I'll just say from the start, unless you've spent plenty of time looking up at a subaru engine you're probably not gonna know what I'm attempting to describe - and even if you have it probably still won't be clear

While removing the engine undertray in prep for doing an oil change I noticed that I have a slight oil leak. I'll try and explain where from memory.

lying underneath the engine - feet out front - looking up at engine. There is what appears to me to be 2 engine bolts (the heads of which are facing you) that look like they would need an allen key to remove. The one on the right (driver side) is bone dry but the one on the left has oil all around it. This is around the area where the dipstick pipe meets the oil sump.

Oil is NOT dripping onto the upper side of the undertray but there were a few drips on the rubber hose that seems to ultimately join the oil filter via a metal pipe.

Is there a gasket prone to failure in this area or something. I have a few months warranty left on the car (not with Subaru) and I'd like to get this sorted under it.

Apologies for the poor description.

Thanks in advance.
Mark

 

Sounds like the front crank seal..

cambelt off and replace job.. looking at about £300 at a Scoob dealer..

 

Excuse my ignorance, but isn't the front crank seal at the front of the engine?(Nearest to radiator)
The leak I have is at the back of the engine block - nearest to where front passengers feet would be.

Thanks
Mark.

 

lol.. then I didn't get your description.. lol

There are seals on the front - crank in the middle and four cam seals.

There is one seal on the back - rear crank seal, this requires the gearbox off and the clutch and flywheel removed to replace.

There is then the cam covers on either side and assosiated bolt seals and half moons.

If you are saying the leak is in the middle at the back or along the flange where the gearbox meets the engine then it is likely to be rear crank seal.. if it is not leaking much and the clutch is not slipping then personnally I'd keep a close eye and wait for the clutch to need replacing.

Only other thing that springs to mind is that if it is to the driver side rear to check the oil connections to the turbo.

Or you have a lot of oil going through the oil breathers and leaking between where it meets the air intake (just before the turbo) and it dripping from there down the back of the engine.
Has it been over filled with oil possibly?

 

Thanks for your reply - I think I need to take another look. My memory is now beginning to get a little foggy as to the exact area.

Round 2 then with that flippin undertray

 

My flippin undertray now has it's place in the garage.. lol

was changing the oil so often I had enough of it...

 

I think mine's gonna meet a similar fate.

 

Been under the car for an hour cleaning up dried oil so as to get an idea where the oil sweat is coming from. I'm starting to think it may be from where the oil pan makes contact with the bottom of the engine. One side of the oil pan has oil around the bezel (where the screws are) and the other side is completely dry. What seal would that be then?

Mark.

 

difficult to understand where you mean?

there is a seal between sump and block.

 

Sump - that's what I meant
Sounds like it would be that one - Is it a big job to replace (Engine out?)

Mark.

 

no not at all.

oil out, undo the bolts holding the sump on and I think you might need to lift the engine on the mounts slightly with a jack (maybe undoing the support bar under the intercooler).. not 100% sure on procedure but 100% sure you do not have to remove the engine.

You are getting a fine mist though you say?

Sump is not pressurised so I would expect you to see a drip not a mist so perhaps it is something else in the area?

 

Yeah, i'd say it's more of a mist than a drip. The area where you secure the left handside (as you're looking up at it) of the sump to the block has what I would describe as congealed oil. There's only 1 place I have seen a drip and that is on the underside of the rubber hose that attaches to the long thin pipe that runs parallel with and above the headers heatshield and appears to join the oil filter - Looks like it could be an oil return line?

My suspicion is that when the congealed oil gets hot it causes this drip. The drip doesn't actually make it to the floor it just sits on the underside of the rubber hose I just mentioned. Of course this might be from another seal.

Thanks for bearing with me on this one - I know I'm not making it easy for you

 

sounds like you should wait for it to leak more and then it would be more obvious

mine breathes a little oil from most places.. lol

 

If you are leaving the undertray off for any period, an oil leak at the front will appear as a mist towards the back of the engine.

What year and mileage is your car as front crank seals tend to fail at anything from 60k onwards and give similair symptoms to what you describe with the oil coming out the front and blowing back onto the sump casing.

Zippy

 

Zippy, these symptoms are while the undertray was on. It's off now though so I can keep an eye on things.

Car is MY01 with 76K on the clock. How many front crank seals are there?
I removed the passenger side timing belt cover but couldn't see any oil. Couldn't see how to remove the other timing belt cover(s) - is it major hassle to get them off?

thanks