[spadefoot]

This is my first post. Thanks for all the great information.

I have an oil leak or leaks coming from behind my engine somewhere. Was hoping it was my oilpan, but looking on this site has got me thinking its the separator plate. Once I verify that it's not the pan, I am thinking of pulling my engine to do the job. I'm also going to change my clutch at the same time, probably timing belt(even though it was changed 20k miles ago, valve cover gaskets, oil pump o-ring, etc. I've had this car for about a year without any problems but the leaks. My questions:

1. Is pulling the engine the right move or should I just go from underneath and take out the tranny?

2. While I have the engine out, should I change the head gaskets? I don't know if they were ever changed. I have no evidence of blown gaskets so far.

3. If I change the head gaskets, do I have to remove the cams, even if I have the engine out or does that have nothing to do with it? (apparently there is some bolt that's hard to get to)

4. How do I tell what phase engine I have?

I have a 1999 Subaru Legacy Outback 2.5L. Apparently there are two phases for this year.

Do I have a SOHC or DOHC?

Thanks!!!

 

[subiesailor]

If your going to pull the engine and you have tested the Head gaskets and have a leak then makes sense you would do the whole deal and drop a nearly new engine back into the car when your done. Labor is the largest cost and given your doing it your self then its just a fun winter project right?

Do some digging and get the shop manual for it!

 

[spadefoot]

Got the shop manual already. Thing is huge. Like 3000 pages! Don't have leaky head gaskets...yet.

 

[RobLog]

1. Is pulling the engine the right move or should I just go from underneath and take out the tranny?

If you have access to a lift, taking out the tranny is probably easier. Otherwise, I'd pull the engine.

3. If I change the head gaskets, do I have to remove the cams,

If you have the DOHC engine, and you probably do, then yes you have to remove the cams as they cover the head bolts. But by the time you get that far into the engine, it's not that big of a deal.

4. How do I tell what phase engine I have?

 

[spadefoot]

Any other input?

 

[MikeC5]

I would pull the engine and do head gaskets while I had it out and so much easier to get to them. I agree on the clutch. Timing belt may be a bit overboard since they aren't that difficult to do in-situ. Were the rollers replaced too?

 

[spadefoot]

Not sure if the rollers were replaced. What exactly are the rollers?

 

[Storkiln]

I think Mike is referring to the pulleys along the TB.

 

[MikeC5]

Yes. It's a good idea to take a close look at these since if one seizes it will most likely take out the belt along the way.

 

[spadefoot]

So should I change the gaskets or not? I have no signs of failure yet. I have 143K miles on it. I'm pretty sure I have the phase 1 engine.

 

[spadefoot]

At this point, I think I'm going the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" route.