Just got an '89 xt6, 2wd auto, 100,500 miles.

 

It loses around a quart of oil a day... After driving it for 15 minutes, it smokes horribly under the car... Assuming its oil hitting the exhaust.

 

Anyways, I cleaned up under the car and the oil looks like its coming from the front somewhere... I was told by previous owner that it was the oil pan... Doesn't look like it. He said it loses a lot of oil... He wasn't kidding... Any ideas where to start checking?

 

And where can I get that o-ring for the water pump? The one where the metal radiator hose goes into the water pump... It leaks there. What do I do?

 

Thanks!

the oil leak will be one of two places - it's either the front crank seal or the oil pump shaft seal if it's leaking that badly. but basically if you do this job they both require the same amount of work so you're going to replace them both at the same time since they are so close together. both require removing the timing belts. it's not that bad of a job really, it can be done in a couple hours. removing and installing the crank seal is the most annoying one to do. if that one is not leaking or seeping at all, you may consider leaving it, although i recommend replacing it since it's right there anyway. and...if it's leaking that bad and has been driven at all there may be so much oil slopped around that you can't even identify whether it's the oil pump or crank seal since the crank seal is right above the oil pump. it should be obvious, the oil pump seal will have oil all over the face...but possible it's too messy to tell.

 

for the coolant you can buy the water pump outlet o-ring at Subaru or i think http://www.thepartsbin.com has them. better yet buy a new water pump and it will come with a brand new one. sometimes it's a good idea to coat the water pump o-ring in sure-tack sealant or your favorite RTV sealant stuff. make sure the metal pipe is clean where the o-ring goes so it seals good.

 

all of this work is on the front of the engine, i'd recommend replacing it all at the same time since it all require removing the timing belts. new water pump, oil pump shaft seal, oil pump gasket, crank seal and cam seals. this is a great motor that will give you 200,000 miles no problem if you keep it sealed good and don't overheat it.

make sure you replace your timing belts too, that oil will be slopped all over the timing belts and they will break in short order, i just fixed my RX whos previous owner just kept adding oil and it was pouring out all over the belts and broke them