Ok, so my 95 Legacy wagon 2.2 has sprung a leak.

 

It seemed for a while to have had valve cover leaks,

as I could see the oil residue around the covers, and

eventually it was (I thought) leaking down and burning,

but now I am thinking it may have been the beginning

of this other leak I am now seeing, a major dripping gusher.

 

Unfortunately, the other day I was driving and didn't

realize about the leak till I got home and major smoke was

coming out from under engine etc.

I checked oil and it was like 3 qts low.

So my main concern is that I may have permanently

damaged engine, though when I reoiled and started it

it sounds normal.

 

And where the leak is coming from, whether it would be a

big deal to fix, or (hopefully) it would possibly be solved

by timing belt kit/seal job? I've attached a pic of the spot

where the oil is dripping from...If anyone could please tell

me where they think this might be from? It seems to be

between the oil pump and water pump, if I remember my

timing belt install correctly on my old '97.

Thanks

'97

Probably the cam seal leaking and dripping down the inside of the cover.

That's pretty low, but if you wasn't run that long or hard, you may be clear.

I'd change the oil and filter immediately though. The oil that was in there probably got pretty burned, may even have some metal from accelerated wear.

 

Since it's coming out of the cover, it's probably nothing more serious than a cam or crank seal.

Yea, change the oil & filter right away for sure!!

I'd probably also change the timing belt. If it's leaking that much oil, the belt is probably covered. Oil breaks the belt down extremely fast, especially if it's already getting old and starting to slightly crack. The oil will destroy it.

 

It's an interference engine, so you don't want to temp it to snap. Because it will...

It's an interference engine, so you don't want to temp it to snap.

 

On a '95?

^ oops. Sorry. At the end of the post it says 97 twice, as does his username.

 

Ok, so you won't ruin the engine, but you'll have an expensive tow bill because it'll only break when you're far away from home in the boonies. Murphy's Law.

 

I'd still fix it.

Oh yeah, I completely agree with you. Definitely replace the belt while you are in there doing the work.

 

I made the same mistake with my username... I don't have my '92 anymore, and to confuse it even more, my '94 is red. I should have picked something more generic. :-\

check the oil pressure sensor under the alternator as it may leak and drip down in the same area.

Yeah, I've been all over the place on the years.

My first Suby was my old girlfriend's '95, I started maintaining

it around 90k and it made it to about 280 and died, most over

the heartbreak of our parting ways (me and the Sube).

My second was my '97, I think that one made it to about

325k while I owned it, and I stupidly sold it to some kid

because it was overheating; I still see that darn thing running

around sometimes...

 

Thanks for reminding me to update my "donor" status,

by all your suggestions.

 

I actually planned to get around to getting this guy to replace

belt/kit for me, already have parts, guess the car's letting me

know sooner than later.

 

I won't be driving it again till leak's fixed. I was thinking of

driving it to the guy's shop, but it's leaking too fast for that.

I do have AAA, which I've never used yet, so...

In this case I'll be having the car towed FROM home.

 

Thanks again.

Will check that oil sensor now. And will change oil, well,

I'll let him do that.

'97

it was like 3 qts low.

... when I reoiled and started it

it sounds normal.

 

this is why i love the 95 ej22 engine. it will take a lot of abuse.

 

you will not really know any thing until you remove the timing cover. but chances are excellent that new seals, new oil pump o-ring and reseal will fix it.

 

my son's 95 would leave a baseball size oil spot on the ground EVERY night. a cam seal had popped out of the head. it was cockeyed. i did the reseal and timing belt all is good.

 

the oil saturation will shorten the life of the belt, but i don't think it will destroy the belt immediately. so you should definitely replace it, but these belts will go way more than the 60k miles. and usually it isn't a belt failure that causes a timing belt ''event'' usually it is the pulleys. i don't thinl i have ever heard of a belt failure due to oil saturation. but since your plan is to not drive the car, a good idea by the way, until you repair it this is a non-issue.

 

i would also replace the PCV during the repair. they can cause a higher than normal pressure in side the crank case which MAY contribute to seal popping out, maybe. plus they are cheap.

 

good luck.

If it is coming out that fast most likely the oil pump seal, but can be anything. Do a complete timing belt change, no cheating and that will solve the issue.

pardon my ignorance, but i only did the timing belt myself one time. the oil pump o-ring, that is only replaced if you take off the oil pump? I didn't do that last time, though I remember having the o-ring. i suppose then if you take off the oil pump you want to reseal the backing plate on it?

Thanks again.

'97