Oil leaking somewhere

[dnoyeB]

I have a 2001 Forester with about 140k mi.

I have been smelling oil when I am at red lights for about 6 months. I
decided to find and fix it. It lead me to leaking boots around the spark
plug holes. The boots inside the valve cover, not the spark plug boots.

I replaced the 2 on the passenger side that were obviously leaking. But I
still smell some oil after many miles. I then replaced the valve cover
seal on that side, and got some new rubber washer things. I don't see any
oil. But I still smell it a bit.

I need to do the drivers side now. But it was not leaking nearly as much
as the passenger side. Neither leak put a drop on the ground. It always
was just the bad smell and slight smoke.


Anyone have experience with this part? Anything else I should replace
while I am at it that might go bad at the same time? Any trick to doing
the driver's side?


Thanks,


CL

 

[I]

Thanks for posting this. I have a similar situation and I'm also interested
to hear the responses.

I have a 2001 Forester with about 140k mi.

I have a 1999 Forester with about 136k mi.

I have been smelling oil when I am at red lights for about 6 months. I
decided to find and fix it. It lead me to leaking boots around the spark
plug holes. The boots inside the valve cover, not the spark plug boots.

I occasionally smell oil after lengthy trips. I didn't spot the spark plug
boots until a couple of days ago when I decided to track down why my
Forester hesitated/stumbled a bit on acceleration. I think I found part of
the solution in a stuck PCV. I also found that my spark plug boots were
covered in oil which seemed to come from the valve cover seals.

I replaced the 2 on the passenger side that were obviously leaking. But I
still smell some oil after many miles. I then replaced the valve cover
seal on that side, and got some new rubber washer things. I don't see any
oil. But I still smell it a bit.

Was it difficult to replace the valve cover seals? I'm not very
experienced. I imagine that the valve cover seals would be tricky to keep
in position until the valve cover is in place. Is that true? How much
torque should one use on the valve cover bolts?

I need to do the drivers side now. But it was not leaking nearly as much
as the passenger side. Neither leak put a drop on the ground. It always
was just the bad smell and slight smoke.


Anyone have experience with this part? Anything else I should replace
while I am at it that might go bad at the same time? Any trick to doing
the driver's side?

Yes, please: I'd like to know more about this, too. Thanks

 

[Steve Daniels]

I have been smelling oil when I am at red lights for about 6 months.

I would never sit at a red light for more than a day.

 

[dnoyeB]

Thanks for posting this. I have a similar situation and I'm also
interested to hear the responses.


I have a 1999 Forester with about 136k mi.


I occasionally smell oil after lengthy trips. I didn't spot the spark
plug boots until a couple of days ago when I decided to track down why
my Forester hesitated/stumbled a bit on acceleration. I think I found
part of the solution in a stuck PCV. I also found that my spark plug
boots were covered in oil which seemed to come from the valve cover
seals.


Was it difficult to replace the valve cover seals? I'm not very
experienced. I imagine that the valve cover seals would be tricky to
keep in position until the valve cover is in place. Is that true? How
much torque should one use on the valve cover bolts?

Extremely easy on the passenger side. 5 bolts facing left, 1 facing
front. The seals sit in a grove so they don't fall out while you place
it. But in addition to the valve cover which goes around the edge of the
cover, there are some "boots" that go on the inside of the cover right at
the spark plug. Thats what you have leaking. Those are just as easy on
the passenger side. Driver side is probably going to require some more
parts be removed before the cover will come off.

 

[dnoyeB]

I would never sit at a red light for more than a day.

Just doing my part to keep the economy "rolling"

 

[fdxforester]

Just doing my part to keep the economy "rolling"

Check the PCV valve, when the valve plugs up with crude it raises the
case pressure which makes seals leak and oil drip onto the exhaust
manifold. Cheap fix that also improves engine performance.

 

[dnoyeB]

Thanks for posting this. I have a similar situation and I'm also
interested to hear the responses.


I have a 1999 Forester with about 136k mi.


I occasionally smell oil after lengthy trips. I didn't spot the spark
plug boots until a couple of days ago when I decided to track down why
my Forester hesitated/stumbled a bit on acceleration. I think I found
part of the solution in a stuck PCV. I also found that my spark plug
boots were covered in oil which seemed to come from the valve cover
seals.


Was it difficult to replace the valve cover seals? I'm not very
experienced. I imagine that the valve cover seals would be tricky to
keep in position until the valve cover is in place. Is that true? How
much torque should one use on the valve cover bolts?

The part that goes around the spark plug that was leaking is called a
"PIP" at least that is what was on the package. I removed the washer
bottle, and that made the drives side pretty easy. 5 screws. the cover
seal is easy too. Hardest thing is getting the cover out of the area
because its tight.

So each side has
5x rubber washer things around the screws.
2x pips (1 on each spark plug thing)
1x cover seal.

Oh, and the screws are not all the same size, and the pattern of sizes is
not the same on the left and the right.

Now I'm hunting down that PCV...

 

[I]

The part that goes around the spark plug that was leaking is called a
"PIP" at least that is what was on the package. I removed the washer
bottle, and that made the drives side pretty easy. 5 screws. the cover
seal is easy too. Hardest thing is getting the cover out of the area
because its tight.

So each side has
5x rubber washer things around the screws.
2x pips (1 on each spark plug thing)
1x cover seal.

Oh, and the screws are not all the same size, and the pattern of sizes is
not the same on the left and the right.

Now I'm hunting down that PCV...

I found mine screwed into the intak manifold, top side, toward the back,
and toward the passenger side.

 

[Mike]

Sounds like a cam cover gasket is leaking to me, I've got the same problem ,
just need to find time to bring it to the shop.
From what I've heard it reasonable common & reasonably cheap to fit. Just
use genuine Subaru gaskets.