Coolant leak from exhaust manifold, Siezed Pulley

[kirbyy]

I've done my research a bit...

I have a siezed tensioner pulley which pretty much has taken the spring with it, causing it not to work the waterpump correctly.

Had no idea so I drove a bit of miles on it, and bam I now have a leaking headgasket. When I look under the car, I have a very minute leak with the oil + coolant where it meets the pipe which takes it out the muffler.

So, would you agree this is a leaking headgasket? I want to make damn sure lol.

Heres some pics hopefully that can help...(more pics below)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/01/th_pulleysized-1.jpg (http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll130/kirbvalk/pulleysized.jpg)

Heres the picture of the pulley which does not move, with the help of another member on these boards, plus some subaru techncial books I can say it's the tensioner, and it's only safe to assume the spring in it went--requiring atleast a new timing belt + tensioner fix. If it was just that, I'd say okay I'd fix it.

BUT, now I have the issue of possile coolant and oil combining, which of course means headgasket issue. Even with a minor headgasket leak, I still have the EJ25 engine which of course is Subarus' favorite engine of this time to be ridden with these issues- My luck lol.

The reason why I think the oil + coolant is combining, is because there is white smoke coming from the exhaust manifold of the engine.. :( and the oil and collant here are combined: (Plus you can see abit of the smoke, usually it's alot more worse then that!) After the car's been off for a while, I touched place where both exhaust pipes meet to come into one and it was brown with sweet stickyniess. so, Oil + coolant.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/01/th_IMG_1953-1.jpg (http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll130/kirbvalk/car/IMG_1953.jpg)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/01/th_IMG_1956-1.jpg (http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll130/kirbvalk/car/IMG_1956.jpg)

Heres the leak I saw on the ground this morning, after I left the car overnight in the spot.. :( sweet stickyness coolant....

So, is it safe to assume it's a leaking headgasket?

[Okin DaVanh]

When headgaskets are termed "leaking", it usually means internally (in the engine) and there are some tell tale signs:

--usually you can tell by looking in the anti-freeze overflow tank as well. Is there any black dark goo in there too?

--when you pull the dipstick to check the oil (some cars) there will be a milky color to your oil.

--"Hot and Cold Flashes" Temp. guage stays on normal operating temp. for a little while, then skyrockets and remains in the Red.

--White smoke out the Exhaust end of the car.


If your getting smoke in the engine bay, you mave have a leaking hose of somekind. Another way of finding out if you just have a fluid leak, is to try some Leak Dye. It's added to the fluid you think is leaking and traced/found using a UV light after running the car awhile or the next day.


Hope this works.

[Grafton]

the tensioner in your pic is for the ac compressor belt it doesn't have a spring on it. it is adjusted by the long vertal bolt, it is possible that you have a leaking HG

[kirbyy]

When headgaskets are termed "leaking", it usually means internally (in the engine) and there are some tell tale signs:

--usually you can tell by looking in the anti-freeze overflow tank as well. Is there any black dark goo in there too?

--when you pull the dipstick to check the oil (some cars) there will be a milky color to your oil.

--"Hot and Cold Flashes" Temp. guage stays on normal operating temp. for a little while, then skyrockets and remains in the Red.

--White smoke out the Exhaust end of the car.


If your getting smoke in the engine bay, you mave have a leaking hose of somekind. Another way of finding out if you just have a fluid leak, is to try some Leak Dye. It's added to the fluid you think is leaking and traced/found using a UV light after running the car awhile or the next day.


Hope this works.

Thats the thing, I check the oil dipstick, and nothing yet :smt017 goody for now hehehe. as for the coolant tank it looks normal.
As for the hot and cold flashes, it does that a bit, it really does.

But, a for the final one no white smoke yet out of the exhaust, only under the egine by by the exhause manifold....

[kirbyy]

the tensioner in your pic is for the ac compressor belt it doesn't have a spring on it. it is adjusted by the long vertal bolt, it is possible that you have a leaking HG

So the bolt could be on to hard?





Blah @ headgasket. It's coming up in everyones diagnosis opinion...

[Huffer]

If you're not losing any coolant (level unchanged) and the coolant overflow bottle isn't milky or oily, then I doubt you have a HG leak.

If the temp gauge is shooting up, you may have air in the coolant system, or your thermostat needs replacing. Consider buying a Crucial Racing t-stat as it locks in the OPEN position if it fails, which still allows coolant to cycle. OEM t-stats lock in the CLOSED position when they fail.

The leak/condensation on the exhaust manifold/header could simply be an oil leak from the rear main seal mixed with an exhaust leak underneath the heat shields.

[kirbyy]

If you're not losing any coolant (level unchanged) and the coolant overflow bottle isn't milky or oily, then I doubt you have a HG leak.

If the temp gauge is shooting up, you may have air in the coolant system, or your thermostat needs replacing. Consider buying a Crucial Racing t-stat as it locks in the OPEN position if it fails, which still allows coolant to cycle. OEM t-stats lock in the CLOSED position when they fail.

The leak/condensation on the exhaust manifold/header could simply be an oil leak from the rear main seal mixed with an exhaust leak underneath the heat shields.

That makes no sense though.. :( why else would there be coolant in the exhause manifold? Just seems blah :( even though your explaination about it being a oil leak from rear main seal and exhauze leak...:S

But, why would a thermostat do this? ahhhaha

[Huffer]

How do you know it's coolant on the exhaust manifold?

If it's ON the manifold, it's leaking from somewhere above it. If it's the heads, you should be able to see it clearly if it's dripping as much as in your pics.

Thermostats fail. Not often, but they are a part, and they break over time or from poor workmanship. Like most parts.

[kirbyy]

How do you know it's coolant on the exhaust manifold?

If it's ON the manifold, it's leaking from somewhere above it. If it's the heads, you should be able to see it clearly if it's dripping as much as in your pics.

Thermostats fail. Not often, but they are a part, and they break over time or from poor workmanship. Like most parts.


Hehe, you're the person with all the answers on this forum. :razz: :razz:

I see it on the edge of the exahust, before it becomes the one huge pipe to the muffler. Thats why I think coolant + oil :X

how would I be able to see if it's on the heads or whatever? Besides a compression or Leak down test how can I see if it's a headgasket issue or not?

And thermostat~ Just curious but how did you get bad thermostat from what I explained? Couldn't it also be bad waterpump, as well?

[Plays_with_Toys]

I agree that jumping on the headgasket bandwagon might see you spending alot of money and not solving the problem

1) That pulley doesn't have anything to do with the timing belt. It runs your AC. You move it by loosening the bolt that goes through the pulley, then you use the other 8" long bolt to adjust is up and down.

2) Leaking down from below the engine could be a hose, water pump, or thermostat leak.

3) If the oil and coolant is combining, it could be a simple case of your engine not being clean enough to lick. There is most likely oil and other residue on it, when the coolant leaks, it pulls some of that oil off the outside of the engine and onto the ground.

Now, onto diagnosing. Have you had any heat issues? Does the needle shoot up when you're at a stop light? Does it overheat instantly (like no flow is getting through)? Does your inside heater not work while parked, when the temperature is warmed up?

I had a leak that I could figure out, it was a coolant leak. It was coming from around the water pump area (which on our cars is... standing at the front of the car and looking at the motor, is on the lower right side. Turns out after I pulled the timing belt and such that several bolts on the water pump had worked loose and the water pump was physically flexing away from the block allowing it to weep out between the pump/gasket/block.

For sure, no matter what you do in that area go with Subaru or better thermostat. Autozone/napa/advance auto do not sell the correct thermostats, and you will over heat running these.

[decke48]

subarus plastic thermostat housings are common for cracking. have the system pressure tested. see where the leak is

[kirbyy]

Heh guys,

I guess you guys were right about the thermostat and the small leak.

Hopefully, I'll get if figured out soon. Would it be bad to drive some miles on a car like this? Will it lead to the car actually dying/blowing up?

So, I guess I'm going to get that thermostat which opens when it fails, and possibly also a new waterpump.

Should I do anything else while the car will have those things poped off? I think the belt has been replaced in the previous 10k, but I have no records of it doing so..so would it be wise to replace it now so I have a record of when it was actually replaced?

[T_F_E]

If you are doing the water pump do they timing belt and all the other parts that go with that job, they do not cost that much and will be good for another 70k miles at least

[kirbyy]

Hmm..I've also noticed bubbles in my coolant with the car running...


I take it that's bad? :( the smoke is no more though!

[Huffer]

Bubbles in the coolant overflow isn't necessarily an indicator that you have a HG leak... it could just be that the coolant system still has air trapped in it, hence the spiking temps when an air bubble is encountered. You could put the front end up on ramps and run the car for a bit with the overflow cap off to help burp the system.

[kirbyy]

Bubbles in the coolant overflow isn't necessarily an indicator that you have a HG leak... it could just be that the coolant system still has air trapped in it, hence the spiking temps when an air bubble is encountered. You could put the front end up on ramps and run the car for a bit with the overflow cap off to help burp the system.

Did that! :D temp guage still goes up and down, but no bubbles in the coolant tank, big or small! :)

I also isolated my leak, it's not oil or tranny it's from the Ac system...how do I know?

Simple the leaks started after my Ac system hasn't been in use for over 7 months pratically, worked fine for a bit then BAM whistiling sound when I acclerated through the ac vents.

After a while, it just went away...and so did the leaks..so I went to get a AC refill kit R314A with the guage, measured the AC system at 0.

Refilled it, and immediatley noticed it was leaking from where it went into the accessory belt compressor. started to leak a bit, and it was the same exact kinda liquid which i've seen on the ground down to the exact smell/feel.

Guess I need new o-rings or something for my ac system..also recongized that my cooling system is 80% likley that it's orginal from when it was bought.. the radiator has a date frm which i think it says 1995 on it...waterpump/thermostat I have no idea really. Alternator is also most likley orginal as it looks the same as the power steering and ac compressor cosmetically (the meteal oxdizing..)

Guess I'm going to revamp my entire engine...replace thermostat, waterpump, radiator, new timing belt, new accessory belt, new vacumn lines, perhaps see if I can get another Ac compressor..

Of course I could be entireley wrong on my assessment...*sigh* hope not! Can anyone shed some light if what I descirbed is somewhat accurate or if it just dosen't make any sense at all. :smt022