Hello all as I welcome my self to the dark side!

Yes, after 15 successful years of RWD ownership, a FWD has joined the family.

And yes, the long time members probably do recognize me from being so active here years ago. Anyhow, a new era begins...

My brother in law (it's always a brother in law, isn't it?) picked up a 97 850 wagon this week. Craigslist car... cheap of course, and I thought we'd be doing "standard" stuff and the dealing with the cosmetics that made the car cheap in the first place.

Well the mechanicals are looking ugly, though it does run really well and actually drives around ok. 97 855 base model, BTW, auto, no turbo, dark blue, cloth seats, 196k showing (though old title showed a probably incorrect even 220000.)

On the trip home, only 6 miles, it blew out the dipstick and made a huge mess under the hood. Oil everywhere, on the intake, top of engine, fan, dripping (pouring) everywhere.

So I serviced the flame trap, which looked like someone had been using it as a wood stove. Blocked up 90% with brown burnt chunkiness. Replaced the kit, but not the big breather system service (i.e. hoses and oil separator box).

Initial results good, pulled the dipstick and there was suction! After it warmed up, there was pressure. Not a lot as before but some... it's blowing bubbles at the base of the dipstick tube and continuing to leak, on the ground, quite an alarming amount of oil.

More to do there... I haven't serviced that breather system, I just know it's all "under there". Meantime, we fill the coolant... and that starts to puddle as well. I cannot tell where it's coming from except to say it's "the engine" as opposed to "the radiator".

Haven't had a chance to get under, get it washed off, or anything yet.

Has anyone had a freeze plug leak, or a external coolant leak from a headgasket? Those are the things that worry me at this point... I do not want quite so steep a learning curve on this car... but short of hunting down and threatening the seller, I'm not sure what to do.

Thanks in advance for all advice and hello to friends new and old...






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--Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 1992 244 240K ::: 1990 745GL 289K ::: 1990 745T 266K ::: 1989 244GLT Custom 271K