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My 90 2.2 awd 5speed and has problems…

Oil leaks out da yin yang.

It was first starting up fine but now, sometimes it starts, sometimes it doesn't. . I replaced the radiator, new fuel filter and spark plugs.

It has a rough idle.

All plugs are sparking, all injectors seem to be working. Cylinder one is basically the only one which disconnecting the injector will kill the motor..

When it doesn't want to start, I have to keep cranking it and it sometimes sputters and sputters and eventually starts. Sometimes it doesn't start at all.

I have been messing with this thing for a week now and with oil pouring everywhere, I'm really about to give up.

What can I do? What can I do to check things while the motor is off so I can stop spilling oil everywhere?

Please help.

where is it leaking oil? front of the motor, sides, rear?

For oil leaks, both sides, timing belt cover is swollen and messed up, oil is coming out from there too, looks like the back too but the cv boot on driver side is ripped so got grease everywhere. Also water from radiator is leaking from behind timing cover on drivers side and dripping onto the lower radiator pipe.

Also, oil and water is dripping onto the exhaust and making it smoke.

Also, the car smokes until its warmed up.

Oh man.

The timing cover screws were threaded so I just broke off the side covers. Milky oil inside..

Headgaskets, yay..

Can someone tell me how I can tell if the rear seal is leaking? Where would it drip or come out?

The rear main seal will drip onto the exhaust towards the back.

Here's what I recommend: Buy a full upper seal kit (OEM or parts store, oem is the best of course), and a brand new timing kit including a water pump. 1 tube of Permetex Ultra-black.

Pull the motor and replace everything on a stand. I recommend resealing the oil pan as well, cause all the other leaks could be masking a leak from the pan (found that out the hard way...).

If you don't have the space and/or ability, or a buddy with the space and ability, then consider cutting your losses. A junkyard ej22 from 90-1998 Legacys or Imprezas will work, if you reuse your sensors and complete intake manifold. Newer ones have a slightly different exhaust manifold, so grab that if it's a 95+. Paying a shop to do all the work is not cost effective on this one, especially considering how easy it is to work on these older EJ engines.

I'll check for the rear main seal tomorrow and then reassess what to do. I do have the space and since sti struts and springs just popped up locally with 20k miles for $400, looks like I'm going all in!

UPDATE:

Cleaned the PCV hoses and it runs MUCH better. The idle is not at 500 any more but around 800 or 900. It is still missing though..

Also, milky oil on the dip stick.. Smoke out the back, looks like bad head gasket or head. I have removed the intake, battery and washer fluid tank and am ready to do whatever I have to do to fix it.

The rear seal does not look like it is leaking much so unless I have to replace the whole motor, my plan is to repair or get a new head and fix the cam seal, valve cover and oil pan.

I am researching my options on new head as the current one might be unsalvageable.

On another note, I picked up my 04 STI spring and struts along with later model Legacy wheels. 04 WRX interior going in this weekend too!

Milky oil is a big sign of a bad headgasket.

the miss is a loss of compression due to the bad HGs, had the same issue and i'm now rebuilding mine

I got the head off and have loosened the head bolts. Man those things were on thee tight! I was planning to jack the engine and finish the job tomorrow but might have misaligned the timing so I need to figure that out.