We have a 2001 Forester with about 70k miles which had an oil change one
week ago at the neighborhood EZ Lube. Yesterday, with only 40 miles since
the oil was changed, I noticed after turning off the engine that steam
appeared to be coming from the engine. I opened the hood and saw some oil
that appeared to have been cooking on the exhaust system. I also noticed
that the oil filter seemed to look older than one week. However, the leak is
on the opposite side of the engine where the oil filter is located.

Here are some pictures.

http://www.pbase.com/mrfixit/repairs/subaru

Any thoughts as to where this leak might be coming from or whether or not
this oil filter looks more than one week old? I'd like to take the car back
to the EZ Lube place knowing if this problem might be related to the oil
change.

Thanks for your reply.

David Farber
L.A., CA

Filter looks older than one week to me. Where was the oil changed before?
Ask to see a new oil filter at the EZ Lube to see if it is the same brand.

Many places won't have a Subaru filter, and will maybe change the oil anyway
without telling you.

They may have spilled oil down the side, or check the boot on the axle to
make sure it is not leaking. Looks thick for oil in the photo.

Blair

"David Farber" <farberbear.unspam@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1366cf893qi1a27@corp.supernews.com...
> We have a 2001 Forester with about 70k miles which had an oil change one
> week ago at the neighborhood EZ Lube. Yesterday, with only 40 miles since
> the oil was changed, I noticed after turning off the engine that steam
> appeared to be coming from the engine. I opened the hood and saw some oil
> that appeared to have been cooking on the exhaust system. I also noticed
> that the oil filter seemed to look older than one week. However, the leak
> is on the opposite side of the engine where the oil filter is located.
>
> Here are some pictures.
>
> http://www.pbase.com/mrfixit/repairs/subaru
>
> Any thoughts as to where this leak might be coming from or whether or not
> this oil filter looks more than one week old? I'd like to take the car
> back to the EZ Lube place knowing if this problem might be related to the
> oil change.
>
> Thanks for your reply.
>
> David Farber
> L.A., CA
>

The previous oil change was also at an EZ Lube although it was at a
different location.

How do I check the boot on the axle for leaks? I remember seeing a hose
clamp there. What type of lubricant is used there?

Thanks for your reply,

David Farber
L.A., CA

"Blair Baucom" <jbbaucom@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bcSdnaiVn8OZqP7bnZ2dnUVZ_tijnZ2d@insightbb.co m...
> Filter looks older than one week to me. Where was the oil changed before?
> Ask to see a new oil filter at the EZ Lube to see if it is the same brand.
>
> Many places won't have a Subaru filter, and will maybe change the oil
> anyway without telling you.
>
> They may have spilled oil down the side, or check the boot on the axle to
> make sure it is not leaking. Looks thick for oil in the photo.
>
> Blair
>
> "David Farber" <farberbear.unspam@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:1366cf893qi1a27@corp.supernews.com...
>> We have a 2001 Forester with about 70k miles which had an oil change one
>> week ago at the neighborhood EZ Lube. Yesterday, with only 40 miles since
>> the oil was changed, I noticed after turning off the engine that steam
>> appeared to be coming from the engine. I opened the hood and saw some oil
>> that appeared to have been cooking on the exhaust system. I also noticed
>> that the oil filter seemed to look older than one week. However, the leak
>> is on the opposite side of the engine where the oil filter is located.
>>
>> Here are some pictures.
>>
>> http://www.pbase.com/mrfixit/repairs/subaru
>>
>> Any thoughts as to where this leak might be coming from or whether or not
>> this oil filter looks more than one week old? I'd like to take the car
>> back to the EZ Lube place knowing if this problem might be related to the
>> oil change.
>>
>> Thanks for your reply.
>>
>> David Farber
>> L.A., CA
>>
>
>

"David Farber" <farberbear.unspam@aol.com> writes:

> We have a 2001 Forester with about 70k miles which had an oil change one
> week ago at the neighborhood EZ Lube. Yesterday, with only 40 miles since
> the oil was changed, I noticed after turning off the engine that steam
> appeared to be coming from the engine. I opened the hood and saw some oil
> that appeared to have been cooking on the exhaust system. I also noticed
> that the oil filter seemed to look older than one week. However, the leak is
> on the opposite side of the engine where the oil filter is located.
>
> Here are some pictures.
>
> http://www.pbase.com/mrfixit/repairs/subaru
>
> Any thoughts as to where this leak might be coming from or whether or not
> this oil filter looks more than one week old? I'd like to take the car back
> to the EZ Lube place knowing if this problem might be related to the oil
> change.
>
> Thanks for your reply.

Regardless of the root cause, I'd go back and raise holy hell, perhaps
starting with one level up from the actual store. That they charged
you for an oil change service and apparently didn't replace teh oil
filter is a hangin' crime.

As for where teh oil is coming from--I can't really tell from teh
pictures, but is it possible they overfilled the oil? What does a
subie do when there's too much oil? These are teh questions that
might guide my search.

Good luck. Your story has reaffirmed my commitment to doing my own
oil changes (pain in the ass though it is).

--
--
Todd H.
2001 Legacy Outback Wagon, 2.5L H-4
Chicago, Illinois USA

You sure that is the engine oil filter and not the trans filter?

"David Farber" <farberbear.unspam@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1366cf893qi1a27@corp.supernews.com...
> We have a 2001 Forester with about 70k miles which had an oil change one
> week ago at the neighborhood EZ Lube. Yesterday, with only 40 miles since
> the oil was changed, I noticed after turning off the engine that steam
> appeared to be coming from the engine. I opened the hood and saw some oil
> that appeared to have been cooking on the exhaust system. I also noticed
> that the oil filter seemed to look older than one week. However, the leak
> is on the opposite side of the engine where the oil filter is located.
>
> Here are some pictures.
>
> http://www.pbase.com/mrfixit/repairs/subaru
>
> Any thoughts as to where this leak might be coming from or whether or not
> this oil filter looks more than one week old? I'd like to take the car
> back to the EZ Lube place knowing if this problem might be related to the
> oil change.
>
> Thanks for your reply.
>
> David Farber
> L.A., CA
>

I think you are right Paul, my manual Forester does not have a filter next
to the half shaft like in his photo, and his is marked "AT".

My engine oil filter is at the front, behind the radiator, behind the cover
marked "engine oil filter & drain".

Did notice 3 of my fasteners are missing on my cover, need to find a part
number.

Blair

"Paul" <pgalough@NYCAP.rr.com> wrote in message
news:46635973$0$3192$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> You sure that is the engine oil filter and not the trans filter?
>
> "David Farber" <farberbear.unspam@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:1366cf893qi1a27@corp.supernews.com...
>> We have a 2001 Forester with about 70k miles which had an oil change one
>> week ago at the neighborhood EZ Lube. Yesterday, with only 40 miles since
>> the oil was changed, I noticed after turning off the engine that steam
>> appeared to be coming from the engine. I opened the hood and saw some oil
>> that appeared to have been cooking on the exhaust system. I also noticed
>> that the oil filter seemed to look older than one week. However, the leak
>> is on the opposite side of the engine where the oil filter is located.
>>
>> Here are some pictures.
>>
>> http://www.pbase.com/mrfixit/repairs/subaru
>>
>> Any thoughts as to where this leak might be coming from or whether or not
>> this oil filter looks more than one week old? I'd like to take the car
>> back to the EZ Lube place knowing if this problem might be related to the
>> oil change.
>>
>> Thanks for your reply.
>>
>> David Farber
>> L.A., CA
>>
>
>

The picture of the filter is not the oil filter. It look like the AT
transmission filter. The oil filter is located on the passengers side, at
the right front lower corner of the engine up under the splash shield.
Clean the engine in what ever way you choose, (spotless) check oil level and
see what happens after a drive around town. Then look again and see if it
reappears.

Good Luck

"David Farber" <farberbear.unspam@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1366cf893qi1a27@corp.supernews.com...
> We have a 2001 Forester with about 70k miles which had an oil change one
> week ago at the neighborhood EZ Lube. Yesterday, with only 40 miles since
> the oil was changed, I noticed after turning off the engine that steam
> appeared to be coming from the engine. I opened the hood and saw some oil
> that appeared to have been cooking on the exhaust system. I also noticed
> that the oil filter seemed to look older than one week. However, the leak
> is on the opposite side of the engine where the oil filter is located.
>
> Here are some pictures.
>
> http://www.pbase.com/mrfixit/repairs/subaru
>
> Any thoughts as to where this leak might be coming from or whether or not
> this oil filter looks more than one week old? I'd like to take the car
> back to the EZ Lube place knowing if this problem might be related to the
> oil change.
>
> Thanks for your reply.
>
> David Farber
> L.A., CA
>
Come on Dave...LOOK at your own picture...does that LOOK like clean engine
oil to you? Does it even look like dirty engine oil to you?
Sure LOOKS live CV joint GREASE to me......

Porgy Tirebiter wrote:
> "David Farber" <farberbear.unspam@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:1366cf893qi1a27@corp.supernews.com...
>
>>We have a 2001 Forester with about 70k miles which had an oil change one
>>week ago at the neighborhood EZ Lube. Yesterday, with only 40 miles since
>>the oil was changed, I noticed after turning off the engine that steam
>>appeared to be coming from the engine. I opened the hood and saw some oil
>>that appeared to have been cooking on the exhaust system. I also noticed
>>that the oil filter seemed to look older than one week. However, the leak
>>is on the opposite side of the engine where the oil filter is located.
>>
>>Here are some pictures.
>>
>>http://www.pbase.com/mrfixit/repairs/subaru
>>
>>Any thoughts as to where this leak might be coming from or whether or not
>>this oil filter looks more than one week old? I'd like to take the car
>>back to the EZ Lube place knowing if this problem might be related to the
>>oil change.
>>
>>Thanks for your reply.
>>
>>David Farber
>>L.A., CA
>>
>
> Come on Dave...LOOK at your own picture...does that LOOK like clean engine
> oil to you? Does it even look like dirty engine oil to you?
> Sure LOOKS live CV joint GREASE to me......
>
>
>

yep.


I'd like to say THANX for actually taking a picture of an issue that is
not uncommon - a CV boot slinging its contents onto the exhaust making
an awful stink. We get that issue several times a year on the newsgroup.

Oh, they say there's no need to ever change the AT filter. Its there to
catch particles after final assembly. I SUPPOSE it would'nt hurt to
replace it if the case were ever cracked open for a repair - or unless
it was damaged of course. That's why it looks 6-7 years old - it is!.


Carl


--
to reply, change ( .not) to ( .net)

"David Farber" <farberbear.unspam@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1368f1mfooqpcb9@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "Porgy Tirebiter" <biteme@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:IEK8i.14289$C96.1921@newssvr23.news.prodigy.n et...
>>
>> "David Farber" <farberbear.unspam@aol.com> wrote in message
>> news:1366cf893qi1a27@corp.supernews.com...
>> > We have a 2001 Forester with about 70k miles which had an oil change
>> > one
>> > week ago at the neighborhood EZ Lube. Yesterday, with only 40 miles
> since
>> > the oil was changed, I noticed after turning off the engine that steam
>> > appeared to be coming from the engine. I opened the hood and saw some
> oil
>> > that appeared to have been cooking on the exhaust system. I also
>> > noticed
>> > that the oil filter seemed to look older than one week. However, the
> leak
>> > is on the opposite side of the engine where the oil filter is located.
>> >
>> > Here are some pictures.
>> >
>> > http://www.pbase.com/mrfixit/repairs/subaru
>> >
>> > Any thoughts as to where this leak might be coming from or whether or
> not
>> > this oil filter looks more than one week old? I'd like to take the car
>> > back to the EZ Lube place knowing if this problem might be related to
> the
>> > oil change.
>> >
>> > Thanks for your reply.
>> >
>> > David Farber
>> > L.A., CA
>> >
>> Come on Dave...LOOK at your own picture...does that LOOK like clean
>> engine
>> oil to you? Does it even look like dirty engine oil to you?
>> Sure LOOKS live CV joint GREASE to me......
>>
>>
>>
>
> The first two pictures, which are from the top looking down, show some
> black
> stuff that looks like oil to me. The fourth picture, which is from the
> bottom looking up, looks like grease. Either something from the outside
> spilled on it, or something from the inside leaked out. If the brown
> looking
> grease is cv joint grease, is that something that is serviced during a
> routine lubrication? Would a technician check and add grease to the joint?
>
> Thanks for your reply.
> --
> David Farber
> L.A., CA
>
>Dave......
What Porgie is telling you is this, The CV boot has a crack/slit/rip/tear or
hole in it. I agree, if you look at the pattern it's throwing it from the CV
boot.
It didnt come from "something" outside spilling on it (where did you come up
with THAT idea). If you cant tell the differance between Oil/Trans fluid and
grease dont open the hood.
It *APPEARS* that the boot needs to be replaced. Chances are that BOTH need
to be replaced.Don't waste time doing this as the CV joint will indeed fail
if you don't do something soon.
Don't expect the kids at Jiffy-Boob, Shit-Stop or Poop-Boys to be of any
real assistance on this, as it's way out of their league.
Your *Genuine* Subaru dealer will indeed "do you" on this, bring K-Y Jelly
or use some of that leaking grease for when you get the bill. Get a full
estimate BEFORE they touch it, it will help prevent the fist-fight after
it's fixed at the dealer.
*This is not a "check and add grease" issue*