oil leak onto up-pipe, where from?

[farfrumwork]

So I have a slow leak that is depositing oil onto my up-pipe, which is burning off and limiting my HVAC use when stopped (stinks).

So I cleaned the UP a few weeks ago, but the stank came back pretty quick (it doesn't take much oil to make a LOT of stink). I think that the oil is comming from the passenger side valve cover but it is tight in there so I'm not sure.

Does anyone have experience with such leaks? anywhere else that might be likely as a source? It seems that the valve cover is only held on with 3 centered bolts, which doesn't make for a bomb-proof seal so it seems to be the front runner.

I'd like to fix it soon before the whole thing goes up in flames

Any input on the valve cover seal replcement would be appreciated as well. I assume it to be very easy, and will require some kind of RTV at certain spots (like a Honda valve cover), but I haven;t even looked at a manual for it yet...

Thanks
Chad

[vrg3]

The valve cover gaskets commonly fail. A quick search will reveal everything you need to know about them. The job is indeed very easy, and you don't need RTV silicone or anything.

[Saskatoon Subaru]

Its a pretty simple job, but when you do the gasket get new washer's for the 3 bolts as well.

[greg donovan]

isnt there a cam seal over there as well that leaks?

[Saskatoon Subaru]

cam seal leak should be at the front of the engine, not the side, only way to know for sure is to take the timing belt cover off.

[PhyrraM]

The oil drain hose out of the turbo can be a likely suspect also.

[stipro]

isnt there a cam seal over there as well that leaks?

The oil drain hose out of the turbo can be a likely suspect also.

It can quite possibily be the rear cam seal/o-ring. Thats where it was leaking from on my car long ago.

Here is a link on how to replace it. If this is what your issue is.
http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic. ... t=oil+leak

[greg donovan]

odds are it is a probably a combination of all of the above.

i want to pull my engine this summer and clean it up and replace all the worn out seals and hoses.

[farfrumwork]

Cool. Thanks for the inputs everybody.

Poking around in there, it very well could be the rear cam seal and/or the valve cover gasket. I don't think it is the oil return line from the turbo, based on where the oil is (but I've been wrong before - I did replace the turbo about 10k mi ago, so some of my work could be coming undone).

I'll get a new valve cover seal and the 3 washers for the bolts and tear into it.

Thanks for the link to the cam seal replacement Stipro.

-Chad

[farfrumwork]

I replaced the passenger side valve cover gasket and 3 gromets, then cleaned it all up as well (hey, that valve cover is Aluminum!! haha).

No more smokestack of burned oil when at rest!! yeah

Back to the cosmetic work of cleaning off all the old oil - I'm going to replace the drivers side valve cover gasket/gromets, and oil neck o-ring as well just to clean up that side of the motor. Man, that filler neck is leaking somethin' fierce.



I also picked up a PS pump rebuild kit (that's been leaking for years...), which I'll get into in the very near future.

This thing will be nice and leak free sooooooon.

Thanks to all for the direction.
-Chad

[SubiePrice88]

I have the same oil leak..leaking onto the up pipe and smokes like crazy.

Im changing the valve cover gaskets asap.

If it is the oil return line, how do I go about fixing that?

[PhyrraM]

If it is the oil return line, how do I go about fixing that?

Have a new one ready for the next time you pull the turbo, because it only way to get at it.

[ericem]

lol sounds exactly like my car and you are doing exactly what I did.

For the PS pump, also get the O ring between the resovoir and the pump. Turned out it was only that one gasket after rebuilding the pump.

[SubiePrice88]

finished the valve cover gaskets and im going to be doing the copper washers for the turbo oil lines.

We'll see if that helps