'97 Legacy Outback, Starts....then Dies...

[samurai_jack85305]

I have a huge oil puddle from underneath the car, its right where the transmission and the engine meet. When I turn the car on, its starts, then it immediately dies...it will not idle. The only way for me to keep it alive after starting is to hold the gas and keep it about 2000RPM. After the engine warms up a little bit, white smoke starts coming out from underneath the car, in the approx. place where the oil is leaking out of, and it stinks of what smells like oil and tranny fluid...maybe more tranny fluid than oil. I hooked my computer reader to my car and it says that all 4 of my cylinders are misfireing and that my knock sensor is malfunctioning, I am currently replaceing my knock sensor, and I am in the process in getting both my head gaskets replaced(i havent purchased them yet, i will soon though)....besides these two remedies, does anyone have any suggestions?

[lmdew]

First check the Oil and Transmission Fluid Levels. Operating the car with either low or out will cause significant damage. You should be able to tell if its oil or trany fluid, check the color. Fix the leak before you go any further.

 

There is a plastic cover under the flex plate that cracks. Subaru has a metal replacement. That could be the source of the leak. The smoke could be from the leak or an engine problem.

[Dickensheets]

Have you done anything with the air filter?

[Gnuman]

There is a plastic cover under the flex plate that cracks. Subaru has a metal replacement. That could be the source of the leak. The smoke could be from the leak or an engine problem.

 

Oh you mean the metal Oil seperator that they had in the first place, and switched to plastic for reasons that will have to be left as an exercise for the class? You mean that one that I replace whenever I discover a plastic one on an engine?