OBW leaks everywhere

[Fredisg]

2001 OBW 61,000 miles. Last year, the head gasket went. This year, I brought
it in for a 60k service at 62,000 miles. I told the dealer not to change the
coolant or charge me for it in the 60k service because it was done when they
changed the head gasket.

Dealer calls and tells me that the valve cover gaskets are leaking into the
spark plug wells and needs to be replaced. I would have noticed it because of
the location of the leak. Almost $300 because it was brought in after 60k.

Brought the car in with another problem regarding a bad brake caliper. (never
had a bad caliper before six or seven years on any car I've owned). While I am
there, the service manager tells me that the axle seal in the AWD is leaking
also. Had I brought it in at 59,999 miles Subaru would pay for it. At this
point, they will call Subaru and try to get them to participate in the repair.


I then asked if they had replaced the valve cover gaskets at the time of the
head gasket repair. He said indeed yes, and i was two days short of the one
year warantee on that job. (They only have enough confidence to warantee a
major repair for 12,000 miles or one year?) He will see about getting me a
refund on the valve cover seal.

I understand there are other oil seals to be changed when the timing belt is
changed.

What on earth is it with these engines? This car has been back for dealer
repairs more times than even my Mercury SUV, which held the record until this
one.

If this is the way it is with these things, i advise everyone to buy the
100,000 mile warantee. This is one car that I did not buy it for, because my
Hondas and Nissans have never needed repairs. I thought Subaru was in the same
catagory.

My 1996 Accord is now at college with my son. 200,000 miles and finally a
major repair.......O2 sensor and windshield wiper linkage repair. Engine
perfect, and even the original clutch.

GET THE WARANTEE!!

 

[TG]

Subaru vehicles do WEEP (very slight leaks). None of these common leaks are
a big cause for concern nor are they very expensive. Most of us just do all
of the seals every 100,000 miles or so along with all the belts and water
pump, etc. Buying parts and labor from the dealer would keep me away from
the make but all vehicles have problems and the benefits offered by
Subaru...AWD, handling, reliability are not negate by $40 worth of seals. TG

 

[Jim]

For those of us who don't do our own work, it's a very expensive thing
to do every 100K or so!. I have a 97 Legacy 2.2L on which the leakage
became noticeable 30K or so ago. I've seen switched to high mileage
oils, had the engine cleaned once and keep cardboard under the engine
in the garage. As yet I've never had to add a quart in the 3K oil
change interval I do so the above plan is much cheaper than the 1500
USD (non dealer) to 2000+ (dealer) I was quoted to replace all
seals/gaskets top to bottom Knowing this would I have bought this
car? Probably not, although I am quite satisified in most other
respects and other non-scheduled/non-routine maintenance has been nil.

However I do have a question:
Will be doing the 60K timing belt replacement soon, and at the time
what gaskets and seals are reasonable labor cost wise, to do, given
the labor already necessary for the belt replacement?

TIA
Jim

 

[TG]

The ones that leak the most...cam seal x 2, crank seal, oil pump "O" ring,
these will account for any leak from the timeing cover and 90% of the work
has to be done to get at the belt anyway. TG