Welcome to the North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club Thursday March 28, 2024
Home Forums Images WikiNASIOC Products Store Modifications Upgrade Garage
NASIOC
Go Back   NASIOC > NASIOC General > Newbies & FAQs

Welcome to NASIOC - The world's largest online community for Subaru enthusiasts!
Welcome to the NASIOC.com Subaru forum.

You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, free of charge, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.







* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads. 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-08-2021, 10:40 AM   #1
jdloyd01
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 522218
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Midwest
Vehicle:
2002 WRX Wagon (5MT)
Silver

Default Newbie questions: RPM revving and mysterious fluid leak

Hello, I'm a new WRX owner. I wanted to say hello to the other forum members and ask a couple of quick questions.

I bought an 02 5 speed wagon that is in pretty good shape given it has 180,000+ miles on it. It uses some oil (still figuring out how much), but otherwise runs and drives fine. This is a project car for my boys and I to work on and have some fun with.

The first question I have is about the engine revving between gears. No matter how I drive it seems to "hang" onto the rpms when I shift between gears. This is my first manual car with a turbo. I've heard of some of this, I'm just not sure what is considered normal. My last manual car was a 84 Camaro with a 350 swap.

Second question: I have a mysterious fluid leak upon startup. The fluid is clear and seems to come from somewhere right above the turbo. It drips for just a couple of seconds and stops. The liquid evaporates pretty quickly. It seems like its water, maybe some sort of condensation. It does not smell like antifreeze, it smells a bit like oil (but its clear). I thought it might be the fuel line issue, but the last owner replaced those and it seems to come from a spot were there are no fuel lines. Plus, it doesn't smell like gas at all.

Any thoughts on what it could be? Note: my car does not have the engine shield underneath, if that makes any difference.
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
jdloyd01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Old 02-08-2021, 10:43 AM   #2
jdloyd01
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 522218
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Midwest
Vehicle:
2002 WRX Wagon (5MT)
Silver

Default

One more note: As far as I can tell, my car is bone stock with no tune whatsoever.
jdloyd01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2021, 10:52 AM   #3
Norm Peterson
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 498642
Join Date: Mar 2019
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: our wrx IS the family sedan
Vehicle:
'19 WRX Ltd 6M dgm
'08 Mustang GT (the toy)

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jdloyd01 View Post
The first question I have is about the engine revving between gears. No matter how I drive it seems to "hang" onto the rpms when I shift between gears. This is my first manual car with a turbo. I've heard of some of this, I'm just not sure what is considered normal. My last manual car was a 84 Camaro with a 350 swap.
"Rev hang" has been an emission-control technique for at least 20 years (if not 30). What happens with a manual transmission car on a lift-foot upshift is that the sudden rpm drop ends up generating emissions "spikes" that aren't generated when the rpm drop is delayed or slowed. Turbocharging may aggravate the need for rev hang due to there being intake air volume under pressure that needs to be dealt with somehow (takes a little time).


Norm
Norm Peterson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2021, 03:54 PM   #4
rtv900
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 428511
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: philadelphia
Vehicle:
2016 STI

Default

There's no way his 02 has an electronic rev hang programmed in.

You are letting off the gas a second too late, it will go away once you time your foot action better.
rtv900 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2021, 06:36 PM   #5
yarrgh
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 80465
Join Date: Jan 2005
Chapter/Region: RMIC
Location: Denver
Vehicle:
2001 2.5RS
Black Diamond Pearl

Default

Perhaps the throttle cable is a tad tight. You say this leak drips...from where?
yarrgh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2021, 07:05 PM   #6
AliBenn
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 487
Join Date: Nov 1999
Chapter/Region: TXIC
Location: Houston TX
Vehicle:
1998 /2005 STunIcorn
Acadia Green USDM 22b

Default

Leak is condensation from AC
(Designed like that)
Drain hose is on R side of engine compartment
AliBenn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2021, 07:51 PM   #7
jdloyd01
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 522218
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Midwest
Vehicle:
2002 WRX Wagon (5MT)
Silver

Default

Thanks for the replies. I'll continue to try get timing down and see how it goes.

The a/c condensation makes a lot of since, however it is weird to me that it is only when the car starts. I also haven't run the a/c a whole lot as it is cold right now. I did test it a couple times.

The exact location is between the turbo inlet and the engine. I've traced it about halfway up the block. It's been a minute since I checked or I could give more.
jdloyd01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2021, 09:37 PM   #8
quick16g
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 522241
Join Date: Feb 2021
Default

The revs hanging for a moment may actually be normal. My 03 kind of felt like that after driving a civic for ages. As for the fluid isn't there a power steering line that runs back there somewhere? I've heard stories of engine bay fires from power steering leaking on the exhaust.
quick16g is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2021, 07:39 AM   #9
Norm Peterson
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 498642
Join Date: Mar 2019
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: our wrx IS the family sedan
Vehicle:
'19 WRX Ltd 6M dgm
'08 Mustang GT (the toy)

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by quick16g View Post
The revs hanging for a moment may actually be normal. My 03 kind of felt like that after driving a civic for ages.
It's been a common emissions control technique for quite a long time. More noticeable in newer cars because emissions standards have tightened. I distinctly remember getting a little rev hang in the 2001 Maxima we had. Not a lot like our 2019 WRX, but the revs wouldn't drop off anywhere near as sharply as they would in any of the carbureted cars I had.


Norm
Norm Peterson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2021, 08:20 AM   #10
Elbert Bass
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 283429
Join Date: May 2011
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Down yonder.
Vehicle:
2016 Fuji Sunfire 03
Silver

Default

I can assure you a 2002 has no emission related "rev hang".
As mentioned first thing to check is your throttle cable for kinks, twists, binds or tightness. If the cable itself is OK check that there is slack in the cable (and cruise cable) when the throttle is closed - the cable should not be tight.

As far as your fluid that would be something you need to try and pinpoint a source. If it is just water and not coolant or oil it most likely would be condensate leaking from the exhaust side of the turbo. For it to be exhaust condensate you would have to have an exhaust leak. It is possible you have a cold leak and as soon as the exhaust starts warming up the leak closes.

BTW: It takes a while for the A/C system to build enough condensate to start dripping - that would not happen on a cold start.
Elbert Bass is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2021, 10:07 AM   #11
stiaddict07
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 522124
Join Date: Feb 2021
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Norm Peterson View Post
"Rev hang" has been an emission-control technique for at least 20 years (if not 30). What happens with a manual transmission car on a lift-foot upshift is that the sudden rpm drop ends up generating emissions "spikes" that aren't generated when the rpm drop is delayed or slowed. Turbocharging may aggravate the need for rev hang due to there being intake air volume under pressure that needs to be dealt with somehow (takes a little time).


Norm

Newbie question..... Could this be a wastegate issue?
stiaddict07 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2021, 01:00 PM   #12
Norm Peterson
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 498642
Join Date: Mar 2019
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: our wrx IS the family sedan
Vehicle:
'19 WRX Ltd 6M dgm
'08 Mustang GT (the toy)

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by stiaddict07 View Post
Newbie question..... Could this be a wastegate issue?
Possibly. But I would expect that to throw a code.


Norm
Norm Peterson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2021, 03:31 PM   #13
Jedi03
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 491095
Join Date: Sep 2018
Chapter/Region: SWIC
Location: New Mexico
Vehicle:
2009 STi Blue
Blue

Default

for the liquid could be condensation from the exhaust where a small leak is, particularly when cold
Jedi03 is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:38 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Copyright ©1999 - 2019, North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club, Inc.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission
Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.