interesting to me-- I am bringing the car to a reputable Subaru mechanic in my area tomorrow to diagnose and get it quoted- will definitely ask about the pcv valve- or maybe even check it out before I bring it- it is my understanding that it should sound like a b b moving freely in it when I shake it if it is not gunked up.

 

 

[Adding Oil additives like Lucas Stop Leak or similar to a Subaru]

On 2/7/2022 at 1:31 PM, lmdew said:

Park on the Street, if you can.

no street parking where I live but it leaks from a specific area so I have a low profile container full of kitty litter

[Adding Oil additives like Lucas Stop Leak or similar to a Subaru]

46 minutes ago, GeneralDisorder said:

Additives are snake oil. Won't do anything useful but lighten your wallet.

GD

thanks-- I tend to think you are correct but got frustrated. I hate to be that guy who leaves oil spots around town. 

[Adding Oil additives like Lucas Stop Leak or similar to a Subaru]

4 hours ago, idosubaru said:

 

1.  Replace your PCV valve with one from Subaru immediately.  Easy, an hour and not hard, no special tools:
Subaru part # 11810AA100

2.  Check the oil cooler gasket - they leak ALL THE TIME.  Take a picture of this area annd post it here or a link to it and we'll help diagnose the leak source.
Subaru part #: 21370KA001

Easy to replace, just annoying that some of the coolant drains out. If you did all that other stuff you can definitely do this:
1. remove oil filter
2. remove coolant hoses attached to cooler 
3. You need a 24mm socket to unbolt the oil cooler bolt
4. Remove cooler, clean up all the oil on the cooler and engine, make sure the old gasket isn't stuck to the engine, throw it away
5. install new gasket and put it back together. 

It would be wise to buy the coolant hoses from Subaru and just replace them while you're under there.  You can look them over before you do the job and see how pliable they look and maybe get away with reusing them.  Do to the tight bends and catastrophic nature of a hose that low to leak, I'd buy them from Subaru.  They may not have them in stock - another reason to have them on hand so you're not stuck waiting for them if they are in poor condition. 

The two cooler hoses that attach to the oil cooler, I think should be:
21338AA060
99078AA570

 

Now - those are just guesses, so let's start from the beginning:

A:  did any of those prior valve cover gasket, "drive shaft seal" (is that the crank seal?) - actually reduce the engine leaks?  I can't tell if it: 
i. had multiple leaks

ii. wasn't diagnosed correctly (replacing parts that did't need replaced)

iii. new leaks keep popping up

 

Do not use stop leak.  That stuff is terrible. Whatever aid it might render for 2 month won't be good for long term.  There are very rare cases where additives are helpful, this isn't one of them. 

 

 

I will order the hoses and gasket for the oil cooler- I am sure that is prudent no matter what. In both instances those prior leaks did help amazingly, in fact I had no oil spots at all after the first repair. On the second occasion I visually saw oil dripping from the crank seal, what happened was I was driving up a mountain road and lost the ability to drive I knew the feeling and rolled into a pull out (luckily there was one). There was oil slung about and my serpentine belt was shredded. Believe it or not I drive with a spare. Installed it and it got me home, Next morning I saw the major leak and you could clearly see it coming from the crank seal etc. The belt was not old. I think the seal failed and it got oil on the belt making it slip or shred. After that repair NO drops. The current condition started about a week ago. I will try to take some pics. I also have to admit that I got frustrated today, did an oil change, oil filter change and did at the Lucas stop leak because it seemed the most like oil in terms of what it was made of. I got frustrated because I don't have a lot of money right now to bring it to a shop. I do appreciate your help (and others here) and will try to take a good pic. thanks. Hopefully I didn't damage or make matters worse. 

[Adding Oil additives like Lucas Stop Leak or similar to a Subaru]

1 hour ago, carfreak85 said:

Sounds like the timing chain cover has sprung a leak.  I'm not sure how expensive it is to repair, but based on the number of bolts, it will require a full front-of-engine teardown.

@GeneralDisorder or @idosubaru might have some other pointers...

If you are correct I might as well get a new timing chain (right?) I am guessing that would be an easy $700 dollar repair if not more  Thanks by the way, your input is greatly appreciated. The car is 16 years old and while generally in great shape I would love to get a subaru that gets better mileage (like a cross teck or something) or even a 10 year old forester so maybe a temporary fix like Lucas oil additive that from what I understand will not hurt other components might be a viable try. 

 

[Adding Oil additives like Lucas Stop Leak or similar to a Subaru]

I have an older Subaru and not a common one. A 2006 Tribeca B-9 limited edition. It has 173K miles on it. Last year it started dropping a significant amount of oil which resulted in valve cover gasket replacement ($400) and this year another leak due from the drive shaft seal needing to be replaced ($220). I have worked on the car myself, replacing pulleys, tensioner, serpentine belts, alternator, brakes, things like that but I am not a skilled mechanic. I do these things because it is more affordable. I am now on a fixed income and it is leaking oil again. I thought it was from the oil pan but it just traveled there because my driveway is not level. Once I got it on level ground it is leaking somewhere from the front of the motor right above the front of the oil pan. I cannot afford a major fix. What do you all think about a stop leak oil additive? My feeling is that it is an older car and this might due the trick, I would never use it on a newer car. It is time for me to change the oil so I thought about trying it. Thanks in advance!

[Who bought the Tribeca?]

18 hours ago, idosubaru said:

Size. The safest car to be in during a wreck is the biggest one.  It's the heaviest Subaru ever made.

I suppose you are correct! I do feel pretty safe in it when I have my precious grand child in his car seat in the back. He calls it the Opa's car. 

[Who bought the Tribeca?]

We have a 2006 Tribeca and get stared at all the time. Not because it is a Tribeca but because it is a "Rain Forest Edition" which has a paint job that resembles the shadow of branches and tree limbs cast on the car. OH and Tribeca's are the only Subaru not sold in Japan and have the worst sales record of any Subaru in the United States. I purchased used after our previous car was totaled (in Georgia) by an 88 year old driver crossing over on a two lane rd. I knew nothing about the car and didn't know it was the laughing stock of Subaru enthusiasts. HEY it does great in crash tests!