2001 Forester, oil leak.

[David Farber]

We have a 2001 Forester with about 70k miles which had an oil change one
week ago at the neighborhood EZ Lube. Yesterday, with only 40 miles since
the oil was changed, I noticed after turning off the engine that steam
appeared to be coming from the engine. I opened the hood and saw some oil
that appeared to have been cooking on the exhaust system. I also noticed
that the oil filter seemed to look older than one week. However, the leak is
on the opposite side of the engine where the oil filter is located.

Here are some pictures.

http://www.pbase.com/mrfixit/repairs/subaru

Any thoughts as to where this leak might be coming from or whether or not
this oil filter looks more than one week old? I'd like to take the car back
to the EZ Lube place knowing if this problem might be related to the oil
change.

Thanks for your reply.

David Farber
L.A., CA

 

[Blair Baucom]

Filter looks older than one week to me. Where was the oil changed before?
Ask to see a new oil filter at the EZ Lube to see if it is the same brand.

Many places won't have a Subaru filter, and will maybe change the oil anyway
without telling you.

They may have spilled oil down the side, or check the boot on the axle to
make sure it is not leaking. Looks thick for oil in the photo.

Blair

 

[David Farber]

The previous oil change was also at an EZ Lube although it was at a
different location.

How do I check the boot on the axle for leaks? I remember seeing a hose
clamp there. What type of lubricant is used there?

Thanks for your reply,

David Farber
L.A., CA

 

[Todd H.]

We have a 2001 Forester with about 70k miles which had an oil change one
week ago at the neighborhood EZ Lube. Yesterday, with only 40 miles since
the oil was changed, I noticed after turning off the engine that steam
appeared to be coming from the engine. I opened the hood and saw some oil
that appeared to have been cooking on the exhaust system. I also noticed
that the oil filter seemed to look older than one week. However, the leak is
on the opposite side of the engine where the oil filter is located.

Here are some pictures.

http://www.pbase.com/mrfixit/repairs/subaru

Any thoughts as to where this leak might be coming from or whether or not
this oil filter looks more than one week old? I'd like to take the car back
to the EZ Lube place knowing if this problem might be related to the oil
change.

Thanks for your reply.

Regardless of the root cause, I'd go back and raise holy hell, perhaps
starting with one level up from the actual store. That they charged
you for an oil change service and apparently didn't replace teh oil
filter is a hangin' crime.

As for where teh oil is coming from--I can't really tell from teh
pictures, but is it possible they overfilled the oil? What does a
subie do when there's too much oil? These are teh questions that
might guide my search.

Good luck. Your story has reaffirmed my commitment to doing my own
oil changes (pain in the ass though it is).

 

[Paul]

You sure that is the engine oil filter and not the trans filter?

 

[Blair Baucom]

There is cv joint grease, MoS2 (molybdenum disulfide) in the boot. From your
photos the boots look pretty clean except what may have been spilled on them
then slung.

Just look for any rips or tears on the boots between the hose clamps. Grease
will sling out on the exhaust pipe if they tear and make a bad smell as
described here before.

I don't see any tears from this angle, need to roll the Forester forward to
check all the sides.

Blair

 

[Blair Baucom]

I think you are right Paul, my manual Forester does not have a filter next
to the half shaft like in his photo, and his is marked "AT".

My engine oil filter is at the front, behind the radiator, behind the cover
marked "engine oil filter & drain".

Did notice 3 of my fasteners are missing on my cover, need to find a part
number.

Blair

 

[N1RZB]

The picture of the filter is not the oil filter. It look like the AT
transmission filter. The oil filter is located on the passengers side, at
the right front lower corner of the engine up under the splash shield.
Clean the engine in what ever way you choose, (spotless) check oil level and
see what happens after a drive around town. Then look again and see if it
reappears.

Good Luck

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Come on Dave...LOOK at your own picture...does that LOOK like clean engine
oil to you? Does it even look like dirty engine oil to you?
Sure LOOKS live CV joint GREASE to me......

yep.


I'd like to say THANX for actually taking a picture of an issue that is
not uncommon - a CV boot slinging its contents onto the exhaust making
an awful stink. We get that issue several times a year on the newsgroup.

Oh, they say there's no need to ever change the AT filter. Its there to
catch particles after final assembly. I SUPPOSE it would'nt hurt to
replace it if the case were ever cracked open for a repair - or unless
it was damaged of course. That's why it looks 6-7 years old - it is!.


Carl

 

[Porgy Tirebiter]

We have a 2001 Forester with about 70k miles which had an oil change one
week ago at the neighborhood EZ Lube. Yesterday, with only 40 miles since
the oil was changed, I noticed after turning off the engine that steam
appeared to be coming from the engine. I opened the hood and saw some oil
that appeared to have been cooking on the exhaust system. I also noticed
that the oil filter seemed to look older than one week. However, the leak
is on the opposite side of the engine where the oil filter is located.

Here are some pictures.

http://www.pbase.com/mrfixit/repairs/subaru

Any thoughts as to where this leak might be coming from or whether or not
this oil filter looks more than one week old? I'd like to take the car
back to the EZ Lube place knowing if this problem might be related to the
oil change.

Thanks for your reply.

David Farber
L.A., CA

Come on Dave...LOOK at your own picture...does that LOOK like clean engine
oil to you? Does it even look like dirty engine oil to you?
Sure LOOKS live CV joint GREASE to me......

 

[David Farber]

Come on Dave...LOOK at your own picture...does that LOOK like clean engine
oil to you? Does it even look like dirty engine oil to you?
Sure LOOKS live CV joint GREASE to me......

The first two pictures, which are from the top looking down, show some black
stuff that looks like oil to me. The fourth picture, which is from the
bottom looking up, looks like grease. Either something from the outside
spilled on it, or something from the inside leaked out. If the brown looking
grease is cv joint grease, is that something that is serviced during a
routine lubrication? Would a technician check and add grease to the joint?

Thanks for your reply.

 

[David Farber]

The picture of the filter is not the oil filter. It look like the AT
transmission filter. The oil filter is located on the passengers side, at
the right front lower corner of the engine up under the splash shield.
Clean the engine in what ever way you choose, (spotless) check oil level and
see what happens after a drive around town. Then look again and see if it
reappears.

Good Luck

Then that explains the mystery of why there's an old filter there. I'll
clean up the spill/leak and report back after driving it for a bit.

Thanks for your reply.

 

[Bob's Backfire Burrito]

The first two pictures, which are from the top looking down, show some
black
stuff that looks like oil to me. The fourth picture, which is from the
bottom looking up, looks like grease. Either something from the outside
spilled on it, or something from the inside leaked out. If the brown
looking
grease is cv joint grease, is that something that is serviced during a
routine lubrication? Would a technician check and add grease to the joint?

Thanks for your reply.
--
David Farber
L.A., CA

Dave......

What Porgie is telling you is this, The CV boot has a crack/slit/rip/tear or
hole in it. I agree, if you look at the pattern it's throwing it from the CV
boot.
It didnt come from "something" outside spilling on it (where did you come up
with THAT idea). If you cant tell the differance between Oil/Trans fluid and
grease dont open the hood.
It *APPEARS* that the boot needs to be replaced. Chances are that BOTH need
to be replaced.Don't waste time doing this as the CV joint will indeed fail
if you don't do something soon.
Don't expect the kids at Jiffy-Boob, Shit-Stop or Poop-Boys to be of any
real assistance on this, as it's way out of their league.
Your *Genuine* Subaru dealer will indeed "do you" on this, bring K-Y Jelly
or use some of that leaking grease for when you get the bill. Get a full
estimate BEFORE they touch it, it will help prevent the fist-fight after
it's fixed at the dealer.
*This is not a "check and add grease" issue*

 

[Jim Stewart]

What Porgie is telling you is this, The CV boot has a crack/slit/rip/tear or
hole in it. I agree, if you look at the pattern it's throwing it from the CV
boot.
It didnt come from "something" outside spilling on it (where did you come up
with THAT idea). If you cant tell the differance between Oil/Trans fluid and
grease dont open the hood.
It *APPEARS* that the boot needs to be replaced. Chances are that BOTH need
to be replaced.Don't waste time doing this as the CV joint will indeed fail
if you don't do something soon.
Don't expect the kids at Jiffy-Boob, Shit-Stop or Poop-Boys to be of any
real assistance on this, as it's way out of their league.
Your *Genuine* Subaru dealer will indeed "do you" on this, bring K-Y Jelly
or use some of that leaking grease for when you get the bill. Get a full
estimate BEFORE they touch it, it will help prevent the fist-fight after
it's fixed at the dealer.
*This is not a "check and add grease" issue*

Classic textbook split CV joint boot. Case closed.

Your quickie oil change place didn't do it
unless someone just stuck a screwdriver in
it for the fun of it. Not likely, and if
you get under the car and look closely at the
tear, you'll probably see that it's a tear
and not a slit, if you catch my drift.

Reman halfshafts with CV joints are about $50-
$70 at your local quickie parts store but judging
from your post it seems unlikely you'd want to
to it yourself.

As bob said, get a quote and shop around.

 

[David Farber]

Well, if there was some lubrication done to the car during the oil change,
and the guy was a bit sloppy with his technique...


If you cant tell the differance between Oil/Trans fluid and

Classic textbook split CV joint boot. Case closed.

Your quickie oil change place didn't do it
unless someone just stuck a screwdriver in
it for the fun of it. Not likely, and if
you get under the car and look closely at the
tear, you'll probably see that it's a tear
and not a slit, if you catch my drift.

Reman halfshafts with CV joints are about $50-
$70 at your local quickie parts store but judging
from your post it seems unlikely you'd want to
to it yourself.

As bob said, get a quote and shop around.

Nope, I definitely don't want to do it myself. I just wanted to know what
was causing the problem. I have a local mechanic that I trust. The main
question was whether or not the car was safe to drive and it appears it will
be able to withstand the 15 minute drive to the mechanic.

Thanks to everyone for sharing your expertise in this matter.

 

[Bob's Backfire Burrito]

Well, if there was some lubrication done to the car during the oil change,
and the guy was a bit sloppy with his technique...


If you cant tell the differance between Oil/Trans fluid and
Nope, I definitely don't want to do it myself. I just wanted to know what
was causing the problem. I have a local mechanic that I trust. The main
question was whether or not the car was safe to drive and it appears it
will
be able to withstand the 15 minute drive to the mechanic.

Thanks to everyone for sharing your expertise in this matter.

It will be safe for a 15 minute drive to the mechanic.... the quicker you
fix it, the less it will cost you in parts and labor.
Once it starts going "CLUNK,CLUNK" in turns is when the $$$$ start to pile
up.

 

[Zeppo]

It will be safe for a 15 minute drive to the mechanic.... the quicker you
fix it, the less it will cost you in parts and labor.
Once it starts going "CLUNK,CLUNK" in turns is when the $$$$ start to pile
up.

Just had a call from my daughter who's finishing a summer course at a
college about 75 miles away near Lancaster, PA. She has a torn CV boot on
HER '01 Forrester, also with ~70k.

Coincidence? I think NOT!

She's never found a mechanic she trusts out there. Is it too risky to have
her bring it back here to have our guy fix it?

Jon

 

[Todd H.]

HER '01 Forrester, also with ~70k.

Coincidence? I think NOT!

She's never found a mechanic she trusts out there. Is it too risky to have
her bring it back here to have our guy fix it?

People drive around with torn boots for quite a while before they even
know they have one. Usually something audible clicking or clunking
gets people to finally look and discover the torn bot. If you're
going to fix it with new half shafts anyway, I'd say it'd be perfectly
fine for the drive back to trusted mechanicsville. If you're trying
to svae the joint and have high confidence it's been caught early
before all grease has been thrown out and the joint contaminated,
you'd want to get a split boot or some bandaid on it ASAP (i.e. where
the daughter is).

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Just had a call from my daughter who's finishing a summer course at a
college about 75 miles away near Lancaster, PA. She has a torn CV boot on
HER '01 Forrester, also with ~70k.

Coincidence? I think NOT!

She's never found a mechanic she trusts out there. Is it too risky to have
her bring it back here to have our guy fix it?

Jon

Yep - what todd said. Even after they start clicking they can last for
months.
Most larger cities have a place that is known to the gearheads as THE
half shaft replacement biz. Just start asking around and someone will
know. maybe $99 per axle with lifetime warranty-type of place. In/out in
45 minutes. Or similar. But if soobs are not common in your area, they
may have to actually rebuild her joints. Depends on what's on the shelf.

anyway - you have plenty of time if there's no clicking when she turns.

Carl

 

[Zeppo]

Yep - what todd said. Even after they start clicking they can last for
months.
Most larger cities have a place that is known to the gearheads as THE half
shaft replacement biz. Just start asking around and someone will know.
maybe $99 per axle with lifetime warranty-type of place. In/out in 45
minutes. Or similar. But if soobs are not common in your area, they may
have to actually rebuild her joints. Depends on what's on the shelf.

anyway - you have plenty of time if there's no clicking when she turns.

Carl

Thanks to you and Todd both. She drove home last night and I had the axle
replaced this morning. $230, which is less than I though for a new axle.

Jon