Leaking SVX/ Synthetic Oil

Anyone have the part number for the seals that have to be replaced on my SVX? Anyone do this work themselves?

1. Front Crank Seals (Dealer wants $490.00 to replace)
2. Front Side Differential Crank Seals (Dealer wants 250.00 to replace)
3. Both Belts (Dealer wants 85.00 to replace)

Of course the $ does not include parts!

Could this be from using a different oil (MOBIL 1 SNY)? I started using MOBIL 1 SYN oil about 3 months ago? I have done 1 oil change ever since. Now why am I getting leaky seals all of a sudden?

[Noir]

mr. littell,

i just changed all my seals a few weeks ago. the seals and gaskets are cheap, but the labor in getting it apart and replacing them is what will cost you. i think the seals i bought did not cost more than 30 bucks (i don't have the info on me) but you can call liberty subaru in new jersey and tell them that you want the car and driver discount and they'll tell you what you need. talk to russ.

the belts are about 80 bucks to buy i think.....once again i don't have the invoice in front of me.

i took my car to the mechanic to get it checked out. i then took the list to a trusted mechanic. my labor cost was a little over 1000 dollars but it included all the seals, 2 front axles, rear bearings, rotors and brakes installation, transmission cooler installation, tune up, oil change, hose replacement, and replacing the belts and water pump.

if you can find a good mechanic and get the parts yourself you'll probably save a lot of money. i went to a few dealers and i do not trust them all that much.

[ensteele]

John

Some members have mentioned before that when they changed over to synthetic oil on an older car that they have had oil leaks. You may want to go back to regular oil and see if the leaks stop. If it does, just change the oil on a regular time schedule, and everything should be ok. Some may disagree with me, but that is what I would try. I would rather go back to the non synthetic and not have to do all of the engine work, but that is just me. Good luck.

Yeah, I hear that Snythetic oil finds places to leak. Now I'm pretty skeptical about continuing the Synthetic. So weighing the differences here... using Synthetic is better for the engine (long term), but not the seals. Anyone have simular experiances?

Now Earl,..Your looking at it as if I have 4 SVX on my Driveway!!...

Thanks!

John

[ensteele]

No John

I don't want engine leaks whether I have one or more SVXs.

I have heard that that is a problem when you change on the older cars and the seals have not been exposed to the synthetic. You could try sawdust and see if that would slow the leaks!

Originally posted by JLittell
Yeah, I hear that Snythetic oil finds places to leak. Now I'm pretty skeptical about continuing the Synthetic. So weighing the differences here... using Synthetic is better for the engine (long term), but not the seals. Anyone have simular experiances?

i switched to full synthetic back in august and have had 2 oil changes since then, with no problems that I know of--but they did warn me before i switched that it might leak. i've got a 96 with 84k on it.

now, if i could just get everything else to stop breaking, i'd be set

if it were me, i'd go back to the regular oil and spend the saved repair costs on new rims

[Mr. Pockets]

When I switched to synthetic, my car definitely started dripping more. It had never dripped any oil, but after switching to Mobil-1, it started coming out of a few different seals.

I live with it. The leaks really aren't bad, it doesn't lose an appreciable amount of oil and I'd rather have the Mobil-1 in my car.

Your mileage will vary.

[Earthworm]

I use synthetic because I've seen how well it handles extreme temperatures compared to regular oil.

Even with a minor leak, if you have to add a bit now and then your engine will probably last longer because of it. That's the only reason I can come up with for my Justy.

[lee]

Switching to a synthetic in an older engine/transmission is always a bit of a gamble as to leaks. What generally happens is the synthetic (because of it's basic nature) cleans off the gunk build up at the seals. If the seals are the least bit hard/shrunk, a leak develops. These leaks should not be construed to mean the bearing surfaces are doing better or worse - that's a different topic. Switching back to a conventional oil will probably not stop the leak now since the seal has already been cleaned.

I think you have three options: 1) live with the leak, it probably won't get a lot worse until the seal really lets go; 2) replace the seals; 3) try a seal conditioner. As to the last option here's a company that gets lots of good reviews on an oil forum I frequent... http://www.auto-rx.com./

to look at the forum and read their opinions go to.... http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi

Lots of opinions there like anyplace on the net, but enough people have said good things I believe it for auto-rx.

[Subafreak]

It's probly just time to change the seals. I'v only run regular oil in mine and with 117k on it the cam seals are starting to seep, and I changed the valve cover gaskets at 100k. So I'm gona do my Tbelt and camseals this weekend so I can be leak free again, except for that seeping rack of course.

[lhopp77]

I have used Castrol Blend (Syn/natural) for over 150K miles in one of my cars and still not leaks. It had 50K on it when I got it. Even now when I change my oil it is only slightly discolored. Change it every 3K miles.

Lee

SVXx4

OK, So I made the decision to stick with the Mobil 1. I will have to get everything resealed (front crank seals) in the next few months. I did find this cool metal emblem and attached it below the "H-6"...

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/fil...ttell/7595.JPG

[Chicane]

FYI, synthetic is not 'better' for your engine in the long run. Basically, synthetic provides no additional protection or lessens wear at all... the only GOOD thing about synthetic is that it does not break down as quickly, and turn into sludge like regular oil. This is why you can go a tad longer between changes when using synthetic.

- Rob

[LarryIII]

I switched to Mobil 1 oil & ATF when I got my '92. I just did it today for the '94. After I switched , the '92 had oil & ATF leaks. I kept the program going and it's about a year now. The leaks have stopped on the '92.

Before I did this, I spoke to the guys in the Mobil Research Lab located in Paulsboro, NJ (Phila area). The research labs have since been moved to Texas.

The Mobil guys said that the petroleum based oils build up in the pores of the elastomers that gaskets and seals are made from. This causes them to swell. When you switch to synth. oils, they wash the old oils out of the gasket/seal pores. This causes gaskets/seals to shrink, which causes the leaks. The seals will eventually re-swell and the leaks will stop.

So to sum up..... the leaks stopped after 9 mos. to a year on my 92.

It takes a lot of patience and newspaper in a cardboard box under the car on the garage floor.