subiesnack

It's the rings, debating if it's worth throwing a "new" engine in there or just driving it the way it is for as long as I can.. Thanks for the input.

I'm saying constantly smoking out the tailpipe while driving is serious, That would be blown. Consuming some oil is just a common thing in a worn engine.

My brothers forester burns a quart every 350 miles! His engine had a head gasket job done but didn't change any valve seals or anything like that(previous owner..) We're doing the same pcv delete and changing oil regularly till I have time to swap the engine.

You need to remove the PCV and add a new fitting or hollow out your valve. Remove the breath hoses off the air box. the ones that run from the valve covers.

 

It barely ever smokes out the tailpipe, which is why I'm a bit confused, unless the cats are filtering out that much smoke. I'll try venting the pcv this week though, thanks.

It could be a mix a of a few things. The head gasket could be leaking oil in or out the engine. Piston oil control ring could be gummed up or worn allowing oil to be left over on the down stroke. The valve stem seals could be dry and always letting oil pass between the valves. You have a oil leak from the oil pan.

 

 

Check your PCV, if it's clogged with oil, you've been burning it. I would just vent everything to atmosphere. Delete the pcv and vent it with a hose, take the valve cover vent hoses off the air box and then plug the box.

 

Regarding venting the pcv, I would vent straight from where the pcv currently is using a fitting, and then plug the inlet that routes from the pcv back into the intake? As well as the vent on the airbox?

Did the sound appear when you put the new tires on?

 

No it was there before the new tires, they didn't have any effect

I would called that blown at that point.Yours is worn out. Take the valve out, match it up with a brass hose fitting from the hardware store(I forgot the thread size) run a hose from that. The engine will last slightly longer. you will stop all that oil burning be put back into the engine. PCV is only for emissions.

 

You can try frequent oil changes or running a some sea foam 5 mins before changing your oil to try and clean it out. I wouldn't drive with it in the crankcase.

 

Ah, like you figure the engine is probably blown hey..that's a bummer for sure. I'll try venting the pcv into atmosphere, it runs good and smooth and has got good power, so hopefully I can just keep dumping oil into it and it'll last me a while yet. Will try some sea foam in there right before my next oil change as well. Too bad I just got the head gaskets done.. $$$ :/ is it really possible for the cats to mask this much burned oil smoke? I would imagine there to be constant and heavy smoke if all this oil really is being burned.

Shouldn't I see a constant smoke screen behind me if all this oil really is being burned??

check the wheel bearings.

 

Slight imbalance in the drive shaft? Resonant frequency in some part of the body or structure? Tire noise?

 

It's pretty much impossible to figure out without hearing it. But I haven't heard anyone else express a concern that sounds similar. I think third gen are generally a little quieter than second gen so I couldn't say from direct experience.

 

My exhaust is too loud to pick up lots of subtle noises, but it has a definite resonance with the volume of air in the cabin. There is a range where it is quite unpleasant. At other power/speeds where the engine is making a lot more noise, the sound comfort is much better because no resonance.

 

I'll look into the drive shaft.. Hope it's not that haha, just put new tires on

It could be a mix a of a few things. The head gasket could be leaking oil in or out the engine. Piston oil control ring could be gummed up or worn allowing oil to be left over on the down stroke. The valve stem seals could be dry and always letting oil pass between the valves. You have a oil leak from the oil pan.

 

 

Check your PCV, if it's clogged with oil, you've been burning it. I would just vent everything to atmosphere. Delete the pcv and vent it with a hose, take the valve cover vent hoses off the air box and then plug the box.

 

I just had the head gaskets replaced, so that shouldn't be it.. Unless they botched it . I replaced the pcv a while ago and it was pretty gummed up, when you say vent to atmosphere do you mean just run the hose off the pcv to under the car somewhere? Or completely remove the pcv valve and run a hose from the hole. Would some sea foam in the crank case potentially free up the oil control rings? Never any oil puddles after parking, and i can't see any fresh oil anywhere. Thanks for the tips.

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I've been noticing a deep rumble highway speeds, it's subtle, and quiet, and I can just barely feel it through my seat. It's not a flat monotone rumble, it kind of fluctuates(loud, quiet, loud, quiet, etc) It doesn't change with speed or rpm. I notice it most when driving in 5th gear (around 2k- 2500rpm) but I can feel it slightly even with the clutch pressed in and coasting at around 100km/h. I figured this might just be the way subaru awd sounds under these circumstances. If not, does anybody have any ideas what could be causing this?

02 legacy 5spd 235k kms

I've been noticing a deep rumble highway speeds, it's subtle, and quiet, and I can just barely feel it through my seat. It's not a flat monotone rumble, it kind of fluctuates(loud, quiet, loud, quiet, etc) It doesn't change with speed or rpm. I notice it most when driving in 5th gear (around 2k- 2500rpm) but I can feel it slightly even with the clutch pressed in and coasting at around 100km/h. I figured this might just be the way subaru awd sounds under these circumstances. If not, does anybody have any ideas what could be causing this?

02 legacy 5spd 235k kms.

Hey folks, my 02 legacy is eating up a ton of oil. It's going through about a liter every 300 - 350kms. I only ever notice smoke out the tailpipe after engine braking, which points toward valve seals, but it rarely smokes on startup ( I've noticed a small amount of smoke on start up maybe a handful of times. Car sat for 4 days last week and no smoke on startup) I can usually smell burnt oil after driving for a bit. Anybody have any ideas or input? From what I know worn valve seals always smoke on startup, and worn rings smoke constantly ( correct me if I'm wrong) .. Car is an ej25 N/A, manual transmission with 235k kms.

If you have the smell its prob the cat! that smell is what the catalyst substrate smells like as is burns.

 

If looking for a replacement go with OEM, BOSAL or WALKER.

 

Good to know, thanks! One weird thing, though.. I did a sea foam treatment the other day (spray into intake, poured some into gas tank) and the oscillation seems to be much less noticeable.. Could the sea foam have loosened some carbon and clogged the cat even more making it vibrate less somehow?

Have you ever replaced the catalytic converter section on that car? If you look underneath the car its the part of the exhaust with two bulges after the Y shaped exhaust manifold.

 

If it looks newer than the rest of the exhaust it may have been replaced with a cheap unit, if it looks original it might be clogged/failing.

 

If this oscillation is associated to a vibration it could be something on the engine e.g. accessory drive pulley or something in the drivetrain e.g. diff, hub, gearbox bearing.

 

The first cat after the manifold does have a rattle.. I've been meaning to take a look at it. Maybe it's on its way out, I've noticed a faint rotten egg smell once or twice in the past couple months. Ill look into that, thanks! Wouldn't have guessed that could be the culprit. Theres no vibration or other sounds associated with the oscillation.

I"m not sure of the official name for them. I think you should be able to find them looking for "steering rack mount bushings". It's been two or three years since I did mine so I've lost all the papers by now so not even a part number. I don't even recall if I got them from Subaru or from Napa.

No worries, I'll check it out thanks

I can think of two things that might do what you describe. The steering rack fastens to the cross member with two brackets and these have rubber bushings in them. Could be the rubber is done so that the rack can move a little. That feeling could go right up the column to you. That would also lead to vague and inaccurate steering to some extent.

 

The other idea that doesn't seem likely is that the column has come loose from what ever it mounts to in the bottom of the dash. I should know what that looks like from taking the column out of my parts car, but I can't picture it.

 

I would see if you can get under the car on ramps or straddling a ditch and have someone steer back and forth so you can watch if the rack moves relative to the cross member.

 

Besides OE bushings, there are stiffer after market versions. You can get tighter steering at the cost of some NVH.

 

Okay thanks for the idea. I have noticed at hwy speeds the steering feels a bit washy. Almost like wind is pushing me around slightly. I'll lift the car up and take a look if it moves in a way it shouldn't, thanks! Do you know what those bushings would be called if that's the issue? Or a part # or something.

My steering shudders and shakes a bit doing slow tight maneuvers as well. Like in a parking lot, again no noise from any components, just in the steering wheel. Not sure if this would be related or not though. I've got a new ps pump in there.

I've had a clunk and wheel springback going over bumps in turns with a failed steering rack before. Any signs of leakage?

 

It looks a bit greasy under there, but I haven't really noticed any fresh oil. I'll check again.

My steering doesn't clunk.

 

Clunk usually indicates two parts that are not fitting or fastening together correctly.

 

Are you talking about a rotational thing or something else?

 

No it's not rotational, the column kind of feels like it's moving up and down slightly. Doesn't matter if I'm turning or going straight.. It almost feels worse if I'm not turning, hard to say though.

My steering wheel clunks around on rough terrain. It's not terrible but it's very noticeable. There's no audible noise coming from any front end components, it's just in the steering wheel/column. My buddy took it for a drive and said not to worry its normal. But I don't know.. It seems wrong, but, I've also never driven a subie before this one. The car is a 2002 legacy 2.5 N/A. 230k kms. I know one front cv axle has a busted boot, but there's no sound coming from that area ever so I don't think it's related? Am I worried about nothing?

Hey all, first time posting to a forum, so forgive me if this being posted in the wrong spot etc.

Ive noticed a strange '' oscillation '' in my engines noise as I'm driving. Finding it hard to describe.. So bare with me It only really happens between 2900ish to 3500ish rpm. The actual engine sounds normal, but its as if it gets loud then quiet, loud then quiet etc. It starts slow ish, but gets faster until about 3500 rpm when it fades and the engine sounds consistent again. I can feel a slight vibration in my gas pedal which is in sync with the oscillation. Doesn't seem to matter which gear I'm in. I should also note that it seems louder if I'm going up a hill or the engine is under more load.

The car is a 2002 Subaru legacy 2.5 N/A

Standard transmission

140k miles.

 

Ive just had the head gaskets replaced, fairly new spark plugs, pcv valve, fuel filter. (I noticed the noise when I got my car back from the head gasket repair, but it may have been there before and I didn't notice)

I have no clue what could be causing this, or maybe it's just the way these boxer engines sound?? This is my first subie. It doesn't sound "broken" haha. It feels solid and runs well.

TubHey all, first time posting to a forum, so forgive me if this being posted in the wrong spot etc.

Ive noticed a strange '' oscillation '' in my engines noise as I'm driving. Finding it hard to describe.. So bare with me �� It only really happens between 2900ish to 3500ish rpm. The actual engine sounds normal, but its as if it gets loud then quiet, loud then quiet etc. It starts slow ish, but gets faster until about 3500 rpm when it fades and the engine sounds consistent again. I can feel a slight vibration in my gas pedal which is in sync with the oscillation. Doesn't seem to matter which gear I'm in. I should also note that it seems louder if I'm going up a hill or the engine is under more load.

The car is a 2002 Subaru legacy 2.5 N/A

Standard transmission

140k miles.

 

Ive just had the head gaskets replaced, fairly new spark plugs, pcv valve, fuel filter. (I noticed the noise when I got my car back from the head gasket repair, but it may have been there before and I didn't notice)

I have no clue what could be causing this, or maybe it's just the way these boxer engines sound?? This is my first subie. It doesn't sound "broken" haha. It feels solid and runs well.