1985 Subaru Brumby help

hones · Post by **hones** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:33 am

Hi guys,
I am looking at buying an 85 Brumby ute and was told by the guy selling it that it leaks oil. Not surprising from an old car I know but I live approx an hour from this guy and he says with that distance I probably wont make it home.

Its only leaking when the car is running. Makes me think it could be a mechanical oil pump or an oil seal somewhere with too much pressure.

Can anyone shed some light? Is it possible its a common problem? Thought?

Its an 1800 L series motor.

Thanks

thunder039 · Post by **thunder039** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:50 am

unless its dirt cheap and you can fix it yourself then walk away!
without looking its hard to say what it could be.
and also it would have the ea81 carby engine which is stock to the brumby and only some l series i believe

hones · Post by **hones** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:58 am

dirt cheap = yes
mechanically minded = yes can fix

Im looking for a very cheap runabout as ive got a job in the mining industry, away from home for weeks at a time, needing something cheap to leave out front of airport... Would also like a ute as I have a dirtbike

Theres a good point, i know the utes arent 'large', but with tailgate down and on an angle, anyone got any idea if average dirtbike will fit? 250-450ish.
Also has 345000 on the clock, but I heard these motors (if looked after) can last a long time.

AshR · Post by **AshR** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:19 am

yeah you'll fit a dirtbike straight in with the tailgate down, have found a pic somewhere of two bikes in side by side.

As for oil leak, it could be anything... though there is plenty of room under the hood if you want to pull the engine out

thunder039 · Post by **thunder039** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:50 pm

yep i fit my dirt bike in there easy.
as for the oil leak if you can fix it then yes but i would find out were the leak is coming from 1st! if its from the back of the motor then its going to require a lot of work

sven '2' · Post by **sven '2'** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:41 pm

hones wrote:Hi guys,
I am looking at buying an 85 Brumby ute and was told by the guy selling it that it leaks oil. Not surprising from an old car I know but I live approx an hour from this guy and he says with that distance I probably wont make it home.

Its only leaking when the car is running. Makes me think it could be a mechanical oil pump or an oil seal somewhere with too much pressure.

Can anyone shed some light? Is it possible its a common problem? Thought?

Its an 1800 L series motor.

Thanks

Not that we think you are dim, but are you sure it is a EA82 and not a EA81?

Is a lot of work to fit a 82. Most would not bother as the 81 is a tougher motor

Engine code is on the block in front of the carbie

Silverbullet · Post by **Silverbullet** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:42 pm

If you can inspect it before you buy, take a good look at the engine and in particular the oil pump at the front below the crank pulley. If it is a stock Brumby it will have the EA81 engine and the oil pumps crack very easily sometimes on those. If the oil pump is cracked you'll need a newie, when mine cracked it cost $500 for a new one installed

Would make sense if it only leaks when running, mine did but not that bad. Still enough to see drips while you sat and watched it.

If the pump is cracked there will be oil down the front and it will also leak from the back of the engine as the oil gets pushed backwards by the air when driving, I first thought I had a leaky rear main but no it was the oil pump.

dfoyl · Post by **dfoyl** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 7:27 pm

EA81's are pretty shocking for oil leaks, but they run forever. I certainly wouldn't be too worried about it, if that's the worst problem with it you'll be laughing. Obviously if it's as bad as the seller says it'll need immediate attention but that should mean a good price to buy...

The only thing that kills them is rust. Start with the tray and the bottom of the a-pillars. If they're good you've got a good car.

If it's an EA82 from an L-series I would be a lot more worried. Chances are it'll be a backyard job and could have all kinds of problems (eg. electrical). EA82's suffer more from headgasket failure than oil leaks.

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:37 pm

I've had an EA82 spring a major leak from the crank seal - so bad that at idle it would create a pool of oil under the engine within a few minutes!

I haven't heard or seen an oil pump do it though. And if it doesn't create a pool like this, could you drive it with a spare 20L in the back and just keep topping it up?

As Dfoyl has said, it's the rust that's the killer in these!

I'm hoping for your sake that it's an EA81, much easier to work on!

Cheers

Bennie

B00sting · Post by **B00sting** » Sat Jun 16, 2012 5:35 pm

my brumby leaked oil it was a 40 dollar fix, from the oil pump cant just a gasket or something. can't really remember. obviously could be different for you.

bikes fit easy, i fit my 300 gas gas in no problems.

whats he want for the car?

shuffbag · Post by **shuffbag** » Sat Jun 16, 2012 6:35 pm

theres one on adelaide gumtree for 750 ono a the moment, is that the one?
advertised for 1300 then after i buy my liberty it pops up again for 750 stating it now leaks oil.....

revmax · Post by **revmax** » Sat Jun 16, 2012 6:37 pm

yer that one I'd say.

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/port-ade ... 1003403354

at $750 with 12mths rego that makes the car woth about $350. JUST BUY it and deal with it before someone else does.