Fluid leak

[Huskymaniac]

Originally Posted by ZMan

One good reason to keep it off - at least in the summer: the transmission runs cooler!

Yeah, I read that somewhere. I suppose I could put it on with the snow tires and take it off with the summer tires. So is there a known reason for it to be on in the summer too?

[scoobymal]

I removed mine over 4 years ago,no problems,car is much easier to work on

[dcarrb]

Originally Posted by Huskymaniac

Does the tranny fluid level need to be checked with the engine running?

Yes.

Dab a white paper towel in the puddle. Clear/greenish=coolant, reddish=ATF (from transmission cooler lines or power steering), brownish=oil. I second whoever suggested either cam or main seals. It is, after all, a Subaru.

Replace the engine undertray. There's no reason to leave it off.

dcb

[ZMan]

Originally Posted by dcarrb

Yes.



Replace the engine undertray. There's no reason to leave it off.

dcb

What are the reasons to leave it on?

[Manarius]

Originally Posted by ZMan

What are the reasons to leave it on?

To protect the rather vulnerable ATF cooler lines from damage They kinda just dangle down there and that pan keeps them from getting torn up.

[dcarrb]

Protection from road debris would be reason enough to keep the undertray. The aforementioned ATF cooing lines, the lower radiator hose, the bottom tank of the radiator... it wouldn't take much to damage any of these.

Years ago, on the Interstate, something punched a hole in the oil filter of my '68 Mustang. I heard and felt a THUNK under the car but figured it was nothing. Only when I lost power steering (due to engine oil spraying onto the drive belt) did I know I had a problem.

dcb

[Huskymaniac]

Originally Posted by dcarrb

Protection from road debris would be reason enough to keep the undertray. The aforementioned ATF cooing lines, the lower radiator hose, the bottom tank of the radiator... it wouldn't take much to damage any of these.

Years ago, on the Interstate, something punched a hole in the oil filter of my '68 Mustang. I heard and felt a THUNK under the car but figured it was nothing. Only when I lost power steering (due to engine oil spraying onto the drive belt) did I know I had a problem.

dcb

Thanks DCB. Hey, by the way, you gave the best advice when I was having the fluctuating temp gauge. Your advice and Trevor's support was a big help. Thanks.

[Huskymaniac]

Originally Posted by dcarrb

Yes.

Dab a white paper towel in the puddle. Clear/greenish=coolant, reddish=ATF (from transmission cooler lines or power steering), brownish=oil. I second whoever suggested either cam or main seals. It is, after all, a Subaru.

Replace the engine undertray. There's no reason to leave it off.

dcb

Here is a picture of the leak fluid and representative fluids. I didn't grab coolant because it is clearly an oil. All fluids are nice and high so it can't be a terrible leak even though it looks bad on the driveway. To me it looks most like the power steering fluid. There is a lot of moisture around the pump. Do I need to run the engine to get a good measure of the PS fluid? I ask because it is at the high level even when the engine is cold.

[Mike621]

I would replace your power steering o-ring. It is a relatively simple repair and can be done with the pump on the car.

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...teering+o-ring

[dcarrb]

Originally Posted by Huskymaniac

Thanks DCB. Hey, by the way, you gave the best advice when I was having the fluctuating temp gauge. Your advice and Trevor's support was a big help. Thanks.

Don't go getting the idea that I know anything.

Mop-up the top of the power steering reservoir and all around as best you can. It's easy to overfill and once done, fluid will blow out past the cap. Also check the return hose (transmission cooler-type rubber hose that runs from the PS cooler to the PS pump) for seepage/failure. One of mine was a crumbling mess when I bought the car.

dcb

[Manarius]

Originally Posted by dcarrb

Don't go getting the idea that I know anything.

Mop-up the top of the power steering reservoir and all around as best you can. It's easy to overfill and once done, fluid will blow out past the cap. Also check the return hose (transmission cooler-type rubber hose that runs from the PS cooler to the PS pump) for seepage/failure. One of mine was a crumbling mess when I bought the car.

dcb

Or just check the whole darn cooler

Wanna guess whose rusted out and was putting ATF all over the place?

[dcarrb]

Originally Posted by Manarius

Or just check the whole darn cooler
Wanna guess whose rusted out and was putting ATF all over the place?

I would expect that to be a problem exclusive to heavy road salt regions. But yeah, if tracing a leak, the cooler is worth a look.

dcb

[Huskymaniac]

The mechanic saw both a slow engine oil drip and the moisture around the PS pump. I told him that my "spot test" revealed a reddish tint so I was pretty convinced it was more the PS fluid than the engine oil. So he put a dye in the PS fluid and I will bring it back in a couple of days to see if we can find evidence of the PS fluid.

[kwren]

Originally Posted by Huskymaniac

The mechanic saw both a slow engine oil drip and the moisture around the PS pump. I told him that my "spot test" revealed a reddish tint so I was pretty convinced it was more the PS fluid than the engine oil. So he put a dye in the PS fluid and I will bring it back in a couple of days to see if we can find evidence of the PS fluid.

.................................................

Keith

[Crazy_pilot]

Originally Posted by kwren

.................................................

Keith

Fluorescent dye. Put in fluid, wait for it to leak, look with black light. If you see glowing trails, you picked the right fluid.