babyfacefitz Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Just yesterday I bought an 01 OBW but didn't look at it long enough. There is a slight/moderate smell of gas under the under and can't find a gas leak. I did notice the back of the engine, on cal. #3 there is a good leak, looks like oil and coolant. The seller told me the HG had been done... but I guess this is a sign the HG need to be done again correct? Could a HG leak have some gas in it? I scraped the ooze down near the leak and I could smell gas. The coolant level was just less than a cup low. Dip stick looks good. There is a p0420pd code, all monitors clear except caty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 the residual oil/coolant may be from years ago and the HG are fine. gas smell is likely a loose line somewhere or exhaust leak. exhaust leaks routinely cause the 0420 catalyst inefficiency code. what brand headgaskets were used when it was repaired and were the heads resurfaced? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babyfacefitz Posted February 27, 2015 Author Share Posted February 27, 2015 thanks Gary, The leak is fresh and wet though. I haven't got the maintenence records yet from the seller. There is an exhaust leak at the junction past the two caty's. The leak is fresh and wet though. With out a garage I need to wait till 30's weather. But looking forward to working on this. If it need HGs, should I tackle this after some tutorial videos? I did my timing belt for the first time two weeks ago on another suby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdventureSubaru Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Exhaust leak probably accounts for your p0420. CAn you post a pic of the leakage you're seeing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john in KY Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Look for a leaking fuel injector O-ring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
987687 Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 The common issue for fuel smell on these cars is the fuel line clamps on the fuel rails under the intake manifold. There are some hidden ones hard to get one, tighten them all up and see if that fixes the fuel leak smell. You can run for quite some time with an external headgasket leak. Just make sure you don't run out of coolant and it's fine. It'll definitely get you until warmer weather, besides tightening the fuel lines I wouldn't touch the headgaskets. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babyfacefitz Posted February 27, 2015 Author Share Posted February 27, 2015 Got a picture on imgur. The flashlight is shining on the wet spot. Pass. side, rear side of the heads, right at gasket junction. http://imgur.com/IYdY8Vb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccrinc Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Take a good sniff at the dipstick, away from the car itself. If the oil smells "gassy", you may have fuel wash, gas getting into the oil from a "run rich" condition. This thins out the the oil and can cause significant damage to the bearings and everything else that is oil lubricated. This can be caused by a dirty Mass Air Flow Sensor, failing knock sensor, bad coolant temperature sensor on the coolant crossover pipe as well as a failing injector or o-ring. Cold weather brings out the worst in our cars' fuel systems! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
987687 Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Yea, it's in the cold when subarus have the issue with the loose fuel lines. If you google it you'll find a lot of info on it. Also before condemning the headgaskets, there is a small coolant hose that runs from the passenger side of the engine up to the throttle body, and from the throttle body back to the coolant crossover. Get a flashlight and a mirror and make sure that hose isn't leaking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babyfacefitz Posted February 27, 2015 Author Share Posted February 27, 2015 (edited) You guys are good. The previous owner said the knock sensor code was coming up. I though I was supposed to ignore that code. I hope a can of sea foam, new wire and plugs, and new fluids fixes everything. Michael Edited February 27, 2015 by babyfacefitz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmdew Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Take a good look at the knock sensor and or pull it and read the resistance. If they fail, the ignition timing is backed off and the mileage goes down as well as the power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirtokesalot Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 The common issue for fuel smell on these cars is the fuel line clamps on the fuel rails under the intake manifold. There are some hidden ones hard to get one, tighten them all up and see if that fixes the fuel leak smell. You can run for quite some time with an external headgasket leak. Just make sure you don't run out of coolant and it's fine. It'll definitely get you until warmer weather, besides tightening the fuel lines I wouldn't touch the headgaskets. oh yes you can ive been running my bmw with an external hg leak for about a year and a half now thogh it is slowly getting worst. a good friend of mine has a 2002 obw and his hg has been leaking externally since he bought it 2 years ago. my mom has i tihnk it was an 04 or 05 obw same deal leaking oil form hg externally its been like that for at least 3 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babyfacefitz Posted February 27, 2015 Author Share Posted February 27, 2015 Should the resistance measure between 400 and 700 kilo ohms? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Should be around 560-600k ohm. In the picture it looks like the intake boot is split. Does this thing have a MAF sensor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babyfacefitz Posted February 28, 2015 Author Share Posted February 28, 2015 I see the split now, thanks. I'm away from the car today but I'm sure is has a MAF. I thought that was downline from this split. Warm weather dance is needed, I want to work on this car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Normally the MAF is mounted on the filter box on the passenger side. If it has a MAF the split in the bolt will cause it to read low which will lean the A/F mixture at idle. Wrap the boot in electrical tape for a temporary fix. Also it will help to twist the plastic part upward some so the boot sits naturally. And I'm pretty sure there is supposed to be a hose clamp where those two plastic sections meet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
987687 Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 An 01 outback doesn't have a MAF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 knock sensors routinely crack at the base. replace with a $10 ebay cheapy and done. easy job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccrinc Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 Gary, Are you sure about an "ebay cheapy"? I've always thought you have excellent advice and recommendation, but I personally would recommend a Genuine Subaru knock sensor. Just a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babyfacefitz Posted March 24, 2015 Author Share Posted March 24, 2015 At the junkyard it was $6, that's pretty cheap. I usually go for better parts but this was too cheap and easy to replace to pass up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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