Hi ,
My '99 Legacy Outback (120k miles) has a bad leak at the oil pan. The auto
parts place sold me a cork gasket, yet the dealer says to use Permatex
"form a gasket". I only want to do this once, does anyone recomend the RTV
over cork, or the other way around. I'm leaning towards the RTV.
Thanks
-Nick

Nick Lamendola wrote:

> Hi ,
> My '99 Legacy Outback (120k miles) has a bad leak at the oil pan. The auto
> parts place sold me a cork gasket, yet the dealer says to use Permatex
> "form a gasket". I only want to do this once, does anyone recomend the RTV
> over cork, or the other way around. I'm leaning towards the RTV.

Humm...

Do you know for sure that it's the oil pan
that's leaking and not the dread front crank
seal?

I'd hate to see you spend a lot of time on
the oil pan and not fix the problem.

Hi Jim,
Yes, the oil pan is definately leaking, but is it the only leak? No I don't
think so. I know the valve cover seals are just slightly leaking. How big
of a deal is it to replace the front crank seal? Is this behind the timing
belt covers?
It's almost time to replace the timing belt again. I was going to replace
the tensioner, oil pump seal and water pump while I was in there. Do you
know if the main seal is there too? If it is it sounds like it would be
easier to replace than the rear main seal, I bet you have to drop the
transmission to get at that.
Any help is aprreciated.

-Nick


"Jim Stewart" <jstewart@jkmicro.com> wrote in message
news:srqdnfbBE_N5gZ7bnZ2dnUVZ_v_inZ2d@omsoft.com.. .
> Nick Lamendola wrote:
>
>> Hi ,
>> My '99 Legacy Outback (120k miles) has a bad leak at the oil pan. The
>> auto parts place sold me a cork gasket, yet the dealer says to use
>> Permatex "form a gasket". I only want to do this once, does anyone
>> recomend the RTV over cork, or the other way around. I'm leaning towards
>> the RTV.
>
> Humm...
>
> Do you know for sure that it's the oil pan
> that's leaking and not the dread front crank
> seal?
>
> I'd hate to see you spend a lot of time on
> the oil pan and not fix the problem.
>

Jim,
No I haven't done that, that's a good idea. It looks like it's leaking right
at the flange, but I suppose a leak higher up will do just as you say. I
really don't want to tackle the rear seal. I'm very much hoping it is the
pan (I hope it's not wishful thinking). It is possible to really ID a seal
leak vs oil pan leak, externally? I figured I might have to go at it by
trial and error, and I was going to start with the oil pan. I'll get to the
front crank seal when I do the timing belt which may be in the next week or
two. I just can't stand the burnt oil/rubber smell when I'm stopped, and the
mess I making on my driveway. Not to mention the polluting I'm doing.
-Nick


"Jim Stewart" <jstewart@jkmicro.com> wrote in message
news:mKSdnYZkU8YhspnbnZ2dnUVZ_qmpnZ2d@omsoft.com.. .
> Nick Lamendola wrote:
>> Hi Jim,
>> Yes, the oil pan is definately leaking, but is it the only leak? No I
>> don't think so. I know the valve cover seals are just slightly leaking.
>> How big of a deal is it to replace the front crank seal? Is this behind
>> the timing belt covers?
>> It's almost time to replace the timing belt again. I was going to replace
>> the tensioner, oil pump seal and water pump while I was in there. Do you
>> know if the main seal is there too? If it is it sounds like it would be
>> easier to replace than the rear main seal, I bet you have to drop the
>> transmission to get at that.
>> Any help is aprreciated.
>
>
> Here's my long post on the subject:
>
> http://groups.google.com/group/alt.a...85098ab1eaf22a
>
> Have you gunked and pressure washed the pan to
> find the source of the leak? The oil seal looks
> just like a pan leak unless you get everything
> very clean and dry then watch for the oil.
>
> -jim
>
>
>
>> -Nick
>>
>>
>> "Jim Stewart" <jstewart@jkmicro.com> wrote in message
>> news:srqdnfbBE_N5gZ7bnZ2dnUVZ_v_inZ2d@omsoft.com.. .
>>
>>>Nick Lamendola wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Hi ,
>>>>My '99 Legacy Outback (120k miles) has a bad leak at the oil pan. The
>>>>auto parts place sold me a cork gasket, yet the dealer says to use
>>>>Permatex "form a gasket". I only want to do this once, does anyone
>>>>recomend the RTV over cork, or the other way around. I'm leaning towards
>>>>the RTV.
>>>
>>>Humm...
>>>
>>>Do you know for sure that it's the oil pan
>>>that's leaking and not the dread front crank
>>>seal?
>>>
>>>I'd hate to see you spend a lot of time on
>>>the oil pan and not fix the problem.
>>>
>>
>>

Nick Lamendola wrote:
> Jim,
> No I haven't done that, that's a good idea. It looks like it's leaking right
> at the flange, but I suppose a leak higher up will do just as you say. I
> really don't want to tackle the rear seal. I'm very much hoping it is the
> pan (I hope it's not wishful thinking). It is possible to really ID a seal
> leak vs oil pan leak, externally? I figured I might have to go at it by
> trial and error, and I was going to start with the oil pan. I'll get to the
> front crank seal when I do the timing belt which may be in the next week or
> two. I just can't stand the burnt oil/rubber smell when I'm stopped, and the
> mess I making on my driveway. Not to mention the polluting I'm doing.
> -Nick

Sorry I wasn't clear. The rear seal rarely gives
trouble. I was talking about the front seal.

Changing it isn't a 15 minute job, but it's way
easier than pulling the engine.

Clean everything off. I used gunk followed by
a pressure wash then get under the car with a
flashlight and see that everything is dry. Check
again the next day and you should know for sure
where it's coming from. No need to pull the pan
if that's not the problem.


>
> "Jim Stewart" <jstewart@jkmicro.com> wrote in message
> news:mKSdnYZkU8YhspnbnZ2dnUVZ_qmpnZ2d@omsoft.com.. .
>
>>Nick Lamendola wrote:
>>
>>>Hi Jim,
>>>Yes, the oil pan is definately leaking, but is it the only leak? No I
>>>don't think so. I know the valve cover seals are just slightly leaking.
>>>How big of a deal is it to replace the front crank seal? Is this behind
>>>the timing belt covers?
>>>It's almost time to replace the timing belt again. I was going to replace
>>>the tensioner, oil pump seal and water pump while I was in there. Do you
>>>know if the main seal is there too? If it is it sounds like it would be
>>>easier to replace than the rear main seal, I bet you have to drop the
>>>transmission to get at that.
>>>Any help is aprreciated.
>>
>>
>>Here's my long post on the subject:
>>
>>http://groups.google.com/group/alt.a...85098ab1eaf22a
>>
>>Have you gunked and pressure washed the pan to
>>find the source of the leak? The oil seal looks
>>just like a pan leak unless you get everything
>>very clean and dry then watch for the oil.
>>
>>-jim
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>-Nick
>>>
>>>
>>>"Jim Stewart" <jstewart@jkmicro.com> wrote in message
>>>news:srqdnfbBE_N5gZ7bnZ2dnUVZ_v_inZ2d@omsoft.co m...
>>>
>>>
>>>>Nick Lamendola wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Hi ,
>>>>>My '99 Legacy Outback (120k miles) has a bad leak at the oil pan. The
>>>>>auto parts place sold me a cork gasket, yet the dealer says to use
>>>>>Permatex "form a gasket". I only want to do this once, does anyone
>>>>>recomend the RTV over cork, or the other way around. I'm leaning towards
>>>>>the RTV.
>>>>
>>>>Humm...
>>>>
>>>>Do you know for sure that it's the oil pan
>>>>that's leaking and not the dread front crank
>>>>seal?
>>>>
>>>>I'd hate to see you spend a lot of time on
>>>>the oil pan and not fix the problem.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>

The pan has been re-glued w/ permatex. I did see one spot at the back that
looked like a possible sourse of a small leak. The oil pan wasn't glued on
very well, it took just a small rap with lead shot mallet for it to part
from the block. I really thought it would take more effort. It does look
like a front seal is leaking too, as I could see some oil at the bottom of
the time belt covers. That will be my next area to work on.
Thanks
-Nick

"AS" <donot@spame.com> wrote in message
news:aH0Nh.14513$PL.13830@newsread4.news.pas.earth link.net...
> It is very unlikely that the Oil pan gasket is leaking. The oil pan is
> glued and as far as i remember it does not have a gasket.
>
> Yes, I would recommend the permatex anytime. Cork gaskets normally lead
> to bending the oil pan causing leaks all over.
>
> Nick Lamendola wrote:
>
>> Hi ,
>> My '99 Legacy Outback (120k miles) has a bad leak at the oil pan. The
>> auto parts place sold me a cork gasket, yet the dealer says to use
>> Permatex "form a gasket". I only want to do this once, does anyone
>> recomend the RTV over cork, or the other way around. I'm leaning towards
>> the RTV.
>> Thanks
>> -Nick