Newbie here, just bought Impreza Turbo

[M@H]

Hi,

I have posted a lot in the TVR forums but never in here, but now I have just bought an Impreza Turbo (WRX)and Wow ! Having spent years with TVRs I never expected anything to really feel half as "good" to drive, but the effortless power and torque in the Impreza is marvelous. Where the TVR can feel a bit sluggish pulling at higher speeds, the Turbo just seems to pull away with the same power as if it was doing 50 mph. I'm very impressed and should have got one of these ages ago.

Anyway, I would much appreciate a bit of help with a minor irritation I have with the car. Basically I often find that if I have run the car a few miles and then park it up, there is a smell of burnt oil in the air around the bonnet. Nothing major and it soon clears, and there are no leaks showing under the car, but I'm a bit mystified. The most plausible suggestion I have had is that there is a blocked breather pipe somewhere.. any thoughts?

Oh and as an aside.. how the hell do you get to those spark plugs !

Cheers,
Matt.

[dnb]

Spark plugs are easier to change than a Griffith. And there's only half as many.
You just have to assemble the plug wrench in-situ.

The oil smell could be the crank oil seal or the rocker cover seals weeping a bit - it drips on the exhaust so there's little evidence at first. They all do that given enough miles - nothing to worry about as long as you get it fixed at some point...

There's also a non-return valve in the oil breather system at the back of the inlet manifold. This can get bunged up and cause the same sort of oil smell.

[M@H]

Thanks for that I'd guessed you had to remove the washer bottle or something to get to the Nearside rear plug I'll have a scout about around the rocker covers etc at the weekend.

Now I just need to confirm the rumour that I have the 280PS WRX as opposed to the earlier one (this car has the i badge on the front as opposed to the Subaru constellation logo)

Cheers,
Matt

>> Edited by M@H on Thursday 9th February 11:03

[Nicol@]

I had a tiny oil leak when I first bought my scoob.

They do appear in all kinds of places, worrying to smell the oil (and on a pistonheads run I even had smoke coming out of the bonnet scoop).

I had a few seals changed, can't remember which actually stopped the leak.

Shouldn't cost too much.

[studog]

Your Chimeara is shedding a silent tear under it's dust cover.

Come to think of it maybe we should put those two turbos on there, bet that would make 280bhp.

>> Edited by studog on Thursday 9th February 15:40

[M@H]

Nicol@ said:

I had a tiny oil leak when I first bought my scoob. They do appear in all kinds of places, worrying to smell the oil (and on a pistonheads run I even had smoke coming out of the bonnet scoop). I had a few seals changed, can't remember which actually stopped the leak. Shouldn't cost too much.

Thanks for that Nicola


oh and @ Gazboy

Cheers,
Matt