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84 GL major malfunction


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Early morning I go out to warm it up and get it started. While running, i am scraping the frost off the windows when after a short bit, the motor starts sounding a bit knocky.  I quickly look at the oil pressure and its 0, so i shut it down before i do major damage.  I look under the front and there is all my oil on the pavement. I cannot see where it came from but most under the level of the oil filter is wet but not dripping with oil. O dark thirty so it was hard to see so i left it to not be late for work right after stopping the oil puddle.

 

Today im under it trying to see what happened but cant visually tell yet. there is an oil drop hanging from the Pressure sensor unit so it came from above.

 

Anyway, I hate to ask because i figure its bad news but what are the thoughts on what happened?  And did i just hose my motor?

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There's almost always a drop of oil hanging from the pressure sensor so that is not a definitive clue.  You'll likely have to add some oil, start the engine and look underneath to see where the leak is originating.

 

The motor is not necessarily damaged.  These old engines are commonly low on oil from leaks and will make noise until they get refilled. If they don't get refilled, yes they will seize.

Edited by Dee2
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Filled it and cranked it enough to get the leak.  Appears that it is coming from higher than the pressure sending unit, but not the unit or where it threads in. Im guessing the pump housing where it faces up to the block so a gasket failure perhaps?  I know nothing of these engines but am mechanically minded.

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At some point all these old engines need to be resealed, including the oil pump seals.  You can replace those and probably the front cam and crankshaft seals now and do more later.  Or you can pull the engine and do them all the seals at once.  Lots of threads on this forum about resealing engines with photos.  Even some videos on youtube to watch also,  search for MilesFox.

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At some point all these old engines need to be resealed, including the oil pump seals.  You can replace those and probably the front cam and crankshaft seals now and do more later.  Or you can pull the engine and do them all the seals at once.  Lots of threads on this forum about resealing engines with photos.  Even some videos on youtube to watch also,  search for MilesFox.

 

 

Thanks for the great info. As far as the oil pump is concerned, if I get a new pump will the seals it needs be included / installed, or do i need to source those as well?

 

I actually was watching some of MilesFox vids before posting my problem. 

Edited by WetCoyote
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There is a custom o ring commonly referred to as the micky mouse oring. Subaru dealer only as far as I know. There is also a regular one or 2 involved, iirc.

 

I only bought 1 oil pump, many many years ago. I just get the seals and orings now.

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The 84 will have an ea81. There is no Mickey Mouse or cam seals to replace on this one.

 

If you order a new oil pump from Subaru there will not be any o-rings or gaskets included. I can't say whether or not they would be with an aftermarket pump replacement.

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A word of caution on removing the oil pump. DO NOT PRY ON IT. I'm sure this is obvious to most but when I was resealing my oil pump, I it was very firmly pressed in and so decided to use a pry bar and one cracked oil pump and $100 later, I discovered you're just supposed to wiggle it out gently. On the bright side, I have a new oil pump and my oil pressure is amazing!

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I replaced the oil pump in my EA81 many years ago, and do recall it was a straightforward job.  As stated above there was a tight fit to remove and install it, we just had to be gentle and patient (both of which I am not).   Leaving the sender attached certainly helped in the removal process.

 

Just my 2 bucks 

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Just to emphasize on the "wiggling" that is to be done removing the oil pump.

Do NOT wiggle the oil pump front to back, or side to side, or up or down.
Rotate the oil pump, clockwise and counterclockwise while pulling outward on the pump gently.
The pump's mating surface that slips into the block is perfectly round.

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