1. Home
  2. Subaru Cars Forum
  3. OBW leaks everywhere

OBW leaks everywhere

2001 OBW 61,000 miles. Last year, the head gasket went. This year, I brought it in for a 60k service at 62,000 miles. I told the dealer not to change the coolant or charge me for it in the 60k service because it was done when they changed the head gasket.

Dealer calls and tells me that the valve cover gaskets are leaking into the spark plug wells and needs to be replaced. I would have noticed it because of the location of the leak. Almost $300 because it was brought in after 60k.

Brought the car in with another problem regarding a bad brake caliper. (never had a bad caliper before six or seven years on any car I've owned). While I am there, the service manager tells me that the axle seal in the AWD is leaking also. Had I brought it in at 59,999 miles Subaru would pay for it. At this point, they will call Subaru and try to get them to participate in the repair.

I then asked if they had replaced the valve cover gaskets at the time of the head gasket repair. He said indeed yes, and i was two days short of the one year warantee on that job. (They only have enough confidence to warantee a major repair for 12,000 miles or one year?) He will see about getting me a refund on the valve cover seal.

I understand there are other oil seals to be changed when the timing belt is changed.

What on earth is it with these engines? This car has been back for dealer repairs more times than even my Mercury SUV, which held the record until this one.

If this is the way it is with these things, i advise everyone to buy the

100,000 mile warantee. This is one car that I did not buy it for, because my Hondas and Nissans have never needed repairs. I thought Subaru was in the same catagory.

My 1996 Accord is now at college with my son. 200,000 miles and finally a major repair.......O2 sensor and windshield wiper linkage repair. Engine perfect, and even the original clutch.

GET THE WARANTEE!!

Reply to
Fredisg
Loading thread data ...

Subaru vehicles do WEEP (very slight leaks). None of these common leaks are a big cause for concern nor are they very expensive. Most of us just do all of the seals every 100,000 miles or so along with all the belts and water pump, etc. Buying parts and labor from the dealer would keep me away from the make but all vehicles have problems and the benefits offered by Subaru...AWD, handling, reliability are not negate by $40 worth of seals. TG

Reply to
TG

For those of us who don't do our own work, it's a very expensive thing to do every 100K or so!. I have a 97 Legacy 2.2L on which the leakage became noticeable 30K or so ago. I've seen switched to high mileage oils, had the engine cleaned once and keep cardboard under the engine in the garage. As yet I've never had to add a quart in the 3K oil change interval I do so the above plan is much cheaper than the 1500 USD (non dealer) to 2000+ (dealer) I was quoted to replace all seals/gaskets top to bottom Knowing this would I have bought this car? Probably not, although I am quite satisified in most other respects and other non-scheduled/non-routine maintenance has been nil.

However I do have a question: Will be doing the 60K timing belt replacement soon, and at the time what gaskets and seals are reasonable labor cost wise, to do, given the labor already necessary for the belt replacement?

TIA Jim

Reply to
Jim

The ones that leak the most...cam seal x 2, crank seal, oil pump "O" ring, these will account for any leak from the timeing cover and 90% of the work has to be done to get at the belt anyway. TG

Reply to
TG

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.