86subaru Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 my oil cap on my 88 turbo wagon seems to be leaking , so i switched it with another 1 , you can see oil leaking down the neck , can the seal underneith the cap go bad ? , what i did was back it off alittle and is tighter now, or is there something else causing it, ? oil level is good, and fresh, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank B Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 Every soob I have had, or worked on, I had to back the oil cap off a bit to snug it up. I never looked into it further than that. If you remove the cap while it's running, you will notice an air pulse from the crankcase pressures. Essentially from the pistons pumping the air around. The oil you see coming down the tube was originally vapor that condensates at the top of the tube. You may have excessive blow by from worn rings creating more air/oil vapor movement. Or maybe just a cloggged or just dirty PCV. Does the engine use a lot of oil?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86subaru Posted November 23, 2006 Author Share Posted November 23, 2006 maybe 1/2 qt every 3000 miles, it drips it from the rear main Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 1 qt. every 3000 is still within spec. according to Subaru. I would say 1/2 qt is fine for any 20 yr old car. GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbone Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 Turbo's have more pressure in the system, it will cause oil to leak out the filler tube if the cap isnt tight. I've taken the ears on the under side of the cap and squeezed them in a little with pliers to make a tighter seal. The ideal fix is a new cap tho, should be able to get one from the Dealer. Dont the rebuild kits come with a new seal? I believe I've seen one before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86subaru Posted November 23, 2006 Author Share Posted November 23, 2006 thanks, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveT Posted November 24, 2006 Share Posted November 24, 2006 I have fixed a few with large o-rings. Takes a few experiments. Turn past friction, then back to seal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86subaru Posted November 24, 2006 Author Share Posted November 24, 2006 after afew days of a tighter cap , i have noticed less oil leaking , here i was thinking it was a power steering fluid leaking around the fitting and dripping onto the spash plate , i should have noticed it sooner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartless Posted November 24, 2006 Share Posted November 24, 2006 Every soob I have had, or worked on, I had to back the oil cap off a bit to snug it up. all three of ours are like this...if fully closed (to the stops) the cap is loose, if backed off a little it snugs right up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvexplorer Posted November 24, 2006 Share Posted November 24, 2006 Kinda surprising that Subaru didn't come out with a fix for that since it probably affects emissions. My loyale does the same and I back it off like the others who have posted here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robm Posted November 24, 2006 Share Posted November 24, 2006 I wonder if the loose fit is part of the PCV system? Supplies a little fresh air to the crankcase, and perhaps helps stop oily scudge build up in the filler neck? Is there a breather elsewhere in the system? If not, where does the crankcase air come from? I sealed mine. Maybe it is not a good idea? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86subaru Posted November 24, 2006 Author Share Posted November 24, 2006 i cleaned the tps , and yes it was dirty, but i think i did something else to cause this and not the oil cap , but it could be , Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beataru Posted November 25, 2006 Share Posted November 25, 2006 Every soob I have had, or worked on, I had to back the oil cap off a bit to snug it up. I never looked into it further than that. +1 So are you or are you not leaking from your breathers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted November 25, 2006 Share Posted November 25, 2006 They are supposed to seal down tight. If it does not, or you have to "back it off" then you need a new rubber gasket inside the cap or the tabs need adjusting. GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeshoup Posted November 25, 2006 Share Posted November 25, 2006 I wonder if the loose fit is part of the PCV system? Supplies a little fresh air to the crankcase, and perhaps helps stop oily scudge build up in the filler neck? Is there a breather elsewhere in the system? If not, where does the crankcase air come from? I sealed mine. Maybe it is not a good idea? They are supposed to seal. The crankcase gets fresh air from the intake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daeron Posted November 25, 2006 Share Posted November 25, 2006 They are supposed to seal down tight. If it does not, or you have to "back it off" then you need a new rubber gasket inside the cap or the tabs need adjusting. GD NOBODY ever touches on that... the cap is held in place, not by threads, but by two metal tabs on the underside. Bending those tabs "up" towards the rubber seal, tightens the fit of the oil cap. I discovered this right after I did my timing belts, as I was checking the oil before I started her for the first time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted November 25, 2006 Share Posted November 25, 2006 NOBODY ever touches on that... I have seen it (occasionally) addressed..... I'll tell you what NOBODY touches on - the o-ring for the dip-stick. If you have an air leak into the crank-case the FI computer will judge the mixture incorrectly (it creates a vacuum leak). The engine needs to be TIGHT, and the oil cap, and to a lesser (but by no means insignificant) extent the dip-stick o-ring are the two weakest links in sealing it. GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daeron Posted November 25, 2006 Share Posted November 25, 2006 I have seen it (occasionally) addressed..... I'll tell you what NOBODY touches on - the o-ring for the dip-stick. If you have an air leak into the crank-case the FI computer will judge the mixture incorrectly (it creates a vacuum leak). The engine needs to be TIGHT, and the oil cap, and to a lesser (but by no means insignificant) extent the dip-stick o-ring are the two weakest links in sealing it. GD glad I put it that way, and thanks for the tip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virrdog Posted November 27, 2006 Share Posted November 27, 2006 I have seen it (occasionally) addressed..... I'll tell you what NOBODY touches on - the o-ring for the dip-stick. If you have an air leak into the crank-case the FI computer will judge the mixture incorrectly (it creates a vacuum leak). The engine needs to be TIGHT, and the oil cap, and to a lesser (but by no means insignificant) extent the dip-stick o-ring are the two weakest links in sealing it. GD Haha, I was looking at this just yesterday! I want a tighter seal on the oil dip-stick. Is there a standard o-ring you can get at a store or something you can order from Subaru? And I got my oil cap to go on incredibly tight by adjusting the tabs, it still loosens up at the very last point of turning... So I back it off a little bit still. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeshoup Posted November 27, 2006 Share Posted November 27, 2006 The oil caps can be purchased brand new. Any auto parts store should be able to at least special order you one. I got one for Dorothy for about $6 at Checker. They special ordered one from Stant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbone Posted November 27, 2006 Share Posted November 27, 2006 Brand new. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Subaru-1600-1800-BRAT-XT-XT6-LOYALE-OIL-FILLER-CAP-NEW_W0QQitemZ320051968321QQihZ011QQcategoryZ33622QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subiemech85 Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 cap must be tight, especially if the frantz dumps into the filler tube if it ain't leakin, it's out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spockva Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 My 92 Loyale had same problem, so I backed it off and one day, it DISAPPEARED! Didn't hear it fall or any strange noise under hood, just went to check the oil and it was gone. Went to Autozone and for about 4 bucks got a new one that is tight right at the stops. Aparently there is a rubber gasket in the cap that gets hard and crushed by age and that is why caps get loose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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