Wednesday I noticed my Subaru was smoking after journeys lasting longer than 10 minutes. I narrowed the smoke down to someplace under the air filter box right by the transission bell housing. The car is a 2001 Outback wagon with the SOHC 2.5L and 4 speed AT transmission. My guess and I really have not seen exactly where the smoking originates from is that it’s an AT cooler line that has cracked or weakened. When the fluid gets hot it expands and forces a small pinhole of fluid out on a hot part of the car and thus the smoke. I don’t think its oil since the smoke is in the rear of the car and doesn’t smell like burning oil. The oil level is perfect. I don’t think it’s coolant because there is no sweet smell that you typically get with burning coolant. What does everything think? Saturday I will be getting a better look to see exactly where the smoke is originating from. There are no driveability issues, no CEL’s or anything of that sort. Thanks in advance.
hrmm there a power steering line in that area … that’s about the only other thing i think it could possibly be if you said not coolant or oil … what color is the smoke?
i miss your sig… i thought it was a funny pic of zerodaze, he does his hair like that when he drives is vw
if it was PS then u would prolly notice a difference in steering, yeah u prolly got a leaky hose somewhere.
Color/volume of smoke?
Smoke is a dark greyish… I doubt it’s power steering since there is no difference in steering at all.
i’d really like to say it’s oil … subarus from everything i’ve known have oil issues … if it’s only a bit leaking from a valve cover gasket onto the header…
throw some more details out there … volume of smoke is a good indicator … smell
powersteering feels fine … what about the brakes how do they feel?
The master cylinder looks good as far as fluid level goes. It could be oil but I am guessing it isn’t based on smell. I’ve smelled burning ATF and it’s very similar…
i think without crawling under there best way to check that would be: after it get’s hot hold down the brakes and rev it up in drive … see if the smoke increases when you do that
Saturday I am heading over to hybrid to put it on the lift, I will know more tomorrow.
Remember it a lot of smoke can come form a very small amout of liquid, doesnt take much oil to make a lot of smoke