Oil leak on passenger side valve cover

ericem · Post by **ericem** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 10:48 pm

Hey guys. Well found a issue with the 94 SS which is probably the reason why the guy wanted to sell it, but looks to be a very minor issue. I am sitting stopped and then the interior fills up with smoke. Looks like the passenger side header as a hose hooked up above it. Seems like that is what is leaking so significantly. I don't think the valve cover seals would leak THAT bad would they?? My question is what does that hose attached to the passenger side valve cover do? I am going to stop by the dealer and get a replacement hose anyway, don't like seeing smoke inside the car.....

magicmike · Post by **magicmike** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 11:36 pm

not sure how smoke is getting INTO the car from that but thats the crankcase breather setup. it merges over with the other valve cover through an elaborate system all over the back of the motor and around the intake piping back there.

ericem · Post by **ericem** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 11:46 pm

It is dripping from the valve cover onto the exhaust making smoke that is travelling in through the vents at idle.

magicmike · Post by **magicmike** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 12:02 am

ok well regardless of that the valve cover seals are tit to replace. make sure you get the subaru kit with the new rubber washers for the bolts too.

ericem · Post by **ericem** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 12:04 am

Ok, now looks like it can be done with the engine in correct? Any torque specs for the valve covers?

magicmike · Post by **magicmike** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 12:06 am

in the car yes although I've never done the ej22t myslef bot others have. 36-48 INCH/lbs

ericem · Post by **ericem** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 1:51 am

Here are pics. I am thinking ill try and snug up the 3 bolts? Probably make it worse? Already pretty bad anyway... I am going to put a hose clamp on the wet hose, it is more wet near the top of the hose, then the bottom. Other side isn't to bad. It's funny though my 93 legacy non turbo with 323k km doesn't leak like this, it is very clean, I believe I snugged up the bolts once actually and that stopped it now that I recall? This 94 SS has 190k km drives amazing though.

magicmike · Post by **magicmike** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 1:58 am

holy crap! That hose is mainly for air to go through its not like a pressurized oil line. There is def something going on there. Maybe someone overfilled the oil?

Bdub · Post by **Bdub** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:31 am

That's what my valve covers looked like when I got in there. Took a lot of carb cleaner to get that shit off.

My breather hose isn't on there that tight either, it just looks like it is supposed to be snug fit, although tighter may help.
How dirty is your PCV system?? It must be clogged to shit.

Looks like it has been seeping for a while, I suggest replacing the 3 grommets and gaskets. Very simple, with the exception of the last bolt closest to the frame. Takes a little patience.
You don't even have to drain the oil, just remove the airbox on the pass. side, and the battery on the drivers' side to get to them.

ericem · Post by **ericem** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:33 am

I just replaced the pcv valve. Didn't seem as bad of a oil leak? Still a bit of smoke though. I am thinking the hoses might be all clogged up. It does look like the oil is overfilled though.

magicmike · Post by **magicmike** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 6:38 am

it almost looks like the oil is coming from somewhere else. I've never seen the covers that covered in oil before. is one of your turbo lines leaking oil? looks like something aboce the covers is spraying oil all over the place. you may want to cleam them and drive for a while then check to see where new oil may be coming from.

ericem · Post by **ericem** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:22 pm

I went out again looked as hard as I could. On both sides looks like it was just overfilled. The dip stick is showing like double the amount of F. The car is leaning back though a tiny bit not much. Isn't the dip stick tube going to the front part of the pan more or less? Either way I think it is just because it was significantly overfilled. Going to drain some oil I guess.

94legacy2.2 · Post by **94legacy2.2** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 5:08 pm

What I would do is clean the motor very well with some engine cleaner.
Once clean then let it dry out (you will get a CEL for the knock sensor) I always do.

Then take it for a 5 min drive around the block. Take it back home and inspect for the oil leak. if nothin is present then put the car on jack stands and let it run, idle, rev to 2-3k and see if you see oil leaking anywhere.

I found mine leaking in several places. Both cam seals and crank seal. Got that fixed up and found another leak. It was coming from the breather ontop of the motor right next to the turbo, Its the main crank case breather. It was actually popped off and leaking oil everywhere. Also besure to check the Oil return line
I got that fixed yesterday while installing a new uppipe.
So we'll see
next up is the running lights still

ericem · Post by **ericem** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 5:12 pm

I drained the oil to a point where it is just below the F mark. Now I do not see as much oil leaking since there was little to no smoke now. just excess burning off.

magicmike · Post by **magicmike** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 6:54 pm

Are you the person i read about putting oil in without first checking to see if you needed it? lol

ericem · Post by **ericem** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 8:22 pm

NO LOL. Before I brought the car home I got a dealership to replace the oil. They are usually pretty good, very informative mechanic to. Surprised to see this

That is ok though I guess as long as there is no harm done which I hope there isn't. I really want to power wash this motor, I mean the whole car in general!!

magicmike · Post by **magicmike** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 8:29 pm

Don't let the greenies hear this but take the car to the local power wash bay with a few cans of engine cleaner and spray it down wait 15 mins and then power wash the shit out of it. Remember LEAVE THE ENGINE RUNNING. or you may be surprised to find it wont start after. trust me on this.

RJ93SS · Post by **RJ93SS** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 8:47 pm

if you really want to clean it, get a few things out of the way like the airbnox, washer bottle ect ect. See if you can find some simple green in the concentrated form. youll need a wire brush,scotchbrite, honing style brushes, toothbrushes ect. there isnt a need to pressurewash just rinse well. i did it with out covering anything and sprayed the whole engine with no problems after, it looked brand new

n2x4 · Post by **n2x4** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 8:55 pm

Looking at all the oil on the uppipe makes me think you need to replace the cam o ring as well. Granted, you have a lot of oil all over the place, so this definitely isn't going to fix it all. But it's a start. Let me know if you need any pics

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?t=26567

ericem · Post by **ericem** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 11:18 pm

magicmike wrote:Don't let the greenies hear this but take the car to the local power wash bay with a few cans of engine cleaner and spray it down wait 15 mins and then power wash the shit out of it. Remember LEAVE THE ENGINE RUNNING. or you may be surprised to find it wont start after. trust me on this.

You are being serious about leaving it running while I am layering up degreaser, then powerwash it?

magicmike · Post by **magicmike** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 11:41 pm

ericem wrote:
magicmike wrote:Don't let the greenies hear this but take the car to the local power wash bay with a few cans of engine cleaner and spray it down wait 15 mins and then power wash the shit out of it. Remember LEAVE THE ENGINE RUNNING. or you may be surprised to find it wont start after. trust me on this.
You are being serious about leaving it running while I am layering up degreaser, then powerwash it?

Dead serious. good chance your car wont start if you do it with the engine off. I worked for a stereo shop where they did auto detailing and I've seen it happen with the noobs that shut the engine off.

RJ93SS · Post by **RJ93SS** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 5:57 am

magicmike wrote:
ericem wrote:
magicmike wrote:Don't let the greenies hear this but take the car to the local power wash bay with a few cans of engine cleaner and spray it down wait 15 mins and then power wash the shit out of it. Remember LEAVE THE ENGINE RUNNING. or you may be surprised to find it wont start after. trust me on this.
You are being serious about leaving it running while I am layering up degreaser, then powerwash it?
Dead serious. good chance your car wont start if you do it with the engine off. I worked for a stereo shop where they did auto detailing and I've seen it happen with the noobs that shut the engine off.

do it the way i posted above, it is safer and your engine will look way brighter. it only takes 2 hours tops and it's worth it

ericem · Post by **ericem** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 6:32 am

I plan on doing it your way once it gets warmer outside for sure. Might as well at the same time do my spark plugs. Doesn't seem like I can replace the plugs with the intake in place anyway.... Thing's definitely aren't as simple and clean as my N/A wagon tahts for sure

Oh well its worth it

ericem · Post by **ericem** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 11:49 pm

Got the car back. Man I love this thing. Cleaned the engine bay, ran the car a bit. Still smoking! Don't see oil on the top anymore though. Looks like the bottom is leaking a BIT. Also i noticed when I pull out the dip stick with the engine running makes a gurgling noise. I don't get a oil pressure light and oil is at the proper level. No knocking or anything just hear that noise. Don't recall hearing the same with my N/A wagon.

ericem · Post by **ericem** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 4:18 am

Well after a few hours on the highway. I think everything is alright. Everything still looks clean. No smoking, I think there was just excess oil in the heat shields that was burning off.

Now I notice the fuel economy isn't that great lol. Seems the same as the wagon I THINK considering I was gunning it for the fun of it more often hehe BOOST! anyway the check engine light goes off when you are driving at a steady pace. Anyone think replacing that cracked knock sensor will really help? I notice when the check engine light is off this thing really flies, when it's on doesn't throw you into the seat NEARLY as hard. Still need to do my plugs and wires, but they seem pretty good anyway. Also to note was running 94 octane. Not sure if that is better or worse?

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Oil leak on passenger side valve cover

Oil leak on passenger side valve cover