Woodgate

Just noticed oil on driveway and looked under car to see oil dripping from under engine bay.Not too bad, but enough to cause me concern.
Lifted bonnet and can see nothing but engine etc.

Has anyone experienced oil leak problems on 53 plate wrx ?
Any idea what likely source of leak is ?
Need to get it either onto a lift to check or take it to dealers where I bought it from.
Car exactly 2 years old with only 9800 miles on it.
Due for 10,000 mile service so do you reckon dealer will suss this out when doing oil change ?
Any advice would help.

cheers
Rob

austen_wrx

Have you smelt an oil burning smell when driving?? I had a driveshaft seal go after the gearbox was done under warantee when the car was 6 months old. The oil splashed off the driveshafts onto the zorst causing the smell which made me investigate, but the oil slick on the drive really gave it away

Woodgate

No oil burning smell. It looks like it's engine oil and it's on drivers side.

Woodgate

Just taken undertray off and got under car to look for leak. Must be minor leak I think.(hope)
Few drips on bottom of oil filter and in that area but cant see where leak is coming from.Filter is tight. Plastic undertray all wet with oil and of course it has spread all over underside of car when driving at speed.
Mystery this one. Hard to tell unless up on a lift.
Looks like a trip to dealers for oil change (£80) and a check over unless someone on here can point me in right direction.

fastfrank

you know that there's a part of the undertray that can be opened to provide access to the sump plug... I bet you any money the dude who changed the oil last did it that way and sprayed oil all over the inside of the undertray. The drips are probably just the oil drippingout of the side.

I always take the cover off when doing oil changes for that reason. Its impossible to make the oil come out clean - its sprays all over the place!

Just take the cover off once more and give it a good clean off so you can eliminate that as the cause then keep and eye on it. Save yourself spending out £80 unecessarily.

Frank

Woodgate

Hiya Frank
thanks for reply.

The thing is, I work away so dont use car that much, hence only 9800 miles in 2 years.
So it's actually 23 months since oil was changed at dealers, 1st service.

I hope you are right about them spilling oil into undertray but it has taken long time to drip on driveway for first time.

I did notice a couple of tiny marks and a small dent opposite them in oil filter so wonder if mechanic has used stillsons or similar and a pin hole has developed in filter.
Think I will just leave it sat in my garage for day or so and check if any more oil appears whilst stood.

Cheers
Rob

fastfrank

no worries, yep, maybe your oil filter seal could be at fault - it certainly shouldn't have drips on it if it was fitted a long while ago. I'd get hold of it and give it a nudge clockwise a tiny bit.

good luck

Woodgate

Thanks for taking time to advise me.

Woodgate

Test drive revealed it is still leaking and I think it may be tiny pin hole in filter spraying onto undertray and exhaust heatshield.Didnt leak when idling on driveway or revving it.Must have been increased oil pressure when razzing it up the road. No sign of oil leaking anywhere else above filter level.
Will fit new filter.
Where is best (cheapest) place to buy filter and mobil1 synthetic oil ?

cheers
Rob

Liamdela

if the car has been sitting up I would safely say it could be the seal on the oil filter

fastfrank

if you need a filter I buy from Subaru. They only cost less than £7 for genuine parts! (oh and buy a crush washer to - about an extra 80p).

as for oil... I only use semi-synthetic in mine Shell Helix 10w40 (5L) which costs me £19.99 at the local Shell garage.

Woodgate

Thanks Frank

No sign of any oil running down filter from seal area.
Will get genuine filter from Subaru and a washer.

Is the Shell Helix stuff ok then ? lot cheaper though.
Has Mobil 1 in it now.

Rob

fastfrank

i only use semi as thats what the Subaru Garage told me they put in it and it runs fine. End of the day its up to you which oil you put in mobile is very good quality.

Woodgate

Thanks again for all advice.
Top bloke !

cheers
Rob

simms

is it engine oil or gearbox oil, you can tell as engine oil doesnt really smell ( that much ) gearbox oil stinks, i would bet on a drive shaft seal.

Woodgate

It was a very tiny pin hole in filter.
Do filters generally rot after 2 years and only 9600 miles or will it have been because it had a nick and small kink in it from fitting with grips when last serviced probably.

andrewwhitcombe

Oil Filters should only be fitted hand tight!

fastfrank

nope oil filters shouldn't rot.

more than likely it's a manufacturing defect (so you would have seen oil within days of fitting it) or its a some debris thats punctured it - my guess is the latter. Mayve the mechanic who fitted it dropped it on the floor prior to fitment....

Good to hear you sorted it.

Frank

Woodgate

Yes Andrew even me gran knows that for f***ks sake.
It just seems some mechanics forget.
I didnt tighten it he did.
I am mechanical engineer of 30 years experience but had to let garage give it first service for warranty.