Add another one to the oil leak list

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by roy826

And yes I have been S2000 shopping but just to much wore out junk out there now days. That car has run its course unless Honda resumes building it.

This sentence is very very telling. I think you have a much different standard for what's required to maintain a road car than the rest of us.

Most of us treat this as a budget sports car, coolant evaporates (it's made of water after all), sheet metal expands and contracts and makes noise (physics), and engines are greasy and oily (no seal is perfect). Nothing you've complained about after you've owned the car for a significant amount of time causes most of the rest of us any concern at all except for the outlier cases.

I'm sorry you've had a bad experience but I believe you just came in with expectations that didn't match the product (and I agree with your assessment of it being a Subaru thing, from what I can tell the Toyota's designed sports cars have a bit more polish, but they haven't done one in over a decade so not really relevant), I'd recommend checking out some nice used Cayman's and Boxsters, they should have the quality you're looking for.

Edit: 42k miles and over 2.5 years in, my complaint is that coilpacks don't hold up to track abuse and factory alignment needs around a thousand bucks to truly fix for track/autox duty.

[fumanchu1]

Yes Roy because your car had an issue that must mean that across the line they are all shit. All my buddy's Hondas burn oil must mean they are all shit also. Intel made a few faulty processors scrap the company.

I get you are angry and understandably so, maybe not knock an entire brand of product because of one bad experience.

Shit I've had bad Gibson, Fenders and Martin guitar, it happens yet these companies are still some of the highly regarded manufacturers for guitars... Same goes for Subaru, you may have had a lemon, but that doesn't mean the company is shit.

Does it mean your engine(only this one not as a whole) is shit, probably but your issue does not define the brand/model. Get the stick out of your behind and move on.

Also what bikes do you own, I've had issues, with ducatti's before must mean they are complete shit, same for Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda, kawa, etc.

You have a one off issue that is not the common issue(issue that is normal for a new production model btw) get over yourself and either drive/tow the car to another dealer, keep it and fix it, or sell it with full disclosure just stop slandering an entire brand because of your bad experience (singular might I add) you are not the center of the universe nor the worldwide authority on what makes a product good or not (for everything that you own I can find several people who have had issues with the product, whether it's a car, a blowdryer or space shuttle)

[fumanchu1]

Although I may be hard pressed to find people with first hand experience in owning or using a space shuttle

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by fumanchu1

Shit I've had bad Gibson

There are good Gibson's?!


JK, there are however some people with very strong biases against certain rocketships, I know I've got my opinions...

[Fastbrew]

As an aside - I am amazed at how well my little "shitbox" has held up to everything I have thrown at it so far. I have over 50 mods - everything from sparkplugs, injectors, flex fuel, turbo, lions and tigers and bears - it hasn't given me an ounce of trouble yet. And - even if something does give - whatever - Not only am I expecting it - I deserve it!

[Stang70Fastback]

I have 18k miles on my car - those miles include quite a few autocrosses, and lots of ****ing around in the snow (including ice racing), and lots of hard driving year-round. I have yet to experience literally a SINGLE issue with this car. At all.

Actually, I take that back. A metal band clamp came loose on the exhaust, and I had to crawl under the car and spend 7 seconds tightening it back up.

Anyway, would you like to point out the data you have to back up your statement that the car is an "unreliable POS?" So far all I hear is that you have personally had problems with yours, and therefore that makes it a POS. If that's really all you're basing your opinion on, then it's no wonder your car is falling apart, because you sound like a complete idiot.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Fastbrew

lions and tigers and bears

oh my!



FWIW, keep me in the happy camper column. IDGAF what I have to tweak, tighten, rebuild, replace... My little baby's a keeper.

[Decay107]

I have a noise in my engine bay that sounds like crickets, these cars are garbage











No issues for me either, and I beat the piss out of my car.


**Edit I do seem to go through gas and rear tired al lot faster than most on here, maybe there is something wrong with my car?!?

[exE36M3]

Bought car at 12k, oil leaking. Tried to "live with it" because it's such a great car.

Car at 27k now, oil leaking onto header... fills interior cabin with oil smoke and smell when heater is on. Undriveable. Car in driveway for last month because Subaru service is booked up. Only a week to go before appointment.

Car life is good when everything is running well.
Sucks when not.

This is a not.

[HKz]

Originally Posted by roy826

I dis y cone here to argue the obvious. For the ones who can't see the forest for the trees good luck you're gonna need it.

Just do not like spending hard earned money on sub quality products no matter the brand. Some of you are just Internet guys anyway seen this all to common. One reason I hate mentioning anything on a forum positive or negative. Let's just agree to disagree.

If I feel compelled after the fix I may post up if not oh well good luck keeping oil and coolant in these things. Mean that in a good way.

Good day,

my first '13 frs 60 k miles no problems
my current '16 frs 25 k miles no problems

[ka-titties]

I just smelled burnt oil this morning on the way to work. Funny this old thread pops back up the same day.

I just downloaded the oil leak TSB and I'm going to look around at the suspect areas. The car is a 13MY with just under 9k miles.

[exE36M3]

Checking in on this... Subaru put a dye into the oil as they had a hard time finding it months ago.

Car went in at 25k to have a look-see. Couldn't find it. Dye added.
Car at 28k miles now, for another look-see, and with the dye, you can see the oil trails.

Note, the oil leak pretty much comes on with higher RPMs or long drives. The oil leaks from the valve cover onto the header (burning smell). It's not like the "old days" where it will leave spots on the driveway. You can't see it topside. You need to get under the car, pull the splash covers off to see the engine bottom.

But synthetic oil is REALLY light, doesn't attract a lot of dirt, doesn't discolor (get darker) like dino oil. So it's harder to find. The area will just look a little wet at best.

For a car with 28k miles, that's REALLY too early to spring oil leaks.

If you think you are having this issue, buy a $10 telescoping, dentist mirror with a light on Amazon.
It's easy to inspect your car this way than getting it on a lift or getting under it if you are in a pinch.

I'm going to the dealer again today with my mirror in hand to show them the issue.

[gravitylover]

Rather than using real gaskets there are a few places on this engine that they use silicone sealant. It doesn't last forever so leaks should be expected. I went to over 85k miles before anything developed but I'm not surprised you're seeing it at 28 and the one above at 9 doesn't surprise me either. Sometimes mechanical things need to be used more frequently to stay healthy.

[exE36M3]

Well I may have only 28k but I drive the piss out of my cars. (Think melted sidewall rubber and daily redlines). The boxer motor is a decent design but it's hard to fight gravity, vibration, and heat expansion when it comes to oil and where metal surfaces meet at a seam.

I wouldn't be surprised if every boxer motor leaks oil at the valve cover every 50k miles.

I'm not down on Subaru or the BRZ about an oil leak, but it sucks when the car's been in the shop for about 3 weeks in the 3 years I've had the car. No, 3 weeks isn't a show stopper but... if you were driving the beat-up Accord I've got now, you'd be hating life too. :P