Head gasket might be blown

10

Asked by aaa2nd Dec 12, 2015 at 09:06 AM about the 2001 Subaru Outback

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I recently had an oil change and noticed oil puddles in the driveway. I
Checked the oil stick and it was way overfull! Took to my mechanic and we
did an oil change. Oil was a strange consistency. Didn't see any antifreeze
or notice any fuel smell but I'm no mechanic. Put additive in radiator to seal
things up. Drove it a bit and then it sat overnight. I checked the dipstick this
morning and it looks like there is double the amount of oil in the
pan.??????

3 Answers

157,115

If it is making oil it is either fuel or coolant. Most likely coolant at the rate it made the oil. Head gasket issues are common with Subaru.

2 people found this helpful.

At the age of your car it is probably due for new head gaskets. Engine oil and coolant make a strange looking gooey brown to yellow mixture that does not look like oil. If you have new head gaskets installed have an experienced mechanic do it and use multi-layer head gaskets like the 5-star brand. It is best to pull the engine to do it right and while you are at it, have the timing belt and water pump replaced.

47,960

Hang on...! Maybe you're wrench overflled the crankcase so badly that it's foaming...which can look weird. Before you get all freaked out drain and refill the crankcase with 4.5 qts oil (ignore the filter), and check operation. If you don't overheat your HGs are probably fine. If not, it's far more important to send the heads out for pressure testing and flattening than to change the water pump, if funds are tight. Frankly, in the salt belt a 2001 is much too old to warrant this level of investment. Check for unibody corrosion carefully before putting $1,5+k into it.

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