1999 Legacy OB Oil Leak

[Bill Rees]

Well, after searching this forum for a bit, it looks like my 1999
Legacy Outback has the dreaded front crank seal failure. I started to
smell burning oil literally a month after the powertrain warranty had
expired. Now my vehicle has 66k miles on it and is smoking after
freeway drives. I guess I'll be heading to the dealer to have the seal
replaced as well as the timing belts.

Quite frankly, this is distressing. I feel that seal/gasket failures
on such a low mileage engine are unacceptable and should be handled by
a recall or similiar. This is something that you usually read about
happening to a Ford like the head gasket controversy. To make things
worse, after researching this on the net it seems like this can be a
chronic problem and not a one time fix. I bought this car hoping to
"drive it into the ground". In other words, I'd maintain it and it
would last me well over 150k miles and 10 years. Now I'm having
serious doubts about this car and it's future.

If anyone else has had experience with this problem, please, let me
know.

 

[Klaus Sturm]

One problem and you have lost faith-come on. Don't be so serious.

 

[Jim Stewart]

Well, after searching this forum for a bit, it looks like my 1999
Legacy Outback has the dreaded front crank seal failure. I started to
smell burning oil literally a month after the powertrain warranty had
expired. Now my vehicle has 66k miles on it and is smoking after
freeway drives. I guess I'll be heading to the dealer to have the seal
replaced as well as the timing belts.

Quite frankly, this is distressing. I feel that seal/gasket failures
on such a low mileage engine are unacceptable and should be handled by
a recall or similiar. This is something that you usually read about
happening to a Ford like the head gasket controversy. To make things
worse, after researching this on the net it seems like this can be a
chronic problem and not a one time fix. I bought this car hoping to
"drive it into the ground". In other words, I'd maintain it and it
would last me well over 150k miles and 10 years. Now I'm having
serious doubts about this car and it's future.

If anyone else has had experience with this problem, please, let me
know.

I had the problem at 84k and had about the
same feelings. After fixing it myself, along
with the timing belt and everything around it
I don't feel so bad.

I'm not so sure that it will be a recurring
problem if the screws holding the oil pump
back plate are loctited in place and both
the seal and o-ring are changed. In my case,
the screws had backed themselves out a long
ways contributing to the problem. I'm hoping
the fix will at least go another 105k miles
so I can do it and the next timing belt at
the proper interval.

 

[Edward Hayes]

Before you blame the seal be sure you don't have a clogged PVC valve or
something else pressurizing the crankcase.

 

[TG]

Every Subaru I have owned...6 I think. Every car has it's sore spots. Don't
forget to do the cam seals while the timing cover and belt is off, maybe a
water pump and accessory belts as well....all just routine maintenance on a
Subaru...and easy for a do it yourselfer who wants to save a small fortune
as most of the cost is labor. TG

 

[Bill Rees]

Sorry, I've had a few Hondas before this and none of them lost a drop
of oil burned or leaked in 120k+ miles of use. Leaks such as this at
66k miles are unacceptable. I realize that no car is perfect by the
way.

 

[Bill Rees]

I'm a do-it-yourselfer but don't think I want to tackler another
timing belt. The dealer will replace the seal and all of the belts for
about $600. He claims that the seal is redesigned and won't leak
again. I don't mean to piss on anyone's parade here. I do like the car
and other than this leak, I've had the speedo replaced under warranty.
I guess I find a massive, smoking oil leak on an engine with 66k miles
on it unacceptable and more of something I'd hear about from a
domestic car owner.

 

[Bill Rees]

Well, after searching this forum for a bit, it looks like my 1999
Legacy Outback has the dreaded front crank seal failure. I started to
smell burning oil literally a month after the powertrain warranty had
expired. Now my vehicle has 66k miles on it and is smoking after
freeway drives. I guess I'll be heading to the dealer to have the seal
replaced as well as the timing belts.

Quite frankly, this is distressing. I feel that seal/gasket failures
on such a low mileage engine are unacceptable and should be handled by
a recall or similiar. This is something that you usually read about
happening to a Ford like the head gasket controversy. To make things
worse, after researching this on the net it seems like this can be a
chronic problem and not a one time fix. I bought this car hoping to
"drive it into the ground". In other words, I'd maintain it and it
would last me well over 150k miles and 10 years. Now I'm having
serious doubts about this car and it's future.

If anyone else has had experience with this problem, please, let me
know.

According to the dealer, replacing the seal and all of the belts will
be $600. He claims that the seal has been "redesigned" and I shouldn't
have this problem again. Well, if the seal wasn't designed properly to
begin with, should SOA have kicked in part of the repair cost? That's
my point! I had an ignition module fail on a Honda CRX well out of the
powertrain warranty but the Honda dealer gave me a replacement for
free since there was a design flaw. From the posts I've seen on this
forum, SOA doesn't seem as interested in satisfying their customers.

 

[Jim Stewart]

Well, if the seal wasn't designed properly to

begin with, should SOA have kicked in part of the repair cost? That's
my point! I had an ignition module fail on a Honda CRX well out of the
powertrain warranty but the Honda dealer gave me a replacement for
free since there was a design flaw. From the posts I've seen on this
forum, SOA doesn't seem as interested in satisfying their customers.

I agree that it would be nice if Subaru fixed
it for free.

On the other hand, I owned 2 1988 Ford Tauruses (Tauri?)
With well under 100k miles on both, both the transmissions
failed, both the throttle position sensors failed, both
the fuel pumps failed, both the steering pumps leaked
like a sieve, and 1 coil and 1 ignition module filed.
A clamp on the steering linkage sawed through the
pressurized fuel line and sprayed raw fuel all over the
engine compartment. A heater core failed, causing me to
have to remove the front seat, the steering column, and
the dashboard to replace it. A hose failed going to
the ATF cooler, dumping 8 quarts of ATF on the street.

Needless to say, Ford wasn't interested in helping out
with the repairs. The ignition module was later covered
by a class-action suit, but I had given the car to
charity by then.

Oh, did I mention that all the paint fell off because
because Ford decided not to use primer that year?

Buying a car is a package deal. The front oil
seal is a hassle, but all in all, I'll still
stick with a Subaru. My wife drives an Accord
and I hate the thing.

 

[tcassette]

Search these forums and print off a few posts documenting similar problems
on late 90s Subarus. Then show them all to your dealer service manager and
politely but firmly explain your concerns and desire for Subaru to help
defray repair costs. Ask that the zone representative for Subaru of America
get involved; the dealer will not eat any costs without being reimbursed by
SOA as a "goodwill" warranty claim. If you are lucky and persistent, SOA
and the dealer will pay for at least the parts, which can include a new
timing belt if the oil has leaked on the belt. You may still pay for labor,
but the parts costs are a good savings. It worked for me!

 

[Bill Rees]

Thanks, I'll give that a try. Anything is better than nothing. If the
seal doesn't fail again like the dealer claims, I'll just chalk it up
as an early timing belt replacement.

 

[Bill Rees]

Well, if the seal wasn't designed properly to

I agree that it would be nice if Subaru fixed
it for free.

On the other hand, I owned 2 1988 Ford Tauruses (Tauri?)
With well under 100k miles on both, both the transmissions
failed, both the throttle position sensors failed, both
the fuel pumps failed, both the steering pumps leaked
like a sieve, and 1 coil and 1 ignition module filed.
A clamp on the steering linkage sawed through the
pressurized fuel line and sprayed raw fuel all over the
engine compartment. A heater core failed, causing me to
have to remove the front seat, the steering column, and
the dashboard to replace it. A hose failed going to
the ATF cooler, dumping 8 quarts of ATF on the street.

Needless to say, Ford wasn't interested in helping out
with the repairs. The ignition module was later covered
by a class-action suit, but I had given the car to
charity by then.

Oh, did I mention that all the paint fell off because
because Ford decided not to use primer that year?

Buying a car is a package deal. The front oil
seal is a hassle, but all in all, I'll still
stick with a Subaru. My wife drives an Accord
and I hate the thing.

You don't have to preach to me about the problems with certain other
car companies. I owned a Chevy Blazer that had all kinds of continuing
problems. We just traded my wife's Neon in and it was needing it's
third transmission in 80k miles. I'll get the seal fixed and trust the
dealer that it won't happen again.

Don't get me wrong, I've been happy with the Subaru and have had 3
total problems but reading posts on the forum that front crank seal
replacement is a part of regular maintenance doesn't make me all warm
and fuzzy. I'm not exactly sure why you'd hate the Accord unless you
just don't like the car in general. I've owned three Hondas in the
past and can't complain.

 

[Jim Stewart]

You don't have to preach to me about the problems with certain other
car companies. I owned a Chevy Blazer that had all kinds of continuing
problems. We just traded my wife's Neon in and it was needing it's
third transmission in 80k miles. I'll get the seal fixed and trust the
dealer that it won't happen again.

Sorry to sound preachy. The Subaru just seems
mighty reliable in comparison.

Don't get me wrong, I've been happy with the Subaru and have had 3
total problems but reading posts on the forum that front crank seal
replacement is a part of regular maintenance doesn't make me all warm
and fuzzy. I'm not exactly sure why you'd hate the Accord unless you
just don't like the car in general. I've owned three Hondas in the
past and can't complain.

The Accord has had zero problems so far. I just
can't stand to be in the thing. It's just not
my idea of what a car should be.

 

[Hugh]

Would that seal not be covered by the "power train warranty" which is
considerably longer than the regular warranty?

Hugh

 

[Bill Rees]

Powertrain warranty is 60 months, 60k miles which I have exceeded. The
final cost of the repair was $675. This included all new belts and cam
seals. The crank seal was only $7 and the most expensive part was the
timing belt ($79). Labor was the big cost here. The way the dealer
talked, this is a very common problem and it usually happens just out
of the powertrain warrantry period. Subaru will cover it under
warranty but after that you are on your own. This was my first major
expense on the vehicle that was caused by mechanical failure. My
original intent was to keep the vehicle a minimum of 10 years. We'll
see..

Bill