Trying To Identify A Leak

[NickB64]

Hello Folks,

I found a leaky hose under front driver's side of my 2006 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, can anyone help me identify the hose that needs replaced here in the photo? Its the wet looking hose right above the CV joint boot, thanks!

My check engine light came on solid the other day while driving as well, the only code coming up is P0446 (small EVAP leak detected), not sure if its related to this leak.

 

Edited December 7, 2020 by NickB64

[Numbchux]

Those are the transmission cooler hoses.

[NickB64]

Thanks!

Does coolant run through them? Or transmission fluid?

[1 Lucky Texan]

auto trans?

does a 2006 Outback Sport have a remote filter in the fender? if so, could be filter lines.

Edited December 8, 2020 by 1 Lucky Texan

[Rampage]

3 hours ago, NickB64 said:

Does coolant run through them? Or transmission fluid?

Transmission fluid is pumped out one of those lines to a metal pipe inside the radiator. The fluid returns from that pipe to the tranny through the other line.

The rubber hose often gets hard with heat and age and tend to crack and leak. Measure their length and replace both of them with ATF hose. While you're at it, check the same two hoses at the radiator. They get hard too. A lot of times I have to cut them off the pipes with a knife because they are soo hard they won't spread and slide off the bubble on the pipe.

[NickB64]

Thanks for all the info, I've been meaning to do a transmission fluid / filter change anyway so I guess it will be easiest to drain the transmission fluid before removing the hoses.

Is it possible to just replace the one short hose section seen in the photo? Or must the entire line reaching to the radiator be completely replaced?

[heartless]

before you go trying to change that hose, wipe your finger across the wet and see what color it is...

if it is not red, it is not that hose leaking..

honestly, that looks like coolant to me that is probably dripping down from somewhere else - it does not look like tranny fluid

 

[idosubaru]

7 hours ago, NickB64 said:

Thanks for all the info, I've been meaning to do a transmission fluid / filter change anyway so I guess it will be easiest to drain the transmission fluid before removing the hoses.

Is it possible to just replace the one short hose section seen in the photo? Or must the entire line reaching to the radiator be completely replaced?

Yes - the line in the photo doesn't go all the way to the transmission.  Actually I'm pretty sure you can see the other end of it in your picture.  Look right at the axle shaft where the hose disappears behind the axle shaft - and it looks like some hose clamps are just barely peeking out.  That should be the other end of the line.   Slide those clamps back far enough and pull the hose off. 

After all this time the hoses are often very tight and hard to remove - I'd just have a knife handy and slice it off in 3 seconds rather than wrestling wrenches and hands in tight spaces for 30 minutes. 

I would buy the Subaru OEM hose from the dealer for this - it can be ordered online at various Subaru dealers. Liberty Subaru has a great online parts department and I think is the one on the east coast.   

Sometimes you can just slide that one end of the hose back - trim off 1/2"-1" of the cracked/deteriorated end - and slide it back on without ever even removing the hose completely.  It's often just the very end that's damaged.  But, it's better to just replace the entire hose. 

But take note...

1 hour ago, heartless said:

before you go trying to change that hose, wipe your finger across the wet and see what color it is...

if it is not red, it is not that hose leaking..

honestly, that looks like coolant to me that is probably dripping down from somewhere else - it does not look like tranny fluid

This is a rare leak and somewhat suspicious for such a new Subaru - I'd want to verify it's ATF.  Those hoses are high quality and typically last a long time, which is why buying new ones from Subaru is a good idea, as well as they also have the best form fitting factor. 

ATF often discolors quickly as it picks up dust, dirt, grime, debris, so color is hard to tell.  But there is some red on the CV axle boot band. 

[Numbchux]

The dealership where I worked stocked many of those hoses, we saw them leak all the time. Doesn't surprise me at all.

Grab those 2 hoses from your local dealership (you can shop around if you like, but I'd bet any discount you'd see through an online retailer will quickly disappear in shipping cost), and swap them out. Very little volume is in those lines, so the system doesn't need to be drained to do it.

There are 2 more sections of hose at the bottom of the radiator (steel line in between that runs next to the engine/under the battery), have a look at those, too.