1999 Outback Frontal Oil Leak

[LAPTOPER]

Hey everyone!

So after great success with your help, I need some more!

Alright, so, I'm leaking oil BADLY! It leaks so bad that within a couple of weeks - a month, I'm out at least a court of oil. It drips perfectly on the exhaust, so I am always smelling burning oil. Now that it's winter and I let my car run, the inside is always smelling of oil. My dad says that it isn't the rear main seal as we checked that location when we replaced the transmission. So, he claims it is the "front main seal". However, there is no Subaru part with that name. I need to know what the exact seal I need is. Also, we figured that it would be best to get ANY and ALL seals that we can get to. If we are going to take off the radiator, and remove practically everything else, we want to save some time in the future and replace all the important seals now, so that we don't have to do it in a VERY long time. Does that make sense?

I need the names of basically every seal that may be causing my leak. I looked around and it could possibly be the "camshaft" or the "crank" seal?

Anyway, thanks for your help in advanced and if you have any questions, I'll do my best to answer them!

Steven Wilcox

[miker104]

If its coming from the front, probably the crank seal (on front side of oil pump) or the camshaft seals (4). Those are common leak areas. If you are going to change those may as well reseal the oil pump and tighten the screws with locktite.

Here is a visual guide for the oil pump Remove and Reseal Oil Pump ~ Subaru Legacy Outback ~ BeerGarage.com

and one for cam shaft seals Camshaft Oil Leak ~ Subaru Legacy Outback ~ BeerGarage.com

These are some photos for a general familiarization, best to check the FSM for correct procedures/materials.

Many say to use the Subaru supplied seals as the cost difference is not that significant from aftermarket ones.

[LAPTOPER]

Awesome! Thanks for those links!

One more question: How many camshaft seals do we need? One website would only sell it in packs of 4, and on another site, I can I order as many as I want/need. So how many do I really need?

Thanks again,

Steven Wilcox

[RobLog]

The 2.5L DOHC has four camshafts, two each side, so it takes 4 seals.

[nipper]

When was the last time the timing belt was replaced?

This can be the main seal or the oil pump seal. If the timing belt has never been done it is time for all seals, re-seal the water pump, the idlers, the belt, and as long as your there the T-stat.

If it has been replaced, don't go to that shop again as they should have done all those parts

[LAPTOPER]

I'm not actually sure. I bought the car in May, so I've owned it for a little while. I know that we just replaced the T-stat though.

[nipper]

Then it is time. Usually the seals leak after 105,000 miles. Sounds like there may be more miles on it then that.

how many miles.

[LAPTOPER]

about 150,000. Yeah.

Steven Wilcox

[bstone]

You may want to think about replacing the valve cover gaskets, as well. Not hard but probably due.

[miker104]

Originally Posted by bstone

You may want to think about replacing the valve cover gaskets, as well. Not hard but probably due.

Another probable oil leak source as well. May as well do those to as you have to remove the camshaft gears to change the cam seals and there is a hex on the camshaft accessible behind the valve covers that may help you loosen the bolt that secures the camshaft sprocket.

TB change (as Nipper suggested) is a good idea too since you have to remove it to replace the cam seals. If you replace the idlers/tensioner/waterpump while you are there you should be good to go for another 100k (unless the HGs fail).