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Need HELP!! Oil Leak from Turbo??


macdarwin

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Ok Im scared as $hit right now...I was doing an Oil change today and decided to look around...

 

Behold, an Oil leak under the turbo.

 

Here's what I saw

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a394/macdarwin/Oil%20Leak/IMAG0044.jpg

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a394/macdarwin/Oil%20Leak/IMAG0041.jpg

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a394/macdarwin/Oil%20Leak/IMAG0043.jpg

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a394/macdarwin/Oil%20Leak/IMAG0046.jpg

 

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a394/macdarwin/Oil%20Leak/IMAG0045.jpg

 

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a394/macdarwin/Oil%20Leak/IMAG0051.jpg

 

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a394/macdarwin/Oil%20Leak/IMAG0050.jpg

 

 

Im thinking about taking this to the dealership (renick subaru) and have them look at it.....

 

Im running a Stage 1 by Infamous so If they found that they will void the warranty right? Should I give Shamar a ring and have my Stage 1 remove and put it back to stock??

 

The car runs fine, The turbo Sound/Spool normal just the oil leak Im scared about. The top of the turbo looks fine and dry, Just some greasy dirt looking on there but I dont think its oil at all, I lost 1 quart of oil after doing an oil change.

I dont redline, full throttle and drive crazy at all and this happen?

 

I dont redline, full throttle and drive crazy at all and this happen?

 

Anyone have an idea? Pls I dont think I can sleep tonite

 

 

Thanks!

-darwin

Edited by macdarwin
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Hard to say exactly where it is coming from. BUT...

 

the tube in the last pic is the oil return tube. Oil goes in at the top of the turbo (the metal pipe) and comes out the bottom (vertical pipe to tube). There is a gasket between the tubro and oil return pipe. Could leak there.

 

Then, I see oil on the banjo and crush washer. If you have a 05-07 that is the oil line to turbo and AVCS. If you have an 08-09 I am mistaken about which fitting that is in the pic. The banjo bolt filter is beneath this bolt. (It is on top of the motor instead of the side on the 08-09). It could easily be leaking from the crush washer.

 

With the oil everywhere it is probably spraying a little while under pressure. Put the car on ramps or stands get under it and have someone rev the engine lightly. Might cause enough oil pressure to see it leaking.

 

Could always spray it down with degreaser so it is clean and start over. Just looking for the fresh oil then.

 

I would not completely freak. I see oil under almost every turbo I have checked. Max's car had it, Johns car had it, my 5EAT gets it a little. You have a lot so there is a leak. Heck with Max's car when he went to the dealership and asked for crush washers for the turbo they gave him the wrong size (it leaked). If anyone has done any maint. around the turbo I would check the washers.

 

Let me know if you need help.

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You should be ok with a stage 1 tune. You didn't change anything physical and the dealership is only looking for physical stuff.

 

Before you can diagnose this, you have to clean up alot of that oil. Then look again after ad rive and figure out where the oil is exactly coming from.

(Updated 8/22/17)

2005 Outback FMT

Running on Electrons

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MY GUESS

 

You have had a very slight leak for a very long time. You have not been hitting much boost till stage1 and then you started getting on the car a lot more. The higher pressure is forcing more oil through the leak probably at the oil return tube.

 

I know what MSprank is talking about and if you need a hand finding the leak, let me know.

 

Don't freak out yet and don't go running to Subaru just yet. At least lets get that turbo heat shield off, get some orange-oil degreaser, spray it clean a bit and figure out what is going on.

 

No loss of power and no wierdness leads me to believe it is just a minor leak that has gotten worse.

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thanks guys, After doing an Oil change last night i took it for a spin, I boost and boost! and see if anything change on the sound of my turbo, power loss and any some kind of noise/feel hat I never enocunter before....Surprisingly nothing.

I took it again this morning and I did the same thing and everything is normal....I cleaned up some of the oil I can reach and only a Minor spot of oil I see where i wiped it from....Its the spot on the 2nd pic. Looks like its dripping from somewhere....Luckily there is no Oil leaking constantly like you'll see it all over the placeor on the floor. As you mention It does look like its been like it for awhile or since my last Oil change and just found out right now.

 

If someone can lend me a hand to look at it since I dont have any knowledge of taking things apart, that will be appreciated and will buy you lunch/beer for any troubles.

 

 

Other thing that got to my head is maybe I overfill it?

The book says 4.2 quarts and this is the 2nd time I put 4 3/4 quarts of oil...Will that be connected to this?

 

So Stage 1 map will be ok to take it to the dealership b4 they void my warranty?

 

Thanks guys, I need all the help/advice I can get before this thing gets worse!

 

I knew you guys been under the LEGACY car more than any other mechanic in the dealership and very knowledgeable than they are !! :);)

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My car is now on Renick Subaru and found out that the Turbo inlet have a minor Oil leak...they will replace it and Hopefully thats it, Also They are resurfacing the rotors and replacing the brake pads all covered by warranty!

 

Yaaay for me! lol

 

Thanks for the all the advice!

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My car is now on Renick Subaru and found out that the Turbo inlet have a minor Oil leak...they will replace it and Hopefully thats it, Also They are resurfacing the rotors and replacing the brake pads all covered by warranty!

 

Yaaay for me! lol

 

Thanks for the all the advice!

 

Banjo bolt????????

"Belief does not make truth. Evidence makes truth. And belief does not make evidence."
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yeh It might be the Banjo bolt but im not sure which one it is....I searched and it does have a recall but Im not sure if they did the recall on mine.

 

I put the map back to stock (thanks to Shamar) and man....I thought there isnt much difference between Stock and Stage 1 until I drove my car yesterday with a Stock map. Stock is freaking sloowww!! LOL

 

Anyway Im not gonna get my car back until thursday or worst friday, Im driving a freaking Loaner Cobalt right now lol

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Drive it like you stole it. I am famous for jumping rentals. Let me drive it. I will give it back with 5000 extra miles on the odometer, steel belts showing through, no brakes left and I will never leave the parking lot.
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  • 9 months later...
Probably the banjo at the top of the turbo. Its hard pipe OEM. There was a TSB/recall because they were leaking. Supposed to install a brace. Maybe this is what happened.

 

Don't mean to hijack but I noticed what looks like a leak from my turbo. I can sometimes smell burnt oil when stopped at a light. The attached picture is a top view.

 

I'm new to the Subaru world, just recently acquiring this 05 GT Wagon 5spd. It has 110K miles on it with all the service records but none indicating any turbo line work.

 

If anyone can fill me in on what could be leaking (I can only assume it's the banjo bolt washer) I would appreciate it. Is this a leak onto the turbine housing? A Subaru specialist shop seems to think the seals are shot and I need to replace the turbo.

OilLeak.thumb.jpg.64e7edd912d1eca34fbd8dc733f53000.jpg

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My car is now on Renick Subaru and found out that the Turbo inlet have a minor Oil leak...they will replace it and Hopefully thats it, Also They are resurfacing the rotors and replacing the brake pads all covered by warranty!

 

Yaaay for me! lol

 

Thanks for the all the advice!

 

 

a catch can would have solved the oil leak.. but, you wouldnt have known about the vacume leakkkk

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  • 8 years later...
I have an oil leak on my 05 LGT that i cant find.i did the valve cover gaskets and cam seals and I found out its coming from my turbo, I had a split hose and i fixed it but its still smoking is there any main things that leak on the turbos?
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