Strange H6 Outback Problem

[Juhan Leemet]

On Mon, 06 Dec 2004 18:19:37 +0000, Al wrote:
[snippage]

I had a '66 Corvair with the horizontal 6. When the valve stem seals
would deteriorate, oil would leak into the cylinders. Not much, but
enought to make a really impressive cloud of white smoke upon startup
and when you used the engine as a brake when going downhill. The fix was
to replace the rubber seals with Nitril seals.

Haha! That reminds me of an old Land Rover (Series III? I think?) that I
had years ago. The engine was pretty worn, and (in retrospect) likely had
leaky stem seals. I knew I was a little bit low on oil after leaving a gas
station, and pulled over to the side, to top up by 1/2 quart. Not
realizing or thinking (?), I left the engine idling and poured in the 1/2
quart. Wow! Instant smoke machine!!! Better than any rock band or disco
show I had ever seen. In seconds, it filled up the entire intersection at
Peel & Sherbrooke in downtown Montreal with a thick cloud of white smoke.
I was terrified, as there was a cop (with his back to me, fortunately)
down the block. I was sure he would give me a ticket and/or send the car
for some serious inspections at the government road worthiness test shop.

Those inspection guys seem to always find something, almost as if it was
their crusade to get as many cars off the road as possible. Interestingly,
one of those guys had a buddy with a scrapper business just up the road?!?

FWIW, it was a funky old Land Rover, but it was not dangerous. I was
maintaining it reasonably, and driving carefully. Not a city car tho.

I learned a(nother) lesson.

 

[null]

Long story short... and toppost to boot. I had this issue with my 2002 H6
It turns that the parameter "windows" in the computer need to be widened
for certain
cold starts. It was published in the Subaru mechanics magazine and there
is a TSB for it.
It's a quick reflash of the computer by the dealer to load the new
parameters.
I had mine done and haven't had the problem since.

 

[worzacct]

I have had similar problems with both my 1995 Legacy (4 cyl automatic)
and my wife's 2000 Outback (4 cyl. automatic).
When this happens, I floor the gas pedal and crank until it starts.

Love my Subaru's (I presently drive 1992 SVX -- 6 cyl automatic) but
this tendency to flood when starting and moving a short distance in
the driveway is apparently a real problem -- when I need to start car
and move it in the driveway, I now drive the car a short distance
(less than a mile) and that seems to have taken care of this issue.
(If it would be very cold, I would drive the car several miles.)

 

[Danny Russell]

Long story short... and toppost to boot. I had this issue with my 2002 H6
It turns that the parameter "windows" in the computer need to be widened
for certain
cold starts. It was published in the Subaru mechanics magazine and there
is a TSB for it.
It's a quick reflash of the computer by the dealer to load the new
parameters.
I had mine done and haven't had the problem since.

It's been my observation that program & map parameters, etc. is a weak spot with Subaru. Fuel trim,
knock sensor, antilock brakes, 4EAT, rear transfer clutch algorithms all exhibit the characteristics
of beta software in my '02 OBS. If I didn't know better, I'd swear Subauru is hiring Microsoft's
best talent away. -Danny

 

[hippo]

They have both center and side stands. My 1983 R80RT did, and so does
the 2002 R1150R that I lust after. Some of the earlier Beemers (the
slash Fives) could be parked on their center stands and ridden right
off of them, very cool.

As opposed to recent Ducatis, which could be parked on their spring loaded
sidestands and *fall* right off them -
decidedly uncool! Cheers