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Great news, guys! I had a shop pressure test it for $25. They were able to get that lower coolant hose to fail under pressure. Basically, they said it's a slow leak and I'll want to keep an eye on my coolant level until I get it fixed. Glad it's not a head gasket! The other part does look like oil slowly leaking through the intake cover. Eventually, I'll fix that. Might explain why I "use" a quart every 4000 miles or so.

I believe so. I'm just not sure if it's safe to spin the rear differential while towing or not. Your tranny/viscus coupler should be fine with the bar disconnected.

That coolant is misleading. I saw it and thought "a ha!" But it was gellified and looks like it's been there as a glob for a long time. I tried wrapping a paper towel around it and driving 40 miles hard on the freeway. Those towels were bone dry when I got home. But I do agree something is fishy there. Will also snoop around with some WD-40 around the intake gasket. I'm hoping a pressure test tomorrow would help. I mainly wanted to know if there was a "common problem" for EJ22's, but it sounds like there isn't (thankfully). My father has an EJ25 which is falling into classic failure mode, so I'm glad it's nothing like that.

I hate to say this, but hiring someone with a flatbed is the safest option. I know it may cost a bit up front, but it's cheaper than damaging out the AWD drivetrain.

So you don't think I'm losing coolant through the intake then? I swapped the pump/gasket and thermostat/gasket about two years ago when I replaced the timing belt. I suppose I could replace the thermostat and gasket, albeit the car never, ever, ever, ever overheats. Is it worth paying a shop some money to pressure-test the system?

I hadn't considered that. Are there coolant passages through the intake manifold gasket? Is it a common problem with the EJ22? Am I safe to drive it 300 miles? How easy is it to pull apart? I sure hope it's a manifold gasket and not a head gasket.

I first suspected it was the bottom radiator hose, because I saw residue on it. I replaced these hoses about two years ago, and I wondered if perhaps they were a bit loose, although the clamps didn't seem loose. I wrapped a paper towel and duct tape around each end and drove the car 40 miles. Both towels appear to be dry. That makes me think something is dripping down. Heater hoses both look good (other side looks about the same): I wash the engine regularly, so the driver's side should look like this passenger side: Which is why all this build-up on the driver's side really bothers me: Could also be a leaky reservoir, maybe? I dunno. Thanks!

My 95 Legacy EJ22, with 195k, is losing coolant. About a cup or two each month. I use a bottle of 50/50 Prestone every 6 months or so. I've driven it all over the place, from SLC to LA, up Pacific Coast Highway, and never worried once about it. Well, I need to make a 300 mile run on Tuesday and made the mistake of letting my old man borrow my car (the EJ25 in his Outback just blew a head gasket last week). He says he smells coolant and he worries I shouldn't drive my car until I get it fixed. I typically smell the sweet smell after I punch it really hard on the freeway (3500-4500 RPM), and then exit, pull over, and stop. I smell it all over the place, including inside, outside, and strongly from the rear of the car (but not the exhaust). No interior leaks. No "film" on the windows when I run the defroster, so I'm pretty sure that even though I can occasionally get strong whiffs of coolant, my heater core is fine. Heater works proud and strong. I wash the engine regularly and I do see build up (likely coolant, although it's very dirty) on the driver's side of the engine around the plugs and below all the way down. Is this an external head gasket leak? Valve cover leak? Freeze plugs? How serious is it? I've driven with the problem for over a year (20,000 miles) but I don't want to take this car on a long trip if it's a time bomb. I'll post some pictures in a minute. Thanks in advance!