Oh noes, the "H" word!

[Sarra]

I noticed last night, after my car was warmed up, it appeared that taking off from stoplights, there was a puff of either dust from my car in general, or white smoke coming from my tailpipe.

I'm starting to worry about the headgaskets. I've noticed the coolant is ever so slightly murky, but that might just be the crappy coolant that the dealership put in it.

The weird thing is, it doesn't smoke consistantly, and I've gone freeway speeds since driving offroad, so I don't know where dust would be coming from.

Any thoughts? The car is going in in two days to get the front right suspension/brakes fixed... Is it time to park the Legacy and start driving the Loyale?

[Huffer]

What was the ambient temperature and humidity over the last few days?

On cold days I will see some white vapor...

[Matt S.]

Sarra, others here have far more experience then me but I don't believe smoke from the exhaust is a common sign with the DOHC head gaskets. I know the two I've delt with personally did not smoke at all and the tech that just did mine said the big giveaway is random overheating(at first) with the DOHC 2.5, not smoke as would be the case if your head was cracked or something(very rare on EJ motors).

But, ya never know. Check your coolant resivoir for constant bubbles. That would be one place to start.

Good luck!

[Sarra]

Well, something is out of whack, might be the thermostat. It's not warming up all the way, then it'll warm up to normal and stay there... Not overheating, though. And I'm getting crappy milage, like 18mpg.

It's going in on thrus, going to just ignore it until then.

[Sarra]

Well, it isn't the hg, it's worse. Front main seal, and all 4 cam seals. It oiled my timing belt, too, so I'm gonna have to get everything replaced. :-(

[Wiscon_Mark]

How is that worse than a Headgasket? You can't warp anything with that, it's just a slow leak issue.

[Reason]

Well, it isn't the hg, it's worse. Front main seal, and all 4 cam seals. It oiled my timing belt, too, so I'm gonna have to get everything replaced. :-(

I paid $1300 for my HG and a few other seals. I paid a little over $300 for my cam and crank seals. Both done at Subaru.

[Matt S.]

I agree with them, be happy!

But...

How many miles on your motor and were the headgaskets ever done? Hate to see you get the seals/T-Belt done and a month from now a head gasket goes and you have to tear the front of the motor back apart again. Might only be a few hours labor, but still.

Also, if your water pump has close to or over 100k, have them do that as well. They are cheap and virtually no extra labor charge while they are in there. The kits comes with a new T-stat to boot :smile:

[Sarra]

How is that worse than a Headgasket? You can't warp anything with that, it's just a slow leak issue.

Um, it's not exactly a slow leak. The oil is coating my timing belt, so yes, it could very well warp a rod or two if my timing belt decides that motor oil isn't to it's liking.

I've only had the car for 20k miles, but there is residue in the coolant res. that would hint at a previous HG job.

The other problem is, it's leaking oil so fast, I can't afford to buy new oil right now, much less pay for new seals, so it's going to have to stay this way for at least another few weeks. Ack. I might just be driving the Loyale for a while...

[Wiscon_Mark]

You're not driving a Corvette. Your car is an interference engine because of the valves, and it's unlikely that you'll do any damage if you don't push the car until you get it fixed.

[Sarra]

You're not driving a Corvette. Your car is an interference engine because of the valves, and it's unlikely that you'll do any damage if you don't push the car until you get it fixed.

:lol: You don't know me very well... I'm trying though. Not gonna happen

[Wiscon_Mark]

I know you like to push your cars. I've heard your stories about your BE.

But considering the cost of this, I'd say you can control yourself.

[Jedi Taxi]

i've had the same problem with my eclipse recently, spent a week on the bus while getting it back together, now my eclipse doesn't leak. But yeah, i know what you mean, when you front main, and cam seals go, you POUR out oil, out of the engine, i remember too well of having to use 2 quarts a day just driving from point A to B while i was still driving it before i fixed the problem. Now all that leaks is condensation water from the condensor.

I honestly can see how even more oil would pour out of a EJ25, both cam seals gone and a front main gone, all it takes is a little crankcase pressure and it'll start pouring oil.

once its fixed, we will rejoice with beer, (and for AJM, vodka, because it takes bottles at a time for him to get a buzz from that stuff.)

[Sarra]

I know you like to push your cars. I've heard your stories about your BE.

But considering the cost of this, I'd say you can control yourself.

:lol: yeah, the BE got pwned a few times. The BK has been getting the royal treatment compared to the BE. Tires would last for about 6 months on the BE, the same tires have lasted at least a year now on the BK, and it looks like I've got a good 3 or 4 months of life left in them.

If I wasn't super broke, I'd even be buying a set of Snowflake wheels and some winter tires, but I'm broke thanks to college.

I did take the BK up in the hills, but it was more of a "what the hells is going on up there?" drive. Lots of snow and 40 mph winds, so not much, really.

[Sarra]

i've had the same problem with my eclipse recently, spent a week on the bus while getting it back together, now my eclipse doesn't leak. But yeah, i know what you mean, when you front main, and cam seals go, you POUR out oil, out of the engine, i remember too well of having to use 2 quarts a day just driving from point A to B while i was still driving it before i fixed the problem. Now all that leaks is condensation water from the condensor.

I honestly can see how even more oil would pour out of a EJ25, both cam seals gone and a front main gone, all it takes is a little crankcase pressure and it'll start pouring oil.

once its fixed, we will rejoice with beer, (and for AJM, vodka, because it takes bottles at a time for him to get a buzz from that stuff.)

After topping off the oil level, after the engine has warmed up, it leaves a trail of oil, and a huge puddle at the next stop sign/light I get to.

Going to try switching over to high milage oil, a little heavier weight, to see if it helps any.

[Wiscon_Mark]

I dunno, I have front & rear seals leaking, and my oil level still has only gone down .3 quarts in the last 5,000 miles.

Synthetic Oil FTW? or EJ22 FTW? I dunno *shrug*

[Sarra]

I dunno, I have front & rear seals leaking, and my oil level still has only gone down .3 quarts in the last 5,000 miles.

Synthetic Oil FTW? or EJ22 FTW? I dunno *shrug*

I think most of it is coming through the cam seals. There is a puddle of oil under the front of my car in the carport, and it's only getting bigger and bigger.

This wouldn't be a problem if I could find a two port EJ22. That's another story...

[boxerpower]

i remember having to change my cam seals and front main seal a couple months ago. befor i fixed it i was smoking at EVERY stop light and there was oil every where (thick coating on the under carage.) it only cost me a lil over 100 buckaroos and a day of time... :cool:

[AJM]

once its fixed, we will rejoice with beer, (and for AJM, vodka, because it takes bottles at a time for him to get a buzz from that stuff.)


:grin: :lol: :grin: