Your right it is odd.Over 7 litres in 400 miles is a huge ammount you would need a big leak and be burning it.I dont suppose someone has drained it out if i had no smoke and no leak i would weld the sump plug on.Either that or it was low when picked up and has burnt some it will be interesting to see what it uses now its filled up.

 

umm you deffinatly DONT want to be driving this car from what you have printed here matey all you are going to do is make any problem worse it needs to be stripped and checked over matey simple as, a knocking in the engine can be a a multitude of things that could get seriously worse and more expensive as for the amount of oil going thats serious,

you left the car in without any engine knocking or losing oil? if so any work the garage has done on the car is garaunteed regardless, you have 2 options the garage takes it back and double checks there work (a head gasket set is peanuts for them) they stated that the seals should be ok that was there recomendation end of, if they got it wrong they have to stand for the work.

if you or they are not willing to have/do the work then you have the legal right to take the car to another garage and have the original work carried out the original garage will then be invoiced for the work by the new garage.

Garages have insurance that covers instances like this, if i screw up on a car then its my responsibility to fix it regardless and tbh its something i would do with out an argument my reputation as a mechanic and the garages is worth more than a stupid head gasket set and a few hrs work trust me.

 

i of course checked the level before i picked up the car and it was fine. i initially got the HG done as i noticed alot of steam coming from the Rad and they did a pressure test and it showed i needed a new HG. that problem is gone.

I noticed 2 weeks after that every drop of oil had gone and took it back to the garage, they had put 4L in before that. they then put another 2.5 L in and again 2 weeks later it was down to zero. they have now put 1L in and i have placed a cardboard sheet on my dirve which will show there is no leaks and when there is no oil again then we will have to make some kind of diagnosis.

 

As you say the cardboard will show no leaks, to lose oil like that you cant fail but see oil everywhere.I would watch it like a hawk if i were you and get it tested somewhere else in the mean time.Good luck with it all

 

Listen to this man he knows what he is talking about, like i said you paid for a fixed car not an even more broken one.
They split the engine and carried out various work they are obliged to fix your car and if they wont take it somewhere that will and send them the bill.

 

My consumer law is a bit shakey but I'm not sure you have the right in law to take it to another garage and force the original garage to pay. Only a court has the "right" to enforce / force payment.

If you take it to a new garage any contractual obligation (offer to chaffer / acceptance / consideration) will lie with the new garage.

Shaun

 

Any update?

 

not driven the car to be honest, i have left it on the drive with the cardboard underneath and so far very tiny spot of oil so its looking like its going into the engine, i just have no idea why or how i dont see it burning the oil?

Funny thought though when i start the car i can hear swilling noise through the air vents. whats just behing the air vents ?

 

Funny thought though when i start the car i can hear swilling noise through the air vents. whats just behing the air vents ?[/quote]

Air??
I know nothing about cars but i would take it to checked out somewhere.

 

swilling as in liquid

 

I'm intrigued to know where this oil has gone!

 

Waterfall sounds on the bugeye around the area of the passenger side air vent are very common and unless there are other problems it comes under the catch all phrase from the dealer.......... "they all do that sir" LOL

Shaun

 

Ok had the car back and all the oil is gone again.

garage is stating he advised it may need new seals before he fixed the headgasket and will not fix this without a cost.

He did however also state he spoke to subaru and i would be fine with the gaskets and inlet manifolds.

should he have not stated i will not fix this as it will only break if the seals are not replaced. do i even have a leg to stand on?

Also has anyone got any real ideas on what is actually going on with my car,

The oil simply disappers, there are no leaks as i have not moved the car and had a cardboard sheet under the car and not a sign. so it must be going somewhere.

however i am not seeing any thick smoke when i start the car so where is it burning and why can i not see the thick smoke?

could it be the headgasket seals that would create the oil to disapear.

some stated getting a compression check for the piston rings. would that cause oil to disappear or was that with regards to the rattle i also have?

when i take it back to him as he doesnt seem to have many ideas i need to try and give him something to go at.

piston rings/crank bearings

anything else. all help is much appreciated as to say i have had enough is a understatement. i am tempted to simply fill it with oil and part ex it somewhere and get rid but i would get terrible money from a dealer/car garage and to be honest i dont want to i love my car and just want it fixed. GGGGGRRRRRRR

 

When you are saying seals - can you be a bit more specific.

I have never done a Subaru head/s, but the ones I have changed there is just a headgasket which you replace after cleaning the block and head up.

Piston rings form a seal between the piston and the cylinder bore, if that seal isn't very good yes oil could get from the sump to the combustion chamber and burn - but there is no smoke - also if that much oil is getting by the piston I would expect it to be mis-firing on that cylinder - also the spark plug would be black.

Crank Bearings will rattle but not burn oil.

valve seals typically let oil past when the car is standing - so on start up you get a cloud of smoke and you use a bit more oil - but I have never known anywhere near the amount of oil you are talking about.

What does the inside of the exhaust pipe look like? Any sign of small spots (possibly oil)on the rear bumper or boot?

 

inside the exhaust looks fine. just usual burn marks. the car has not been mis firing at all either. there is litterally nothing that jumps out as a reason.

i could easily sell this car today and noone would have a clue until the oil went weeks later. it runs fine. starts fine, it appears everything is fine but its clearly not.

to say its giving me a headache is a understatement.

When my garage said it was the seals i asked him later on why he said that and he said he was simply talking aloud. i seriously think no matter what it is he will blame the seals so he doesnt have to work on the car for free. i cant see how headgasket seals would create such a oil leak and how it wouldnt be very noticeable

 

unfortunatly if he advised you that the seals would probably need to be changed as well and you told him not to bother you dont have a leg to stand on matey .

if the work is going to cost you money to have done again are you sure that you really want to take it back to him ? i know if it was me it would be the last place any of my cars would go

there are enough guys/compainies on this forum that im sure one of them is near to you and could do the job properly this time round

as for the oil the amount you say you are losing is very worring especially when you say that the exhaust is showing no sign of oil splatter.

does the under side of the car look dry ? forget about the cardboard bit under motor for know, im just thinking aloud and wondering if its being forced out under pressure when ure driving it which would then cover the under side of the car

 

there is nothing under the car mate, i have removed the under tray and nothing is there. its really is a mystery.

the last thing i want to do is start from scratch. it has cost me £1600 so far and the thought if spending anymore money on this car would send me under.

i see it as £1600 for nothing as the day i got the car back it wasnt fixed so the garage must have some responsibility.

and he kind of did state it would be fine without the seals.

the coversation pretty much went like this -

me - i can get a after market gasket set online for £270
garage - i dont want to fit that get a subaru one
me - i am skint and already spent a fortune
garage - i spoke to subaru and they said it should be fine with just gasket and manifolds not the set.



so i did exaclty that. seals would be cheap and if he thought for one second they would go why would he not just ask me for another £20 or how ever much they are if he knew?

 

I just looked at the exhaust again and its to pitch black to even see spots, i will take a picture of both the under neath and the exhaust later tonight so you can see it. i will also take a pic of the engine bay to show there is no oil splats anywhere.

 

umm idd he should have realised that the seals where gone and informed you that they needed changing if indeed they are the cause of the problem now.

its the amount of oil that has apparently vanished that worries me
1 if its leaking should show -car is dry
2 if its being burnt -exhaust ok (yes it can trap some but 7ltrs)
3 no smoke
4 anti freeze lvl hasnt risen and not being blown out of cap

afraid you dont have much choice matey it needs to be stripped and inspected either by a garage or a very kind scooby member that has the knowledge/time


just out of interest have you taken an intercooler hose of and its dry ? i know i know it should smoke if wet before peeps start

ref exhaust its not the blackness matey does it feel sticky/damp when u stick your fingers in the end, does the back bumper/boot have spots on it doesnt have to be black spots just trying to see if oil particles are being released from exhaust and swirling up onto bumper/boot and traping dust etc.

 

i finish work at 5 mate so give me a hour and i will get some pics

 

New to this type of car, not filling the bellhousing is it?

 

I actually noticed some oil on the first pic. no idea what it is as i am **** with engines so any ideas would be good. doesnt seem to be alot though compared to the loss i am getting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope thease pics helps. let me know what you think

 

You have a leak near the oil filter which could be bad when under oil pressure,try watching it with the engine running and see if it leaks a lot then.

 

why do you think i have not had any oil patches on the cardboard under the car when i get back from work or when i go to work. or would this only get bad on long drives and would leak whilst in motion?

cheers