1 Lucky Texan

On another board, there seems to be a trend of fuel overflow from automatic nozzles not shutting off. If anyone here has noticed the issue on there new vehicle a note to NHTSA is probably called for. In addition to possibly damaging the vapor recov. system, there is a environmental issue as well as a safety issue. Someone might get torched! fyi

check; http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3&highlight=intake http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=148&highlight=intake for an idea As for the K&N - there is quite a bit of controversy over at http://www.bobistheoilguy.com about the amount of silicon in the oil of users of these type filters. Most folks claim at least some small improvement in HP. Caveat Emptor.

We had to replace my wife's Windstar van (teen wrecked it - everybody OK) and have had 'her' '03 H6 3.0 for a few months. I am shopping for an Impreza to replace my '96 Dodge Avenger. Shopping slowly for a '99-'01 Outback Sport (Impreza RV in Oz?). maybe I should crack open the manual though - maybe a short cut way to adjust fan speed exists? Hey, did you ever post some photos of your 3 wheeled projects?

Yeah, seems like the only way on ours - keep popping the button til you see the number of blades you want. Or hit auto and fiddle with the temp setting.

one good place to visit is http://www.tirerack.com

Rear anti-sway bar (18-20mm), wheels/tires, lightened pulley set, fun sounding muffler, maybe lightened flywheel(if MT). SERIOUS gains (over 10%) likely would require cams, and they come with their own peculiarities. Or save for a turbo'ed engine swap! Still, don't ignore suspension improvements.

Setright says it takes 600 miles to get all the air out of his soob. I'd check the level, refill as necessary, maybe put the front up on ramps and run with heater on untill the fans come on. Let it cool, refill. Then watch it for a few weeks. If it doesn't change and there are no other symptoms, it may have just burped itself. BUT, if you're sure you've put in more than system capacity, try comparing the appearance of the plugs to each other, an internal leak may alter their surface coatings from normal and you'know it's an internal HG leak. very odd. good luck

Makes sense - that's what I assumed. thanx

OK - I have a good guess but don't really know - um, what is the power distribution to the front and rear when the 4EAT is in reverse?

I've read that one indication of the tensioner being the problem is a 'rubbed' spot inside the cover. Sorry I never read specifically where. Might be worth double checking.

Seems possibly 2 different problems. strange Would it be possible to smell the 'smoke on startup'? If sweet,caramel like smell, that is coolant and a definite issue to be examined immediately. Actually, now I think of it, your dealer is putting you off I think. If they are telling you it's normal, have them start one up and show you the smoke. It can really only be 4 things, fuel, oil, condensed water or coolant. 3 of those are not good in a newish car.

Could respond well to a thorough fluid flush and refill. When the engine is hot, the tranny fluid is too. has the vehicle had good maintenece? Is the fluid 'burnt' smelling or extremely dark? Proper level?

I forget what year they change fro P1 - P2 - sorry. Also, does your heater occasionally blow cold? That seems to be a symptom in some soobs when air/combustion gases start getting trapped.

Dunno with the pinging but everyhting else sounds like a clogged cat. can you give more details/history on the car?

Possibly being sprayed or 'boiled' out when driving and blowing back under the car. Though it seem like it would also be on other components. Have you looked at your coolant level? How long since you had a new rad cap? Any overheating or other probelms lately? What mileage,history,mods,etc? I think your engine is prone to external headgasket leaks, exacerbated by cold weather.

Maybe if you found a niche - like aftermarket stuff for the Baja and OBS - stuff kinda overlooked.

New tires? Rubber compound might change characteristics with low temps. Any dents/damage underneath or on the pass side? Loose belt? (I'd expect squealing - not howling) When it is present, will it change with speed or time or wind or road conditions?

No question they'd be expensive - BUT - wouldn't some coveralls be cool!

My answer won't be what you expect but; 1. I want to call and get an answer - not an answering machine. 2. I don't want to increase your profit margin by overpaying for 'shipping and handling'. 3. I don't expect you to be perfect, but own up to mistakes and fix them so well I brag about it to my friends. 4. I want knowledgable assistance with my purchase but don't want to be wheedled into something because you make more money with it than another item. 5. I don't want to hear "You'll need to contact XXXX to get warranty service - it's not my problem now - I just sell 'em" 6. If I use a CC for purchase, it'd be nice if your company's name actually shows up on the statement instead of me trying to figure why someplace called 'Mumble dogface at the Banana patch' got $462.97 from me. 7. Superior packaging - I mean, stuff can't bang into other stuff in the box and is an inch or more away from the inside surface of the box. NO PEANUTS! 8. Clear, easy, return procedure. If I think of any more I'll get back to ya! Carl 1 Lucky Texan

"Mr Stubbs! Start the tryworks, we shall go forward laden with fire!" (I'd double check the spare tire(s), take a couple road flares, gloves, flashlight(s), some premixed coolant, if the other wagon has been sitting for a while maybe some Heet additive. Make sure the wipers are in good shape too. Watch for semis with antennas and pace 'em. Definitely slow down when they do.) good luck man!

OK - this might be a crazy idea - but I say its a tire. Most every other item will either be cool (like the brakes/rotors) or pretty hot very quickly (like 15-20 minutes) on the freeway BUT tires might take 45 minutes to get warm. Do you feel it in the steering wheel? How is it perceived?

Probably do a search on coolant refilling too, soobs like to 'retain air'. Tricky sometimes to purge it out.

Well, the creation of multiple revision HGs obviously shows us the REAL problem is elsewhere in the design. But the only approach to the problem is HGs. I've read the 'open deck' design on the 2.5l may be a little TOO 'open' and the 'jugs' move around too much - thermal creep, vibration, whatever, something is compromising the HGs - it's not the gaskets per se.

something flammable get onto the cat?

Not really, unless you might consider some cams. Even those are hard to locate and there may be some tradeoff in reliable idling or something. Lighter crank,alt pulleys will 'free up' a few ponies. Lighter flywheel. trust me, there is damn little for the NA 2.2l .