2000 Outback burns/looses 1/2 a quart of oil-between oil chgs

[pdxsuby]

It burns/looses a 1/2 quart to a little more of oil between oil changes. Runs well, new spark plugs last year, 16k of miles in last year, 102k total mileage on it. Is this a normal amount of oil normal to loose? Read on-loosing oil through oil pan gasket is part of it.

 

I pulled spark plugs yesterday on pasenger side- both plugs had some oil on the inside where the spark plug wire connects to the spark plug, but I did not see any oil on driver side. I see a little oil on the outside of where the head gasket is at on pasenger side also. I had the driver side HG replaced under warranty last fall, and it, HG, has no oil coming from it. Seems to holding up fine- driver side.

 

Also, I have a slight drip, coming from back of oil pan. I'm thinking of having the oil pan gasket replaced from this. It has spaltered on parts, exhaust that are behind the oil pan.

 

Your thoughts are appreciated. I'd like to replace the passenger side head gasket and oil pan gasket.

 

Oh, how much is reasonable to pay for a new, passenger side head gasket to be put in and also for the oil pan gasket? Thank you.

[cookie]

My opinion would be that the oil use is pretty normal for that age. It may be time to replace some seals and the oil slinger thingy. Most Subarus I've heard of don't actually have oil pan leaks, just seals and that interesting plastic piece by the rear seal. (One of you guys with a memory please help out with the name.)

Read the sticky FAQ above on this stuff.

[Pillowsplat]

The oil I had on the pan was chased back up to the stub axle seals. That would not effect your engine oil.

[ninjaben43]

that is normal loss for a subie, i would suggest using your waranty if you can, a hg job runs around 1500 give or take a grand, so anyone with a warranty... but if there is any visible fluid loss from the hg you can assume that a failure is in the future.

[nipper]

your oil consumption is considered normal 1 qt every 6000 miles (assuming a 3000 mile interval). You may be able to decrease it by stoping the oil leaks. Try tightneing the valve cover gasket (not too tight) as they come loose.

The rear drip may be the big source of consumption, i doubt its the pan gasket. Its probably the plastic cover thingy on the back of the engine under the bell housing (read remove engine).

 

nipper

[gbhrps]

I've owned a great many cars over the years, and excepting my wife's present and last Lexus, and my last and present Subie, they have all leaked or burned a bit of oil between oil changes. Half a quart between oil changes does not seem excessive to me. When you consider what it will cost you to pull and replace the faulty seals/rings it isn't worth it. Half a quart of oil for each oil change, for four or five oil changes a year, over the number of years you'll own the car before you move on to another one, ..... it doesn't make economic sense to fix the problem. If your useage goes way up to say, two quarts between oil changes, .... then it might be necessary to reconsider. Now, on the other hand, if you park on a interlocking brick driveway, or a new concrete driveway at home, and you don't want it spoiled with oil stains .... then that's another issue that only you can decide on. Curiously, both Toyota Cressida's I've previously owned burned no oil until they hit 5000 km, where the viscosity of the oil obviously thinned out, because from there to 6000 km the engines would use about a half quart till the required oil change. My 54 MG TF leaks oil out of the engine, the tranny, and the rear end continually. I monitor it carefully, and consider that the car is just marking its territory. Good Luck!