I have an 86 subaru dl and i just got it and the water pump went out so i removed and drained the oil and it was all milky and had water in it... What could cause this? could it be a head gasket or something worse?

First thing we need to know is if you have an EA81 or EA82?

 

EA81's are pushrod.

 

EA82's have timing belts.

 

Which is it?

 

GD

Also do you know any history of the car ?

 

 

nipper

A shot in the dark, with the minimal information we've got. Possibly it wasn't the water pump at all, and it was a bad headgasket? I might be way ahead of myself here, +1 on more info on the car. What happened that you knew the water pump was bad, motor and mileage?

Possibly a freeze plug in the head let loose. That will fill the crankcase with coolant.

 

But again, a GD said. Are we talking about an EA82 or EA81?

 

You call it a hatch, but is it actually the "3 door Coupe"?

Well it has a timing belt! I bought the car and the lady said it ran when she parked it. The water pump is bad because water was leaking out the bearing in the front...:-\ it dont have a hole lot of miles dont no exact milage. but we poured water into the radaitor and it ran right out the oil pan!!

Might have popped some of the freeze plugs out of the heads. Start figureing on a head gasket job and inspect carefully as you go.

 

Technically your 88 is not a "Hatchback". It's refered to as a "3 Door Coupe". While it *is* a hatch it needs to be distinguished from the EA81 Hatchback, which was still being produced in 88. The EA81's came first, so the Hatchback label was already taken. For clarity here and elsewhere you should start calling it an EA82 3 Door Coupe.

 

GD

For clarity here and elsewhere you should start calling it an EA82 3 Door Coupe.

 

GD

 

And look up all you're parts(except body) for a Wagon. As lot's of parts places have all Subarus of that vintage listed as "1800"s, and often the only distinction is when they ask if it's a 3 door(which they actually mean the hatch, EA81) or a Wagon(EA82)

 

But all the wagons of that year are EA82. That's what, you need are EA82 parts.