Frothy Orange Goopy Liquid

leeklimala · 01-19-2005, 08:29 AM

In eastern NC, below freezing, 91 Legacy, 2.2, auto, started it this morning, heard a pop and fizz coming form under the hood, went to check it out...FROTHY ORANGE GOOPY LIQUID coming from the left side of the engine. Didn't have time to decipher exact location, had to snag a ride to work from my neighbor. OIL? COOLANT? Sometimes the PS dosen't work until I get going down the road, any Ideas? this is My dad's spare car, and I am driving it until my Super Coupe gets fixed. I know a little about this car but not much so please be specific if you reply. Thanks.

Lee

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sha_zapple · 01-19-2005, 09:52 AM

My name is Lee also, cool

Id guess its power steering. Oil is black/brown, coolant is usually green. Check the PS resevoir.

fibuz · 01-19-2005, 10:41 AM

my guess is oil(might be kinda orangish if mixed with coolant or other fluid or in small quantities), power steering fluid, or brake fluid.

although this may not be the issue because the oil is usually black, I'd check the CV boots too. Hope and pray its them because their cheap

But often when they break the oil from the boot goes flying everywhere.

can you be more exact as to where its bubbling out? that would help an incredible amount.

fibuz

leeklimala · 01-19-2005, 12:04 PM

small bubble coming from oil pool on passenger side valve cover. ps resevoir had fluid in it but also looked like it had overflowed. the fluid is a light orange color, like new motor oil but the car hasn't had an oil change in over 2000 miles. didn't have time to check oil level. car cranks and runs fine but there seems to be no PS. could the lines get frozen or clogged, possibly pinched anywhere? I could only think the fluid would get frothy if it was being pressurized and sprayed out of a small leak somwhere. No signs of coolant in the puddle, how much PS fluid is in these cars? There is a considerable amount of fluid on the ground, I'd say at least 1 to 2 qts. how hard are the VC gaskets to repace on these things?

mvstype · 01-19-2005, 02:45 PM

Could be head gasket. When the gasket goes coolant and oil make a orange froth in the radiator and engine.

MV

fastenova · 01-19-2005, 08:43 PM

Some coolant is orange in color. I think it's environmentally friendly or pet-safe stuff, not positive though. When the car is cold, remove your radiator cap and see what color the coolant is. If you can't tell, add a little water, and gently squeeze the upper radiator hose. This will force coolant up towards the top, where you can see the color.

1-2 quarts? Seems like a lot. Our cars use ATF for power steering fluid, which is usually red in color. Frothy red ?= orange? Or water + ATF = orange? I'd agree with sha_zapple, sounds like PS fluid.

Good luck!

Aaron

leeklimala · 01-28-2005, 03:10 PM

It was PS fluid. My dad had put the Penzoil power steering fluid in there and I assume that was wrong. Here is what the pump ended up looking like.

[IMG]Pump 1[/IMG]

Well the PS pump split all the way around the housing.

Patrick Olsen · 01-29-2005, 05:22 AM

Not sure about that generation of Legacy, but newer ones use ATF in the PS system, not PS fluid. Actually, from what I've seen very few modern cars still use PS fluid, almost every car I've dealt with uses ATF.

Pat Olsen
'97 Legacy 2.5GT sedan

01-19-2005, 08:29 AM	#1
leeklimala Scooby Newbie Member#: 75128 Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eastern, NC Vehicle: 1991 Legacy L Charcoal Grey	Frothy Orange Goopy Liquid In eastern NC, below freezing, 91 Legacy, 2.2, auto, started it this morning, heard a pop and fizz coming form under the hood, went to check it out...FROTHY ORANGE GOOPY LIQUID coming from the left side of the engine. Didn't have time to decipher exact location, had to snag a ride to work from my neighbor. OIL? COOLANT? Sometimes the PS dosen't work until I get going down the road, any Ideas? this is My dad's spare car, and I am driving it until my Super Coupe gets fixed. I know a little about this car but not much so please be specific if you reply. Thanks. Lee * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

01-28-2005, 03:10 PM	#7
leeklimala Scooby Newbie Member#: 75128 Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eastern, NC Vehicle: 1991 Legacy L Charcoal Grey	It was PS fluid. My dad had put the Penzoil power steering fluid in there and I assume that was wrong. Here is what the pump ended up looking like. [IMG]Pump 1[/IMG] Well the PS pump split all the way around the housing. Last edited by leeklimala; 01-28-2005 at 03:11 PM. Reason: Can't get the dang picture to load

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01-19-2005, 09:52 AM	#2
sha_zapple Scooby Specialist Member#: 41012 Join Date: Aug 2003 Chapter/Region: E. Canada Vehicle: 1998 Legacy L	My name is Lee also, cool Id guess its power steering. Oil is black/brown, coolant is usually green. Check the PS resevoir.

01-19-2005, 10:41 AM	#3
fibuz Scooby Specialist Member#: 53410 Join Date: Jan 2004 Chapter/Region: SWIC Location: Tucson, AZ / Port Angeles, WA Vehicle: BE-> GD->GR->SG->BL WAawd.org	my guess is oil(might be kinda orangish if mixed with coolant or other fluid or in small quantities), power steering fluid, or brake fluid. although this may not be the issue because the oil is usually black, I'd check the CV boots too. Hope and pray its them because their cheap But often when they break the oil from the boot goes flying everywhere. can you be more exact as to where its bubbling out? that would help an incredible amount. fibuz

01-19-2005, 12:04 PM	#4
leeklimala Scooby Newbie Member#: 75128 Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eastern, NC Vehicle: 1991 Legacy L Charcoal Grey	small bubble coming from oil pool on passenger side valve cover. ps resevoir had fluid in it but also looked like it had overflowed. the fluid is a light orange color, like new motor oil but the car hasn't had an oil change in over 2000 miles. didn't have time to check oil level. car cranks and runs fine but there seems to be no PS. could the lines get frozen or clogged, possibly pinched anywhere? I could only think the fluid would get frothy if it was being pressurized and sprayed out of a small leak somwhere. No signs of coolant in the puddle, how much PS fluid is in these cars? There is a considerable amount of fluid on the ground, I'd say at least 1 to 2 qts. how hard are the VC gaskets to repace on these things?

01-19-2005, 02:45 PM	#5
mvstype Scooby Specialist Member#: 4736 Join Date: Mar 2001 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: don't PM me Vehicle: 95 12 sec. Legacy Same Color as a Booger	Could be head gasket. When the gasket goes coolant and oil make a orange froth in the radiator and engine. MV

01-19-2005, 08:43 PM	#6
fastenova Scooby Specialist Member#: 38829 Join Date: Jun 2003 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Tigard, OR Vehicle: Not your usual 1997 Legacy GT	Some coolant is orange in color. I think it's environmentally friendly or pet-safe stuff, not positive though. When the car is cold, remove your radiator cap and see what color the coolant is. If you can't tell, add a little water, and gently squeeze the upper radiator hose. This will force coolant up towards the top, where you can see the color. 1-2 quarts? Seems like a lot. Our cars use ATF for power steering fluid, which is usually red in color. Frothy red ?= orange? Or water + ATF = orange? I'd agree with sha_zapple, sounds like PS fluid. Good luck! Aaron

01-29-2005, 05:22 AM	#8
Patrick Olsen NASIOC Supporter Member#: 120 Join Date: Jul 1999 Chapter/Region: AKIC Location: Where the Navy sends me... Vehicle: 1997 Legacy 2.5GT QuickSilver Metallic	Not sure about that generation of Legacy, but newer ones use ATF in the PS system, not PS fluid. Actually, from what I've seen very few modern cars still use PS fluid, almost every car I've dealt with uses ATF. Pat Olsen '97 Legacy 2.5GT sedan