1993 NA EJ22 Oil Leak - Passenger Side

[Brisky]

Hey Guys,

I have a 1993 Subaru Legacy L with 252K miles.

I am having a very slow oil leak on the passenger side leaking on the metal piece above the control arm (?).

I already replaced the PCV valve, valve cover gasket, and gromets about a year ago with OEM parts installed by a mechanic.

The steering pump has been rebuilt and is no longer leaking as it did before.

I also checked the oil sensor behind the alternator and it does not leak.

Could the gasket still be leaking? I am unable to see where the leak is coming from underneath the car.



Thanks in advance!

- Brian

Update
---------







Here is the oil sensor (looks clean)

[dankberries]

Possibly a cam seal or the ventilation hose going to the valve cover.

[Brisky]

Possibly a cam seal or the ventilation hose going to the valve cover.

Cam seal being behind the timing belt?
I am set to do the timing belt the coming summer and will repalce all the crank seals there at that time.

Where is the ventilation hose?

I also updated the first post with pictures.


Thanks!

[bcmaxx]

its the rear cam housing o ring on the back of the cylinder head. the drivers side has one on the front of the head as well.

[Brisky]

its the rear cam housing o ring on the back of the cylinder head. the drivers side has one on the front of the head as well.

Would you be able to point me to a picture of where it is located on the engine?

I can usually find things pretty easily, but typically only with a visual reference.

[Legacy777]

These aren't the best of pictures, but you can kind of see the cap in the far bit of this picture.

http://main.experiencetherave.com/subar ... P_8013.JPG



Here is the cap on the turbo model that has oil & coolant lines. The non-turbo model does not have those lines and just a cap.

http://main.experiencetherave.com/subar ... P_4723.JPG

[Brisky]

These aren't the best of pictures, but you can kind of see the cap in the far bit of this picture.

http://main.experiencetherave.com/subar ... P_8013.JPG



Here is the cap on the turbo model that has oil & coolant lines. The non-turbo model does not have those lines and just a cap.

http://main.experiencetherave.com/subar ... P_4723.JPG

Thanks for the pictures and the references.

I have the NA motor and I am still confused looking at the pictures.

Is it any of the spots I circled in red, yellow, purple, or green?

[robertpaige]

Green- That's your Coolant Temp Sensor for the ECU and for the gauge cluster.
Purple- That's your coolant feed line to the throttle body.
Red- That's your block breather for the PCV system, which can leak oil.
Yellow- Valve cover breather for PCV which can leak oil.

None of these things will be the cause of your problem. The rear cam o-ring is probably leaking and splashing on to the catalytic converter, or you may have a power steering leak.

[bcmaxx]

[Brisky]

Sweet.

I just did a rebuild kit on my powersteering pump, so I don't think that is the culprit this time.



I will check the orange area and the red and yellow spots for oil leaks.

Is fixing the rear cam seal very difficult?
Do we have a "how to" or "helpinator" on how to do that?

Thanks guys.

I REALLY appreciate your help.

[bcmaxx]

Sweet.

I just did a rebuild kit on my powersteering pump, so I don't think that is the culprit this time.



I will check the orange area and the red and yellow spots for oil leaks.

Is fixing the rear cam seal very difficult?
Do we have a "how to" or "helpinator" on how to do that?

Thanks guys.

I REALLY appreciate your help.

hey! the rear passenger cam support can be removed ( pull 2 ten mm bolts) and wiggle it out. it will take some finessing, usually tight. remove old hard o ring, install new subaru o ring and put it back on. the drivers front cam carrier requires removal of cam sprocket. but less likely to leak

[Brisky]

Sweet.

I just did a rebuild kit on my powersteering pump, so I don't think that is the culprit this time.



I will check the orange area and the red and yellow spots for oil leaks.

Is fixing the rear cam seal very difficult?
Do we have a "how to" or "helpinator" on how to do that?

Thanks guys.

I REALLY appreciate your help.

hey! the rear passenger cam support can be removed ( pull 2 ten mm bolts) and wiggle it out. it will take some finessing, usually tight. remove old hard o ring, install new subaru o ring and put it back on. the drivers front cam carrier requires removal of cam sprocket. but less likely to leak

Thank you so much!

I will definitely try this out and see if that fixes my oil leak.

Thanks everyone for your help.

Keeping my Subie going 252k+ miles strong.

[Brisky]

Well I thought I would provide you guys with a tentative update.

First the Subaru parts department around here was not very helpful and sold me a plug and not an O-ring, saying that there was no O-ring there.

This is the part I was sold.



Sure enough I take it apart and looks to be the culprit for the oil leak and there is no plug but an O-ring

So I cleaned off the gunk on the back of the plate.







So in my frustration and wanting to do something about the leak I put Ultra Grey RTV on the back of the plate, around the O-ring, and screwed it back into place.

I will be checking the next few days to see if the leak persists.


My question is was it bad to put the Ultra Grey RTV on there?
Will that mess anything up aside from making it really hard to take off the next time?


Additionally, does anyone know the torque specs on those two 12 mm bolts? I just made them tight on the socket.

Thanks again!




I just found the part number at this thread where another member seems to have had the same problem.
http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?p=232065

Part number: 806946030
$3.66 on subarugenuineparts.com

[glennda5id]

I haven't worked back there in a while but I think part of the CAM is rotating there. Don't want RTV in the engine oil galleries but it is probably okay.

The correct part number is 806946030. Item #3 in this diagram

http://opposedforces.com/parts/legacy/u ... tration_1/

[Legacy777]

That plug is for the driver's side head.....that Subaru parts department does not sound very bright....

[Brisky]

I haven't worked back there in a while but I think part of the CAM is rotating there. Don't want RTV in the engine oil galleries but it is probably okay.

The correct part number is 806946030. Item #3 in this diagram

http://opposedforces.com/parts/legacy/u ... tration_1/

Okay thank you for the information!

So the good news is so far no more oil has leaked out since using the Ultra Grey RTV.

However, I put the RTV pretty much all over that plate (around the O-ring, on the round curved part that goes in and the flat metal parts around the screws). I was a bit overzealous I think with using the stuff.


So I ordered the correct O-ring (which should be here in a week or so since it is on order).


However, since it is no longer leaking oil should I just leave it?
Or should I remove it (likely with a crow bar or something) and then attack it all with acetone and scubbing pads to remove the RTV and then simply change the O-ring?

Has the damage already been done by me using the RTV as much as I did and me taking it off won't change that, meaning is it going to be worth it for me to remove it or is it going to be the same no matter what?

Thanks guys!

[Legacy777]

As long as the RTV hasn't gotten inside the engine and or blocked oil passageways you should be ok.

[Brisky]

As long as the RTV hasn't gotten inside the engine and or blocked oil passageways you should be ok.

Alrighty.

So how soon would I know if it got into the engine?
I mean is there anyway I would know for sure if I did not remove the plate again and look in there?
If it got inside is there a suggested way to remove it? Acetone and elbow grease?






Orange = RTV Ultra Grey put on with a fingers covering
Red = No RTV



I am starting to think about the worst case scenario thinking that I am going to grenade my engine because I put too much RTV on the rear cam plate.

I have been driving for about a week and have not noticed any engine issues yet...


Thanks again for all your help.
I need to meet some local Subaru guys to ask more of these questions in person...

[Legacy777]

You should be ok based on the picture and where you said you put the RTV. The RTV is likely to squeeze outward rather than inward so it shouldn't get into the engine.

[Brisky]

You should be ok based on the picture and where you said you put the RTV. The RTV is likely to squeeze outward rather than inward so it shouldn't get into the engine.

Thanks Josh.

I feel better about it now.

[cj91legss]

You should be ok based on the picture and where you said you put the RTV. The RTV is likely to squeeze outward rather than inward so it shouldn't get into the engine.

Thanks Josh.

I feel better about it now.

If you end up having to do this oring again, Autozone/Schucks-O'Riellys has the oring. You get it when you order the cam seals for your engine.