I was checking the bottom of the EJ253 engine in our 2005 Impreza Outback Sport and noticed some black oily residue on the bottom of the heads.

 

I know this model is engine more likely have an external oil leak form the gaskets than internal/ external antifreeze leaks. It's not bad enough to be dripping any oil, but some residue on the bottom of each head and some residue on the center of the crossmember that goes under the rear of the oil pan (I'm thinking that's travelling down to the center of the crossmember from somewhere else.

 

It's been a great car for the 20K miles we've had it, just wondering if this small amount of residue is the beginning of a bigger leak. I might think of getting something else (with an automatic) and let this one go if the headgaskets will need to be done in the near future. It doesn't appear to be coming from the valve cover gaskets.

 

Below I've tried to put links to some pics I tried to get while I was under there (the darker areas are the oily residue):

 

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipPOBm89UtwyoDWHDfeFJsboWKDnqoDkEZh1QgHQ

 

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNjJ_oJ6K0CQCBhsiLDVuuY71KganhG1fMFytaV

 

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNjJ_oJ6K0CQCBhsiLDVuuY71KganhG1fMFytaV

 

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNjJ_oJ6K0CQCBhsiLDVuuY71KganhG1fMFytaV

 

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNjJ_oJ6K0CQCBhsiLDVuuY71KganhG1fMFytaV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

photo links don't work for me.

Weeping sounds like what I saw on my 05 sedan (sold at 85K before it developed a drip) and my 05 OB now with 165K miles and a piece of cardboard permanently stationed on the garage floor to catch the oil drip.

If you love the car and everything else is in good shape, consider doing the HGs when it's time for the timing belt (you didn't mention mileage or maintenance history). Otherwise, keep an eye on the oil level and get a piece of cardboard ;-)

How many miles do you have? I cant get the pics to post you should double check your links. 

 

I also have a 2005 outback (I have 98k on it now) I purchased it a month ago with 97k and after getting into it I noticed a small seep coming from my head gasket area. I cleaned it up very good and it hasnt come back in the past 1000 miles but I still monitor it each week.  I assume that in my case it is just a VERY slow leak (seep) that has been building up over time. 

 

If I were you I would get under there with a can of brake clean and go to town. It doesnt sound like you have done this yet. 

 

Here was my original post

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/158304-damn-small-oil-seep-look-like-head-gasketoptions/?hl=%2Bhead+%2Bgasket

 

 

Edit....I noticed that you posted in my original post haha. 
 

Edited April 2, 201610 yr by vtwinjunkie

My car currently has 149K miles. We bought it at 129K miles two years ago, and I ha noticed a smaller amount of seepage, mainly on th driver's side when I was under there replacing the front subframe (the fierst one was rotted through thanks to the Pennsylvania road salt from where it came from). 

 

I'm wondering how long it might be before it starts leaking a lot of oil, or might it et bad enough to start mixing oil and antifreeze.

 

I think the pics are viewable because of my Google settings so i hadded them to a shared album at the link below:

https://goo.gl/photos/HJhH1yQTWv7Y2anQA

So was the timing belt service done at 105K miles as scheduled? If not, you are way overdue and would suggest you replace HG at the same time. You can read on the site that the turbo HG is recommended. If not ready, drive on. There is no crystal ball as to when your seep will turn into a drip. My 05 is in the same NE rust belt and doesn't exhibit the rust through you experienced (model specific or the luck of the draw)  Personally, at 165K miles, I am sitting on my external HG oil drip until the next TB interval. I can live with a few oil drips and since I don't have the skills to knock the TB/HG job off with the same expertise as others on this site, I just consider the cost benefit analysis and can be less compulsive and more accepting of the constant decay of matter in the universe. Just sayin'.

Actually when I bought the car at 129K miles it appeared the timing belt had never been done, som I was able to bargain on the price, but then had a mechanic do it right after we bought the car.

 

Hopefully it will be many more miles before it gets to be a bad enough drip. My thought is if the clutch needs to be rdone at some point, I might as well have the head gaskets done if the pull the engine (like you, not going to try to do timing belt/ headgaskets or clutch by myself.