Getting Nervous. Where did my oil go?

ScubyRoo · Post by **ScubyRoo** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:26 am

AlpineRaven wrote:before you start changing the gaskets give it a good power wash to make your job easier. Rocker covers is easy, but cam seals is hard, get new ones from CBC, subaru costs fortune! Its same part but prices difference.
Cheers.
AP

What is this 'CBC' you speak of? A shop or what? My engine has gone kaplutsplunkcoughpleh and doing the rebuilding myself - not looking to skimp on quality replacement parts but would be good to have a source of parts at good prices...

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:56 am

ScubyRoo wrote:What is this 'CBC' you speak of? A shop or what? My engine has gone kaplutsplunkcoughpleh and doing the rebuilding myself - not looking to skimp on quality replacement parts but would be good to have a source of parts at good prices...

Consolidated Bearing Company.
They have data on bearings for all cars on the computers there.
Cheers
AP

fredsub · Post by **fredsub** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 12:00 am

as this topic is a bit about evidence of leaking oil, i'll just add my query here if you don't mind.

I have the oil evidence towards the bottom rear of the rocker cover, not much, but enough to smell it burning on the exhaust after a trip.
I have tightened the rocker cover, it made a small difference for a while.

So just thinking whether its the covers just need resealing, or is there
more underlying issue, ie rear cam shaft seal, or intake and exhaust oil
seal ?

I know the front seals are ok, as I had a very good check when I did the timing belt.

its EJ25 engine in a OBW.

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 6:58 am

behind an EJ engine on the right side (drivers side) there is a cover plate that holds by 2 10mm bolts, its a very common place to leak oil, its an distributor cover. The rocker covers gasket is below $40 to replace.
Btw, if you guys have leaky engines, fix it, because one day you'll be driving an dry engine and it'll seize up.
Also its not nice be driving around with smelly burning engines and its not good.
Cheers
AP

Kappage · Post by **Kappage** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 6:38 pm

Well i bought a pair of Rocker cover gaskets today for $92.80 i should get the time to put them in on monday. Stupid work....

fredsub · Post by **fredsub** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 10:59 pm

the problem here might just be the sealant goo used, instead of proper gaskets, what do you think?

Subaru dealer workshop did this before I bought the car....

Post by **TOONGA** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 12:29 am

that is just wrong that red sealant is fantastic stuff but it isnt meant to be used like that

I would say 90% of the problem is being caused by the fact that the exaust heat has caused the sealant to fail

TOONGA

Kappage · Post by **Kappage** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:09 pm

Well on monday i replaced the rocker cover gaskets and now i am 100% certain its the cam shaft seals! still loosing oil and when your on the underside you can see just how much is coming out when you look at the cover over the timing belt etc.

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:17 pm

Kappage wrote:Well on monday i replaced the rocker cover gaskets and now i am 100% certain its the cam shaft seals! still loosing oil and when your on the underside you can see just how much is coming out when you look at the cover over the timing belt etc.

On left and right side timing belt covers they can be removed easily. But the centre one requires to remove crank pulley. Have a look there.
Cheers
AP

Kappage · Post by **Kappage** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 8:12 pm

well this afternoon the radiator came out and everything is all good, so far two bolts have been snapped! Just old age i would assume and i cant figure out how to get the crackshaft pully off?

So i ask how the hell do you get it off? you try to twist the nut and the whole thing turns over and before i go furthur this needs to come off. All suggestions are welcome!

Kappage · Post by **Kappage** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 9:33 pm

Ok i have had a search thru the forums and learnt 1 without taking the engine out i only have two options a rattle gun or hold it at the camshaft nuts BUT the timing belt will need to be replaced. So i am going to get a new timing belt tomoz from Veale Auto im thinking $350 to $400? and im just going to have to use a bit of braun, and my brothers to get it off.

But the main problem is where the hell am i going to get the bolts that i broke from? They are the normal pulley adjuster ones the airconditioner one and the alternater one, and yes a bit of thread is stuck in the alternator it will come out with a bolt removal kit thingo. So thats the last question where the hell do i get these bolts from? while im at work tomoz my brother is going to subaru Auto Wreckers MALAGA tomoz for me. Will Auto One or super cheap sell them?

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 9:46 pm

you can buy bolt removable tap (reverse tap)- get good quality ones, first you'll need to drill a small hole enough for the tap to remove.

Timing Belt kit is $198 from CBC, otherwise its about $900-120 from Subaru.
Cheers
AP

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 9:47 pm

Kappage wrote:Ok i have had a search thru the forums and learnt 1 without taking the engine out i only have two options a rattle gun or hold it at the camshaft nuts BUT the timing belt will need to be replaced. So i am going to get a new timing belt tomoz from Veale Auto im thinking $350 to $400? and im just going to have to use a bit of braun, and my brothers to get it off.

But the main problem is where the hell am i going to get the bolts that i broke from? They are the normal pulley adjuster ones the airconditioner one and the alternater one, and yes a bit of thread is stuck in the alternator it will come out with a bolt removal kit thingo. So thats the last question where the hell do i get these bolts from? while im at work tomoz my brother is going to subaru Auto Wreckers MALAGA tomoz for me. Will Auto One or super cheap sell them?

I got a belt for about $60 or $80 from memory (and that was last week

) - a timing belt kit will cost you more, still don't think it'll be that price!

To get the crankshaft nut off - put the car in 5th gear, pull the hand brake nice and tight, then go for it. The other way I've been told it can be done is to put a breaker bar on the bolt, turn the motor over until the breaker bar is against the chassis rail then kick the motor over with the starter - I have not done it this way, so its not tried by me...

As for the bolts - if your brother is going to the wreckers, get him to grab them for you, make sure he uses some WD40 to get them off. Otherwise you should be able to get replacement bolts at a bolt shop - they won't have the exact bolt head on them but they'll do the job.

Cheers

Bennie

Kappage · Post by **Kappage** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 9:53 pm

Whats a timing belt kit? Thanks for the replys too

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 10:01 pm

Kappage wrote:Whats a timing belt kit? Thanks for the replys too

Refer this link - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timing_belt

Picture of Subaru engine's timing belt -

Timing Kit (might be different to yours) -

It normally comes with belt & bearings itself.
Cheers
AP

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 10:03 pm

To remove cam bolt - In the past one or twice i've done this, is to disconnect the sparkplugs (tension leads), put a spanner that fits the cam nut in a breaker bar that is long enough to touch the ground on an angle enough to minimise movement... it makes your tummy cringe!... only 1 small turn over is enough to undo.

Ever since i have an compressor and rattle gun, i use it now - lot easier.
Cheers
AP

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 10:04 pm

That photo I'd say they have still used the gaskets, but just been quite over-zealous with the use of the goo. You actually are still supposed to use the goo with the Subaru rocker cover gaskets but only small amounts in the corners and around the little half-moon things.

**edit - lol there's been about 7 posts since I started writing that (had to go get the phone).

Also to crack the crank bolt, you can also construct a tool for this if you are keen. Get a metal ring and weld some posts to it which line up with the holes towards the outer edge of the crank pulley so it can "grab" on. Then weld a long breaker bar to the ring but not across the centre of it. Then you can use the breaker bar to hold the crank still, and still put a socket through the middle of the ring and use another breaker bar on that to undo the bolt. I borrowed one off somebody who made it and it was absolutely the easiest thing to do!

Kappage · Post by **Kappage** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 10:18 pm

Thanks for the tips i think im jsut going to do the 5th trick, i tried it in first and reverse this arvo with my bro and didnt work, if not im going to have to hold it at the Camshaft pulleys oh and i jsut line it up like this?

http://www.subaruvanagon.com/tom/Timing%20Belt.htm

refer mainly to this pic

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 11:22 pm

Hmmm... for a second there I thought this was a pic of mine that had been graffitted... Alas its not...

As for the re-aligning of the cam gears in relation to the crank shaft. On all of the gears you will find a flat line mark - each one should be facing up in relation to another flat line mark on the cam cover or oil pump housing (crank relation). This will line up everything as it should be and the motor will start without any operational problems provided everything else on the motor is in good working order (sensors etc).

The Timing belt kit will have all the idler pulleys as well as the belt itself. I've not replaced the idler pulleys with the belt before, but most would say that its best practise to - and probabily a form of preventative maintenance...

Cheers

Bennie

Kappage · Post by **Kappage** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 11:33 pm

Yes on the cams i have been able to locate the with Lines but they are more like smudges of paint. Is there a marking on the engine 'housing' to line them up with?