I have about a drop a week seeping from the bottom corner of the head gasket. Is there a fix for such a small leak ?, or is it a whole gasket job ?

My impression is that this is pretty usual, since the horizontal design leaves oil to soak into the head gasket when the engine's at rest. After many years of this, it finds its way through...

 

First of all, make sure it's the head gasket. If it's on the front corner of the head, it could be dribbles from the oil pump or camshaft seals. Scrub it clean (brake cleaner works) and watch it for a few days.

 

Mine's been doing that for a few years. I re-did the oil pump seals, crank and cam seals a couple years ago, and now there's no drips on the garage floor. But if I crawl under the engine, I can still see a drop forming on the front corner of the left head gasket. It drips occasionally on the skid plate -- not enough to run off onto the floor.

 

At the time I did the oil seal work, I retorqued the head bolts, a bit over spec. Some guys on this board will recommend this (maybe others won't?). It seemed to slow the drip down by about half.

 

In all, a drop a week wouldn't be anything to worry about, as long as no evidence of coolant or compression leaks through the head gasket.

 

-- Mark

I really wouldn't worry about a drop a week. And no, there isn't really a fix for this aside from new HG's.

I have about a drop a week seeping from the bottom corner of the head gasket. Is there a fix for such a small leak ?, or is it a whole gasket job ?

i would say that you take action before that small leak turns into a big one because it happend to me and its not cool.

lets keep this in mind... Subaru's leak oil. A drop a week is nothing. a buddy of mine made a 800 mile round trip road trip and he used 10 quarts of oil. Now thats a leakin sooby...

 

If its on the passenger side of the motor, you probably spilled a few drops of oil when you added some last and it ran down the motor at the headgasket seam. I've chased leaks all over these engines and they dont always come from where you see it dripping.

 

As long as you check your oil every time you fillup at the gas station, you'll be fine. No use in 60 bucks worth of gaskets and 2 hrs of time.

lets keep this in mind... Subaru's leak oil.

yes they do - I would not sweat over an occasional drop - it is probably your front seals - they have a way of leaking ....

don't worry about it - I only worry if I eat more than a quart every 3,000 miles

Leak oil? They sure do. I just put 3 quarts in mine this morning. 3 quarts low...Argh! At least the engine is still running. You have to check your oil level all the time--oil just seems to vanish in Subarus.