help required with oil leak
 

have noticed a smell of oil in the engine bay and think there maybe a leak from the oil pump.Seems to be coming out from the bottom of the timing belt cover the one with the timing marks on it,unable to get this off at present due to rusted up fixing bolts.The right had cover comes off but unable to see any oil from this position.Does it sound likely or could there be any other causes?-waiting to get it up on ramps to check it fully.
it is a 98 uk

cam or crank oil seal probably, dont know how hard it is to change them though

I've just done mine, you need to remove the ca,belt, and then the oil pump ideally..... not absolutely crucial to remove the pump, but at least you can be sure the new seal is in square..... didn't take me too long, but, as you need to have the cambelt off, don't do it if you're not 100% confident with it.....

If its coming from where you say it is, most likely the crank seal.

you have to remove the cam belt and drive sprocket.

you can then remove the seal from the oil pump housing. some people take it out by screwing a couple of screws in, i found it easier and safer to remove the oil pump and pop the seal out with fingers.

cam belt? I take it this is the timing belt? or the V belt.

new to scooby engines so just trying to get my head round them

yep, timing belt / cam belt.

the crank seal is housed in the oil pump, just behind the drive sprocket (central in pic with belt running over the top of it)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...k/DSC00345.jpg

any ideas of cost? not keen on tackling something like this myself.Only had the car a couple of weeks so I hope not too much??

I would change the cam belt at the same time as the seal as it has to come off anyway.
I estimate one of the Scoob specialists (not a dealer) would charge about £150'ish all in :)

local subaru dealer quoted 290+vat and reusing old cambelt as it only has 20 k on it???

would it be worth upgrading the oil pump to a roger clarke item while the cambelt is off anyway?

:mad: thats a heck of a price for that job..... interesting that they say they can reuse the old belt... they obviously think that oild won't damage it.....:brickwall :Whatever_

I'd not do the pump personally, but i would put a new belt on it!!:)