Oil leak, what to replace?

[peter]

So some might remember from a while back I was having problems with my car having a burning smell after driving up a really steep hill. I figured out that was due to an oil leak and the oil would hit the exhaust manifold. Well now its gotten much worse and after just 10-15 minutes of driving I can smell it and see smoke. I parked over some cardboard for a few hours to see how much and where it was leaking and all I saw was a few drops on the passenger side near the front of the motor. So what should I be looking at replacing first?

oh btw '98 Legacy 2.2

[harrymaneuvers]

I am betting Cam seals... not too bad... you would replace them while you were doing a t belt water pump anyways.

How many miles on the car and when was the last t belt change?

[peter]

I was kinda thinking it was the cam seals.
its got about 81,500 miles and Iv never done the belt and I doubt it was done before I had the car.

[harrymaneuvers]

Get under your car and see if you can see it dripping from behind or inside of the timing belt cover on that side.

[peter]

well I was able to get under the car and snap some pics and heres what I found

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/06/025-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/06/026-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/06/027-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/06/028-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/06/029-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/06/030-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/06/031-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/06/032-1.jpg

[harrymaneuvers]

Wow... well that doesnt really tell us much... your entire front end is wet!!!!


If I was you I would get under there with some simple green/ engine degreaser and clean off EVERYTHING until it was bone dry... then wait to see where the oil drips from.


Looks like you have a heavy drip down your thermostat hosing as well as the other side of the engine... might be all three seals.


Its time for a timing belt change!

[peter]

its hard to see in the pictures but I could see some spots where it was actually dripping from. Im assuming the belt has never been changed so Im going to tear it all down replace all the seals there and the timing belt. Do you know if there is a DIY for this?

[harrymaneuvers]

Might as well do the water pump while you are in there as well.


You are going to want to consult the FSM for the exact way to do the timing belt...

[peter]

Lucky thing is a friend of mine has a timing belt and I think a water pump too that he had for his old Legacy, but they have just been collecting dust since he scrapped it and was waiting to put them in his brothers Legacy, but I might buy those from him assuming there wasnt any changes between years

[Baddog]

Only difference I can think of is maybe the belt tensioners

[ouch1011]

Oil pump, among other things.

Honestly, you have a lot of oil leaks. Only way you are going to fix all that is to re-seal the engine.