mirrormt

Stan Steele at Diamond RV Storage in Diamond Springs is a great mech and low-cost, but may not be willing to tear into a suby that deep. He;s primarily a toyota guy. Try Hangtown Foreign Car Service in Placerville. They're more expensive, but Joe is a top notch tech. It is likely that the front main seals are leaking. My 86 hatchback had that problem, and my 98 Outback did the same thing. At 80-100K miles, you should have the timing belt replaced, the water pump replaced and the front seals replaced. They have to take the front of the engine all apart to do the timing belt, so you might as well have the rest of the work done while they're in there. Water pump is about $40 and the seals (I think there are 5) are about $8 each = so another $40, if the work is done at the same time as the tb. If done separately, it's anothe 3-4 hours of labor - see my point? Also - have your valve clearance checked at the same time, or within a couple of months of having the timing belt changed - about 100k. I had Hangtown do all for me at once on my '98 - plus they like to do new plugs, wires etc. - normal tune up stuff. The whole shebang was just under $800. Not bad every 100k or so.