PANCAKE SMELL AND GREEN FLUID ALL OVER + zero oil after oil change?

exodus st · 09-20-2009, 12:17 AM

smelled like pancakes and syrup and green fluid is all over by my intake and power steering reservoir. car temperature gauge went up really high before i turned it off and its smoking.. took my car in for an oil change 100 miles ago and checked it just now and it is completely dry aside from clear/brownish drippy/watery fluid... def not oil consistency. car has never burned oil and had zero problems until this. anyone know whats going on? did they not add oil in at the dealership and what can i do if thatis the case?

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jakedown · 09-20-2009, 12:19 AM

not sure what the cause but that green stuff and the smell sure sound like coolant to me.

fiveightandten · 09-20-2009, 12:24 AM

You have either a crack in your radiator or a hole in one of your cooling hoses. You can buy a kit to pressure test the system and find the leak, or clean it off and run the car to try and find it.

In either case, i'd replace all the hoses while you have the system flushed, and the radiator too if the car has over 100K on it (or if it has a crack in it). New thermostat as well.

-Nick

casper1jr · 09-20-2009, 12:25 AM

That suck's!! Alway's check oil level after a change!! I would take it back to the dealer (flatbed of coarse) and tell them they F'ed up!!

Hope all goes well!!

Bluefoton · 09-20-2009, 12:39 AM

You're looking at serious engine damage if you run it with no oil. Back to the dealership prompto, there is a LOT at stake here.

RexyGirl · 09-20-2009, 01:38 AM

Do not drive your car or even idle it.

You have a coolant leak, which is probably not related to the oil change.

Your radiator or hoses could be leaking, and if you run the engine, you risk more damage to the engine. The smoke is either the coolant burning off or your engine overheating.

Tow it to the dealer and have it repaired. Depending on how long you drove with no coolant will depend on how much damage there is. It's possible you already blew the head gasket.

Coolant smells sweet and is green in color.

Oil burning smell like burning plastic or rubber.

mattowoc · 09-20-2009, 01:52 AM

head gasket?

aaronmsadler · 09-20-2009, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattowoc

head gasket?

My thoughts too.

UFOpilot · 09-20-2009, 11:34 AM

Head gasket would be my first guess too, but then I would have put the oil in myself so I would have known for a fact it was there to begin with.

My second thought would be: Have you checked to see if your oil pan drain plug in in ?

grex07 · 09-20-2009, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exodus st

smelled like pancakes and syrup and green fluid is all over by my intake and power steering reservoir. car temperature gauge went up really high before i turned it off and its smoking.. took my car in for an oil change 100 miles ago and checked it just now and it is completely dry aside from clear/brownish drippy/watery fluid... def not oil consistency. car has never burned oil and had zero problems until this. anyone know whats going on? did they not add oil in at the dealership and what can i do if thatis the case?

head gasket
/thread

tom@kartboy · 09-20-2009, 04:46 PM

kinda sounds like the oil change place didnt fill the oil back up, BUT poured the oil in the expansion tank up top. time to call the shop ASAP.

exodus st · 09-20-2009, 05:31 PM

Thank you Renick Subaru in Fullerton...

Funny thing is the guy i live with has a really nice sti that he babies and takes great care of. we both get our oil changed at the dealership and about 500 miles after his last change his head gasket blew. he had about half a quart of oil in it when he checked. Ive never had any problems with renick before and they are usually great but it seems awfully strange that two cars leave there with little to no oil after a change. he paid $3100 for his head gasket replacement. sales down... economy is crap....i dont mean to point fingers but ummm.....little strange to me?

I am 99% sure oil was NOT added when i got the change because my car has NEVER burnt/leaked oil before. i checked it consistently and there are no spots on the garage floor where i park it every day. it is impossible for 5 quarts of oil to leak out or burn up from a cracked turbo or something in 100 miles is it not?

Is the dealership liable for damage done to my car if it ends up being something like a head gasket? and will they pay for a flatbed to pick it up and take it there? anyone have any experience with this?

chazly413 · 09-20-2009, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exodus st

Thank you Renick Subaru in Fullerton...

Funny thing is the guy i live with has a really nice sti that he babies and takes great care of. we both get our oil changed at the dealership and about 500 miles after his last change his head gasket blew. he had about half a quart of oil in it when he checked. Ive never had any problems with renick before and they are usually great but it seems awfully strange that two cars leave there with little to no oil after a change. he paid $3100 for his head gasket replacement. sales down... economy is crap....i dont mean to point fingers but ummm.....little strange to me?

I am 99% sure oil was NOT added when i got the change because my car has NEVER burnt/leaked oil before. i checked it consistently and there are no spots on the garage floor where i park it every day. it is impossible for 5 quarts of oil to leak out or burn up from a cracked turbo or something in 100 miles is it not?

Is the dealership liable for damage done to my car if it ends up being something like a head gasket? and will they pay for a flatbed to pick it up and take it there? anyone have any experience with this?

You would definitely notice that if it was happening, you'd have a huge plume of blue smoke following you everywhere.

curo72 · 09-20-2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exodus st

I am 99% sure oil was NOT added when i got the change because my car has NEVER burnt/leaked oil before. i checked it consistently and there are no spots on the garage floor where i park it every day. it is impossible for 5 quarts of oil to leak out or burn up from a cracked turbo or something in 100 miles is it not?

I'm fairly sure it'd be pretty well impossible to go 100 miles without oil. And just because it doesn't show up on the dipstick, doesn't mean there is no oil in the engine. you can still have 3 quarts (ish) and it won't show up. Of course this is still dangerously low.
Regardless, I'm not saying the dealership isn't at fault, I'm just saying be careful and be informed before you start making accusations.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattowoc

head gasket?

My first thought as well. But it'd have to blow pretty good to get inside and outside the engine block... no?

FCmaniac · 09-20-2009, 06:42 PM

sounds like the dealership knowingly F'd over you and your buddy

AWDalbert · 09-20-2009, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grex07

head gasket
/thread

this is it sorry

D.V.S · 09-20-2009, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FCmaniac

sounds like the dealership knowingly F'd over you and your buddy

!!!!!!!!!!!

curo72 · 09-21-2009, 01:12 AM

So, even if it is a bad head gasket (which is a safe assumption), I've never heard of a head gasket blowing out both inward into the engine, and outward onto the engine... might there be anything else?

T Wrex--OH · 09-21-2009, 06:16 AM

Definetely going to have to join in saying head gasket.

UFOpilot · 09-21-2009, 11:48 AM

Is your coolant overflow tank full ? If so, is it full of oil and crap ? Have you drained your coolant to see if that is where all the oil went ?

If by chance the shop changed the oil, and then you blew your gasket and the oil went into the coolant, the oil reduces the ability to cool, and the whole deal gets compounded.

FWIW: I have seen head gaskets blow both ways.

My question is what kind of boost were you running and on what turbo ? Do you have any idea what your cylinder pressure was ?

RexyGirl · 09-22-2009, 10:16 PM

If the oil was 'completely dry', how do you know it was brown, watery, drippy fluid?

If one of your radiator hoses blew (you said you had coolant on the intake and ps pump), how long did you drive it? More than a minute? That's about all it takes to blow a headgasket.

If the headgasket is blown, it would explain your oil loss...possibly went into the coolant or vice/versa?

Call the dealer ship and have it towed there....we can all make all the assumptions we want, but until a cause of failure is determined, no one will be right.

Oh, and don't forget, headgaskets are covered under warranty for 5 years or 60,000 miles.

09-20-2009, 12:17 AM	#1
exodus st Scooby Newbie Member#: 130602 Join Date: Oct 2006 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Orange, CA Vehicle: 2004 Meth Addict wrx Java Blaque'	PANCAKE SMELL AND GREEN FLUID ALL OVER + zero oil after oil change? smelled like pancakes and syrup and green fluid is all over by my intake and power steering reservoir. car temperature gauge went up really high before i turned it off and its smoking.. took my car in for an oil change 100 miles ago and checked it just now and it is completely dry aside from clear/brownish drippy/watery fluid... def not oil consistency. car has never burned oil and had zero problems until this. anyone know whats going on? did they not add oil in at the dealership and what can i do if thatis the case? * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

09-20-2009, 12:19 AM	#2
jakedown Scooby Newbie Member#: 111691 Join Date: Apr 2006 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: yorba linda Vehicle: 2006 wrx cobb stage2 dpecs & jdm pinks...aspen	not sure what the cause but that green stuff and the smell sure sound like coolant to me. Last edited by jakedown; 09-20-2009 at 12:26 AM.

09-20-2009, 11:34 AM	#9
UFOpilot NASIOC Supporter Member#: 189525 Join Date: Sep 2008 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Portland Oregon Vehicle: 2007 WRX Wagon Invisible Plain	Head gasket would be my first guess too, but then I would have put the oil in myself so I would have known for a fact it was there to begin with. My second thought would be: Have you checked to see if your oil pan drain plug in in ? Last edited by UFOpilot; 09-20-2009 at 11:41 AM.

09-20-2009, 05:31 PM	#12
exodus st Scooby Newbie Member#: 130602 Join Date: Oct 2006 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Orange, CA Vehicle: 2004 Meth Addict wrx Java Blaque'	Thank you Renick Subaru in Fullerton... Funny thing is the guy i live with has a really nice sti that he babies and takes great care of. we both get our oil changed at the dealership and about 500 miles after his last change his head gasket blew. he had about half a quart of oil in it when he checked. Ive never had any problems with renick before and they are usually great but it seems awfully strange that two cars leave there with little to no oil after a change. he paid $3100 for his head gasket replacement. sales down... economy is crap....i dont mean to point fingers but ummm.....little strange to me? I am 99% sure oil was NOT added when i got the change because my car has NEVER burnt/leaked oil before. i checked it consistently and there are no spots on the garage floor where i park it every day. it is impossible for 5 quarts of oil to leak out or burn up from a cracked turbo or something in 100 miles is it not? Is the dealership liable for damage done to my car if it ends up being something like a head gasket? and will they pay for a flatbed to pick it up and take it there? anyone have any experience with this? Last edited by exodus st; 09-20-2009 at 05:43 PM.

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09-20-2009, 12:24 AM	#3
fiveightandten Scooby Newbie Member#: 219524 Join Date: Aug 2009 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Connecticut Vehicle: 2002 WRX Wagon AW	You have either a crack in your radiator or a hole in one of your cooling hoses. You can buy a kit to pressure test the system and find the leak, or clean it off and run the car to try and find it. In either case, i'd replace all the hoses while you have the system flushed, and the radiator too if the car has over 100K on it (or if it has a crack in it). New thermostat as well. -Nick

09-20-2009, 12:25 AM	#4
casper1jr NASIOC Supporter Member#: 208012 Join Date: Apr 2009 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Big Giant Melons Vehicle: 07 WRB STi	That suck's!! Alway's check oil level after a change!! I would take it back to the dealer (flatbed of coarse) and tell them they F'ed up!! Hope all goes well!!

09-20-2009, 12:39 AM	#5
Bluefoton Scooby Specialist Member#: 141373 Join Date: Feb 2007 Chapter/Region: E. Canada Location: Quebec, QC Vehicle: 2003 Outback Sport	You're looking at serious engine damage if you run it with no oil. Back to the dealership prompto, there is a LOT at stake here.

09-20-2009, 01:38 AM	#6
RexyGirl Scooby Specialist Member#: 63616 Join Date: Jun 2004 Chapter/Region: South East Vehicle: 1996 Volvo 850 Turbo with mods :)	Do not drive your car or even idle it. You have a coolant leak, which is probably not related to the oil change. Your radiator or hoses could be leaking, and if you run the engine, you risk more damage to the engine. The smoke is either the coolant burning off or your engine overheating. Tow it to the dealer and have it repaired. Depending on how long you drove with no coolant will depend on how much damage there is. It's possible you already blew the head gasket. Coolant smells sweet and is green in color. Oil burning smell like burning plastic or rubber.

09-20-2009, 01:52 AM	#7
mattowoc Scooby Newbie Member#: 175167 Join Date: Mar 2008 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: pittsburgh Vehicle: 2002 impreza wrx white	head gasket?

09-20-2009, 04:46 PM	#11
tom@kartboy NASIOC Vendor Member#: 67 Join Date: Jul 1999 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: San Diego, CA Vehicle: Our Shift WON'T break!	kinda sounds like the oil change place didnt fill the oil back up, BUT poured the oil in the expansion tank up top. time to call the shop ASAP.

09-20-2009, 06:42 PM	#15
FCmaniac Scooby Specialist Member#: 142029 Join Date: Feb 2007 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Vehicle: 2004 STi 1997 Leg	sounds like the dealership knowingly F'd over you and your buddy

09-21-2009, 01:12 AM	#18
curo72 Scooby Newbie Member#: 195358 Join Date: Nov 2008 Chapter/Region: W. Canada Vehicle: 2004 WRX - Suzie Black	So, even if it is a bad head gasket (which is a safe assumption), I've never heard of a head gasket blowing out both inward into the engine, and outward onto the engine... might there be anything else?

09-21-2009, 06:16 AM	#19
T Wrex--OH Scooby Specialist Member#: 179478 Join Date: May 2008 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Cleveland<OH> Vehicle: 2000 Impreza 2.5 RS Sedona Red Pearl	Definetely going to have to join in saying head gasket.

09-21-2009, 11:48 AM	#20
UFOpilot NASIOC Supporter Member#: 189525 Join Date: Sep 2008 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Portland Oregon Vehicle: 2007 WRX Wagon Invisible Plain	Is your coolant overflow tank full ? If so, is it full of oil and crap ? Have you drained your coolant to see if that is where all the oil went ? If by chance the shop changed the oil, and then you blew your gasket and the oil went into the coolant, the oil reduces the ability to cool, and the whole deal gets compounded. FWIW: I have seen head gaskets blow both ways. My question is what kind of boost were you running and on what turbo ? Do you have any idea what your cylinder pressure was ?

09-22-2009, 10:16 PM	#21
RexyGirl Scooby Specialist Member#: 63616 Join Date: Jun 2004 Chapter/Region: South East Vehicle: 1996 Volvo 850 Turbo with mods :)	If the oil was 'completely dry', how do you know it was brown, watery, drippy fluid? If one of your radiator hoses blew (you said you had coolant on the intake and ps pump), how long did you drive it? More than a minute? That's about all it takes to blow a headgasket. If the headgasket is blown, it would explain your oil loss...possibly went into the coolant or vice/versa? Call the dealer ship and have it towed there....we can all make all the assumptions we want, but until a cause of failure is determined, no one will be right. Oh, and don't forget, headgaskets are covered under warranty for 5 years or 60,000 miles.