97 Outback

[T. Fisher]

Wife' car:

97 Outback Legacy wagon
4 cyl.
manual
73 months
69000 miles

She noticed oil small spots on the garage floor under the engine of
her car.

She took it to independent mech (a great guy and great mech).

He told her that the cam seals were deteriorating and leaking.

Question: Isn't this pretty early for cam seal replacments? I don't
doubt his diagnosis, I'm wondering if this engine is known to suffer
from this problem.

The "bright" side is that the timing belt will be replaced at the same
time. Might as well do it now.

and that Told her she needdrip

 

[Jim Stewart]

Wife' car:

97 Outback Legacy wagon
4 cyl.
manual
73 months
69000 miles

She noticed oil small spots on the garage floor under the engine of
her car.

She took it to independent mech (a great guy and great mech).

He told her that the cam seals were deteriorating and leaking.

Question: Isn't this pretty early for cam seal replacments? I don't
doubt his diagnosis, I'm wondering if this engine is known to suffer
from this problem.

Sadly, no.

 

[Josh Assing]

we have a 97 impreza outback -- 117K miles -- no oil leaks....
but I've heard that it's normal to have to replace them as early as 50 or 60K

 

[Jim Stewart]

Sadly, no.

Sorry for the ambigous answer. I hadn't had my coffee.
A better answer would be that 69k is a little early, but
not that unusual based on what I learned about the problem
googling the web. My car started dripping oil at something
like 85k and I changed all the seals and did the oil pump
fix. Make sure your mechanic is aware of it and performs
it. He has to remove the oil pump, remove the 5 screws from
the back of the pump, locktite them and replace them. He
should also change the o-ring when he reinstalls the pump.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[ed]

Not too much extra work to replace the seals at the same time as the T-belt,
but normally they do last longer than that. Might consider getting the water
pump changed too, if it goes bad, they have to do all the work over again,
as the pump is run off the T-belt (an extra 30-45 minutes for the pump).
Also change the crank seal since they are there, only a few minutes extra
and a few dollars for the seal. I always change the alternator and PS belts
at the same time as the T-belt, these are cheap, and are removed anyways to
get to the T-belt, so no extra labour to change, and peace of mind,
especially on a trip.
Ed B.

 

[Guest]

I had oil leak because of worn "O"-ring on oil drain bolt. Just wipe your
engine with dry cloth, put a paper under the car, and see where you will
have a drops. It will allow you to doublecheck your mechanic. I have Outback
'97 with 115K and I had no leaks except one I mentioned in the begining.

 

[T. Fisher]

Thanks to all who responded.

I had oil leak because of worn "O"-ring on oil drain bolt. Just wipe your
engine with dry cloth, put a paper under the car, and see where you will
have a drops. It will allow you to doublecheck your mechanic. I have Outback
'97 with 115K and I had no leaks except one I mentioned in the begining.

 

[Bob Gibson]

I had the oil pump start leaking at 90,000 (not unusual for Subarus in my
experience). When I went in to change the seals and O rings on it, I saw
the cam seals were starting to leak so I changed them too. If you have one
of these problems, fix both at the same time. You'll never be sorry.
Bob