99 forester loosing oil and smoking PLEASE HELP!

The oil pump issue is for an oil leak, not oil burning. The symptoms are oil all over the pan and the upper exhaust plumbing and a burnt oil smell after a long drive.

Blue smoke out the exhaust is something else. Have it checked by a mechanic. Wornout rings at 79k miles seems real unlikely unless the car has been seriously abused.

Remove the plugs and check for oil fouling. Also compare them to each other. If all look the same, then engine is probably good. Three look the same but the fourth is very different then this means a problem. May as well just replace them in the process. Check out the PCV valve. Fair chance it is clogged and needs replaced. Worn valve stem seals and worn valve stems/guides are also causes of "blue smoke".

excellent post. The PCV system, if it has never been serviced, may be the problem. If so, easy fix. Do it soon as the cat converter is working hard with oil going through it. The smoke is definitely oil right? Not white ans sweet smelling - like toatsed marshmallows?

Carl

I agree with Jim S. Check the PCV hoses for kinks or plugged. If the PCV hoses are ok check or replace the PCV valve.

i have allready changed the pcv valve. I changed the spark plugs and number 3 was oily. i installed the new ones drove it 10 miles and the mis fire cam back. pulled the plugs and 3 was oily on the new plug. did a compression test and number 3 only has 45 lbs pressure while number 1 has 150. so i think its safe to say it is the piston rings. As i type this i have the engine completly disconected from the rest of the car except the engine to trans bolts. bottom 2 mount bolts, top wishbone mount and exhaust.(15 min left)

now is it possable to only be valve problems causing it to only have

thanks to all with your input and i hope to hear more

"Edward Hayes" wrote: >

I agree with Jim S. Check the PCV hoses for kinks or plugged. > If the > PCV hoses are ok check or replace the PCV valve.

Ok, you've checked the PCV valve & hoses so it is not caused by pressure buildup in the crankcase. You have only ~80,000 miles on the engine so you may have only a stuck piston oil control ring. I don't remember you saying what the compression was on the other cylinders as it would be interesting to know. I would, before tearing into the engine repeat the compression test using the dry & then wet method. If the compression increases appreciably then it is piston rings. If there is not increase in compression then it is the intake valve guides. Rarely does it happen but, a valve guide can come loose and cause this type of problem. Do the homework before tearing the engine down. JMO Ed

Another possibility is a blown HG that is allowing just oil to enter the cylinder.

Not real likely, but certainly possible. Ed has outlined testing to determine where the loss of compression is happening; I'd do this before attempting to pull the engine. Does sound like rings to me, tho. Mmmmm, if it _is_ the rings, and unless you are fairly adventurous, you are probably going to be time and money ahead by simply finding a used motor, or even stepping up to a rebuilt one (Colorado Component Rebuilders) as opposed to trying to DIY one; Subaru motors aren't trivial to open up, and even less so to put back together. Servicing the heads/valve train is a perfectly reasonable home project, tho.

You can absolutely pull the engine and tranny as a unit. You will need to remove the subframe from beneath the transmission (this for the Legacys and Imprezas, I assume the Forry will be similar . . .), the rear drive shaft, and disconnect the front half shafts from the tranny. Disconnect the lower ball joint from the steering knuckle (remove the pinch bolt and use a prybar) to facilitate this. You will also need to drain the tranny fluid (rear seal mates to the drive shaft), and disconnect the shift linkages, wiring harness, etc. Also have plenty of oil dry ready; you'll get another couple pints of fluid out of the tail when you start lifting the engine. That said, unless you have some real need to pull the tranny, it's probably not worth the extra effort IMO.

Good luck with your project; check back in if you get stuck.

ByeBye! S.

Steve Jernigan KG0MB Laboratory Manager Microelectronics Research University of Colorado (719) 262-3101

i'd pull the head and check for a gasket leak before i'd pull the engine..then you could check the valves......rings don't figure..too low mileage....thats too much oil i think...i'll bet it's sucking oil from an oil line in the head gasket...

I would first try to determine where the oil is going as I suggested earlier. If it is piston rings then they may be stuck and there are methods to clean the ring pack BEFOR you start tearing stuff apart.

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