QuestionHello. Thank you for your quick reply.. I appologize for my question to be confusing, I have had so many issues with this car, I wasnt sure where to start..! The current problem with the car is : (1). after re-install of headgasket, the car engine is now producing alot of smoke, which appears to be coming from the bottom of the head gasket/ head. My mechanic friend that is doing the work advised me that it appears to be oil, coming from the bottom of the head/gasket area. My subaru dealership mechanic which participated in helping repair the car, advised me this is just oil in the exhaust, and should burn off within a few minutes, but it has been closer to an hour and the smoke is very bad. I had the head checked before re-install, and the person advised me the head was not cracked, but yet there appears to be oil coming out of the head/gasket area. (2). Before we removed the head from my car, I had "steam" coming from the engine, due to a water intake manifold leak, which we replaced new O rings. We did not have oil coming out from the head/gasket area that is occuring now. Is there a way to check the head for cracks while the head is installed, or would it have to be removed again? Do you think that this oil we are seeing is just that, due to the oil seeping into the exhaust during head removal? During the first head gasket repair a year ago, I was also advised the head was checked and no cracks. That time the engine did overheat. During the past year, the engine did not overheat, however it did run above "normal" at times. We then could smell radiator fluid, and it was visible that it was leaking, and assumed it was the head gasket again, so we took it apart and replaced the head gaskets, only to find out it wasnt the head gasket, it was the water intake manifold o ring! We did not take the valve cover off this time. My mechanic that is doing the work at his home, checked last night, due to all the engine smoke, and said he thinks it is a cracked head, and not just oil that got into the exhaust.. ?? Thank you for any suggestions or adive you can offer... Terri
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...
-----Question-----
hello. aprox 1 yr ago, a local repair shop damaged my car engine, and had to replace at their cost. head gasket blew, replaced at my cost due to the repair shop wouldnt honor the warranty. one year later, car is heating up to 3/4 , just above half way . previously replaced thermostat, radiator, water pump and head gaskets. steam coming from engine while driving. had been told was head gasket, so had it replaced, again. that wasnt the problem, was then told it was the water intake manifold. had new gaskets/o rings replaced. now car is ready to start. start the engine, and smoke coming from engine, appears to be oil from head, leaking on to the exhaust. subaru mechanic advised me this would "burn off". let car idle for several minutes (25 min), and still smoking, more than ever. smoking starts aprox. 1-2 min after startup. smoke also out the tailpipe (was advised this is due to oil getting into the exhaust while the head was taken off). engine does run smooth however. prior to head gasket re-install, was advised head was not cracked. no visible crack. have spent thousands trying to repair this engine (the engine the repair shop (non subaru) had to replace due to they damaged the crankshaft on my engine aprox. one year ago, by not tightening the harmonic balance bolt)...what would cause this smoking of the engine? cracked head (was advised was not cracked)? do you know of a reputable used subaru head sales? (if indeed this is a cracked head).. is there a way to check a head for cracks if it is still installed? dont want to go through the cost of having everything taken apart again. all bolts were torqued to specs..recent repair done by mechanic friend at his house, also paid subaru dealership mechanic to come after hours to help. thank you for any suggestions...
-----Answer-----
Wow,You have gone through a lot.1994 legacy 2.2l are not prone for cracked heads .Im not sure if I completely understand all of your issues but sounds like 1. external oil leaking onto exhaust.This would most likely be from the valve cover gasket or the head gasket.2. Smoke coming out of exhaust.If the heads were removed while the engine was still in the car and the exhaust was only dropped down then yes the exhaust will fill up with oil and coolant when the cyl head is removed.That is a very sloppy way to approach the repair.The oil and coolant will take a very long time to burn out of the cat and can damage it as well.If the car is running ok and not overheating now i would let it run for hours and drive it as well to get the oil and coolant out of the exhaust.Also be prepared for cat and or o2 sensor failure as a result of coolant contaminating it.Hope that helps, im not sure if i understood the current state of the vehicle.
AnswerHi Terri
The only 2.2l cyl head I have seen crack was cracked in between the spark plug and exhaust valve.A cracked head really wouldn't cause an external oil leak that I have ever seen.Things on a 2.2l that can leak oil in that area are the rear camshaft plug ,the front camshaft support O- ring and the cam seal on the left side cylinder head.On the right side cylinder head you could have a leak from the rear camshaft support O-ring or the cam seal.These would cause an external leak that would leak onto the exhaust if the leaks were severe enough.They also could; to the non Subaru experienced Technician or person for that matter look like it was coming from the headgasket.The smoke out of the tail pipe.It will take hours and some times a day of running the car if the Exhaust was filled up with oil or coolant.It sounds like a smoking situation was created in repairing the cyl head gaskets so I would suggest the problem may lye with the repair.I know thats not what you want to hear though.One last thought is maybe the head gasket is leaking as a result of the head bolts being over stretched is doesn't happen often but i wont say never.Hope that helps you
