General Tech / How To's / Installations Technical discussions about the USDM 2008+ WRX and WRX STi.

Oil Leak and hesitation, help!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-25-2009, 04:08 PM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
ScoobySon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 809
Car Info: 2006 WRX STI
Unhappy Oil Leak and hesitation, help!

Yesturday drove to Aptos to meet with family, everything seemed ok, been noticing a tiny hint of a burning smell. Then, today, driving back over the 17, my car seemed to be hesitating under 3000 rpm, no boost, and even has somewhat lack of power. Although, wide open it seems ok, but was scared after trying WOT once since now there is issues.

Parked in front of another relative's house in Willow Glen for a couple hours and go to start the car and tons of white smoke came out for the first seconds after start, then clear. Limped the subie home and thats when I notice small periods of hesitation once in a while, no boost, under 3k rpm.

At home, put on jack stands, took undercover off and there is oil leaking from the bottom of the turbo, great, just in time for the tahoe trip next week.

Here is a picture below of where the leak is coming from.
Name:  Capture-1.jpg
Views: 119
Size:  28.9 KB

Do you think incorrect oil pressure could be the problem?
Name:  Capture2.jpg
Views: 108
Size:  53.6 KB

Last note...very small amount of oil has leaked, even though its a mess, and it was hard to notice b/c I check my oil almost everyday. Since the last oil change (1500 miles ago), oil consumtion is 0.2 quarts, seems pretty normal.

What does the i-club community think about this? I don't really know what to do...waiting for my buddy Jerry to come check it out, but it is Xmas and all, hard to expect friends to help ya out right now.
ScoobySon is offline  
Old 12-25-2009, 05:23 PM
  #2  
iClub Silver Vendor
iTrader: (25)
 
FW Motorsports's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Participating in some Anarchy!
Posts: 15,494
Car Info: 2005 LGT wagon
On my phone, so I can't see pictures, but I'd say your Turbo is done for.
DO NOT DRIVE IT UNTIL HAVING IT PROPERLY DIAGNOSED!
FW Motorsports is offline  
Old 12-25-2009, 06:18 PM
  #3  
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
ScoobySon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 809
Car Info: 2006 WRX STI
Definitly not driving.

Took the heatshield off and from the top...no signs of cracks or leaks.

From underneath, can't see too much, but above the power steering rack, the underside of turbo has oil slow leak. I can only see as far as where the rubber tube clamps to the metal tube as highlighted above. Maybe a crack lies on the underside and oil is just dripping down onto the metal and rubber tubes, or not.

And what about the white smoke at start after a couple hours of letting the it sit? Is that a determinate of oil leaking on the inside of the turbo.

Crossing the fingers that I will not need another VF52.
ScoobySon is offline  
Old 12-25-2009, 06:39 PM
  #4  
iClub Silver Vendor
iTrader: (25)
 
FW Motorsports's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Participating in some Anarchy!
Posts: 15,494
Car Info: 2005 LGT wagon
The smoke is the dead give away that the Turbo is shot.
FW Motorsports is offline  
Old 12-26-2009, 08:35 AM
  #5  
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
ScoobySon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 809
Car Info: 2006 WRX STI
Good thing Iam under warranty. Brought my car to Justin at Capitol Subie and sitting in the waiting room right now. He told me if the turbo is bad, i get a new one, yay!

Oh yeah, Update...

Driving to capitol this morning and the hesitation is getting worse and I found I could only boost to 9psi MAX. Butt dyno thinks 110hp WOT right now. Wonderful.

Last edited by ScoobySon; 12-26-2009 at 08:38 AM.
ScoobySon is offline  
Old 12-26-2009, 08:56 AM
  #6  
Registered User
iTrader: (5)
 
tkmotorhead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: ca
Posts: 399
Car Info: 99 impreza 2.5rs
then you will get a free engine !!! cuz where did the blown out bearings go!! in the pan !
tkmotorhead is offline  
Old 12-26-2009, 09:41 AM
  #7  
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
ScoobySon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 809
Car Info: 2006 WRX STI
Ok, final diag by capitol...turbo housing leaking oil, done for. Free turbo under warranty.

+1 for Capitol Subaru's service department. Glad I decided to keep to stock downpipe on until the warranty expires.

Plus, they are going to get me driving before my trip to tahoe on the 31st.

Last edited by ScoobySon; 12-26-2009 at 09:44 AM.
ScoobySon is offline  
Old 12-29-2009, 08:43 AM
  #8  
iClub Silver Vendor
iTrader: (25)
 
FW Motorsports's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Participating in some Anarchy!
Posts: 15,494
Car Info: 2005 LGT wagon
You drove the car to the dealership with a bad turbo??
Let's hope the bottom end doesn't fail on your trip on the 31st.
FW Motorsports is offline  
Old 01-04-2010, 09:43 AM
  #9  
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
ScoobySon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 809
Car Info: 2006 WRX STI
explain
ScoobySon is offline  
Old 01-04-2010, 10:16 AM
  #10  
Registered User
iTrader: (28)
 
cueballsi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Fremont, CA
Posts: 538
Car Info: 2002 WRX- MBP
what he is getting at is that the turbo is shot cuz something failed in the cartridge.... what ever failed can be breaking apart and flowing into your oil pan. your engine can suck up the crap and feeding it into your bearings, which can then cause damage to your engine.
cueballsi is offline  
Old 01-06-2010, 12:25 PM
  #11  
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
ScoobySon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 809
Car Info: 2006 WRX STI
figured. Subaru didnt even change the oil. I am going to buy a filter cutter and send in oil for an analysis and see whats up.
ScoobySon is offline  
Old 02-04-2010, 03:51 PM
  #12  
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
ScoobySon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 809
Car Info: 2006 WRX STI
FINAL: Car runs fine now, turbo had an external leak in the bell housing. Turbo replaced, but the Shiggy tune was jacked. Weeks of diagnosis and boost map adjustments did not help, car kept going into some kind of limp mode. And Shiggy is in Japan.

Replaced ECU, stock plugs, keys registered with it, and everything is fine. So weird. Still have an EcuTek licensed ECM in my garage.
ScoobySon is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Jason Scott
Suby Shopping & Maintenance/Warranty
3
09-06-2012 10:38 AM
salvator_rizzo
Engine/Power - EJ25T (STI and 2006+ WRX)
4
07-10-2009 04:10 PM
yzercyber
Engine/Power - EJ20T (pre-2006 WRX and JDM)
4
03-02-2008 06:02 PM
bigdaddy
Engine/Power - EJ20T (pre-2006 WRX and JDM)
1
07-10-2003 12:09 PM
Zoeb2s
Engine/Power - EJ20T (pre-2006 WRX and JDM)
9
12-30-2002 10:43 AM



Quick Reply: Oil Leak and hesitation, help!



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:38 AM.


Top

© 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands



When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.