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Old 09-15-2013, 10:22 AM   #1
Helpmyrex
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Default Why didn't my check engine light come on for oil leak

I noticed a bad leak coming from the turbo, and have been driving on this for I don't know how long. Why didn't a check engine light come on for this type if problem or can it not read this ?
Also leaking turbo means I should start shopping for a new one right ?
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Old 09-15-2013, 10:27 AM   #2
Dmochowski
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bc its pretty much going to come on for emission related issues and things the OBD is reading. If your oil pressure gets too low from a big leak then your oil pressure light would come on. Plus for the oil pressure light wont come on if you lost maybe a quart of oil it takes a lot of lost oil for it to come on.
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Old 09-15-2013, 10:29 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Helpmyrex View Post
I noticed a bad leak coming from the turbo, and have been driving on this for I don't know how long. Why didn't a check engine light come on for this type if problem or can it not read this ?
Also leaking turbo means I should start shopping for a new one right ?
The second post covered it. Your CEL is for emissions failures. That's it. Granted, some emission failures can indicate damage to the engine (misfires etc) but oil leaks aren't an emission failure, technically.
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Old 09-15-2013, 10:30 AM   #4
07VTRex
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the stock oil pressure light comes on at some incredibly low pressure. IIRC its like 5psi, which is so low its probably already past the point of hurting your engine by the time that light comes on.
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Old 09-15-2013, 10:40 AM   #5
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^ Yeah, if your oil pressure light comes on, shut the car off and call someone to get a ride to an auto parts store. I remember back when I was really dumb (yesterday at 2PM was when I turned smart ), I did not check the oil as often as I should have. The oil pressure light came on but almost immediately turned off. So I kept driving it for about 20 miles or so. I noticed it would come on when I braked or took a corner. Well, durrrrrrrrrrrrrrrp. Somehow I got home without blowing it up and checked the oil. None on the dipstick. Took 3 quarts to fill it (4.2 quart capacity).

By all means, the engine should have went kaboom. I deserved it. 30,000 miles later and it's doing just fine.

Fix the turbo and never depend on any warning lights. Check your oil often.
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Old 09-15-2013, 12:14 PM   #6
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I guess this is where aftermarket gauges come into play
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Old 09-15-2013, 12:26 PM   #7
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Because a CEL is only triggered when a sensor detects a value out of range. There is no oil leak sensor, because that is dumb. Therefore, you get no CEL. Eventually if it leaked enough you would get an Oil light.

CEL is not the save all for cars. End user is required to visually check components often.
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Old 09-15-2013, 12:55 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HinshawWRX View Post
Because a CEL is only triggered when a sensor detects a value out of range. There is no oil leak sensor, because that is dumb. Therefore, you get no CEL. Eventually if it leaked enough you would get an Oil light.

CEL is not the save all for cars. End user is required to visually check components often.
Thank you all for clarifying what the CE LIGHT is for. I just figured a oil leak from turbo is a big enough issue to cause something to go off.
Yes I noticed this as I did my routine check.
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Old 09-15-2013, 01:03 PM   #9
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hope you caught it in time.... by the time the light comes on, it is basically saying you are f'd.
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Old 09-15-2013, 01:08 PM   #10
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Some may consider it overkill, but I check my oil at least twice a week (whenever I go to the gas station, really.)

I would much rather take five minutes (less, perhaps) to check the oil than risk starving the engine of oil.
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Old 09-16-2013, 02:37 AM   #11
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^^^ haha. I check it at least every 2 days. I burn about a quart every 150-200 miles. I need to start buying oil wholesale. lol

You can get a cheap turbo already assembled (maybe 150$?) or replace seals in yours and save some money. I don't think bad seals = bad turbo/shaft ( maybe sometimes). To replace seals iirc you just need simple hand tools( wrenches, ratchet/sockets, needle nose or snap ring pliers, screwdrivers, and a hammer/mallet) < double check that search youtube videos.

Wait for someone to confirm this ^^^^ but you should be able to replace your seals on your kitchen table (shaft seals)

check oil return line for any damage (hard to see)
check oil feed line ( easy to see)

If your not a good mechanic just get a new turbo. good luck
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Old 09-16-2013, 08:31 AM   #12
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Scratch that^^^^ forgot about balancing. Just buy new if it is the turbo
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Old 09-16-2013, 02:33 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by microsnook View Post
I guess this is where aftermarket gauges come into play
Wouldn't have made any difference. Oil pressure is not linear to the amount of oil left, and by the time you start noticing that pressure is dropping via a gauge, the oil pump is already sucking air and the CEL is going to be on. Measuring oil level of a running engine is actually a fairly tricky thing to do reliably, and even more so if you are trying to retrofit the system to an existing engine.
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Old 09-16-2013, 07:48 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by microsnook View Post
I guess this is where aftermarket gauges come into play
no, the dipstick comes standard on cars these days.
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Old 09-16-2013, 07:53 PM   #15
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CEL can come on for issues unrelated to emissions systems, but as as been stated several times - its not a catch all for defects. manual inspection and diagnostics is always best (and tends to be more preventative as you'll notice issues before CEL is triggered).
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Old 09-17-2013, 09:41 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by aerosaaber View Post
no, the dipstick comes standard on cars these days.
But you have to open the hood. That's way too much work.
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Old 09-17-2013, 11:16 AM   #17
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Welcome to owning a Subaru.

You have no oil level light.
The oil pressure light will only go on when it's too late and your engine is boned.

Everyone here seems to think that's super and a great way to have built the cars. I was derided for suggesting that it was absurd there weren't such things in our car.

Enjoy the car, jut check the oil all the ****ing time or you'll regret it.






No worthwhile oil readings.... it's what makes a Subaru a Subaru!
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Old 09-17-2013, 11:55 AM   #18
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[quote=Napalm3nema;40610946]Welcome to owning a Subaru.

You have no oil level light.
The oil pressure light will only go on when it's too late and your engine is boned.

Everyone here seems to think that's super and a great way to have built the cars. I was derided for suggesting that it was absurd there weren't such things in our car.

Enjoy the car, jut check the oil all the ****ing time or you'll regret it.






No worthwhile oil readings.... it's what makes a Subaru a Subaru![/QUOT]

It is not just Subarus that are like this. No car from any car manufacture has a feature that sets the check engine light off if the oil is low or leaking from your car. It only sets a check engine light when the oil gets so low your motor is prob toast. Again its like that with any manufacture not just Subaru.

You need to just check your oil and stay on top of it. If you see a leak fix it before it gets to bad and keep an eye on your oil level all the time but more so if you see you have an oil leak, even a small 1. These cars do tend to run pretty hot because of the turbo so they will burn threw oil a lot fast then other cars. So its a good idea to check your oil every time you fill up with gas, it only takes a min to do and your waiting for gas to pump anyway so just start checking your oil when you fill up.
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Old 09-17-2013, 12:38 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Napalm3nema View Post
Welcome to owning a Subaru.

You have no oil level light.
The oil pressure light will only go on when it's too late and your engine is boned.

Everyone here seems to think that's super and a great way to have built the cars. I was derided for suggesting that it was absurd there weren't such things in our car.


I've owned Mitsubishis, Nissans, Toyotas, and Subarus. Not a single one has had an oil level sensor. You act like this is some common practice and Subaru is being an idiot for not including it, but an oil level sensor is an incredibly rare thing to find on ANY car from any manufacturer.
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Old 09-17-2013, 01:12 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by the suicidal eggroll View Post


I've owned Mitsubishis, Nissans, Toyotas, and Subarus. Not a single one has had an oil level sensor. You act like this is some common practice and Subaru is being an idiot for not including it, but an oil level sensor is an incredibly rare thing to find on ANY car from any manufacturer.
I had one on my 93 5.0, so whatever.

In this day and age to not have more active insight into a modern engine is silly. But go ahead along with the rest of the 'derp derp check ur oilz I wish my car had less sensors and I had to figure everything out manually. Gas gauge? Who needs it? I just jam a stick down my tank and measure where the level is on that. Damn kids and their new 'devices', why not make the car just drive itself?'

Sorry I will never agree that saving money on a $5 monitoring component that can easily be tied into existing systems is a bad idea.
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