Hi

 

I need a little advice on a relatively substantial oil leak from my 2006 Forester Turbo. My Forester has 97,000 km on the clock and has recently developed an oil leak from the RH side of the engine. Before I started any surgery, I was hoping to get a heads-up on what the source may be. Its using about 0.5 L per week.

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks Cossie

Turbo oil return lines.

+1

And the Valve cover gaskets, spark plug gaskets, and AVCS lines (if so equipped- not sure when Down Under got them, but probably b4 us!)  could be leaking.

 

While you're in there, I'd replace or just remove (?) the turbo oil feed line screens. ....read up

about the How/Why/Where, etc.

 

"Cheers"

TD

Edited June 25, 201510 yr by wtdash

+1

And the Valve cover gaskets, spark plug gaskets, and AVCS lines (if so equipped- not sure when Down Under got them, but probably b4 us!)  could be leaking.

 

While you're in there, I'd replace or just remove (?) the turbo oil feed line screens. ....read up

about the How/Why/Where, etc.

 

"Cheers"

TD

You DO NOT want to remove them! They keep crap out of the cam gear actuators.  Definitely need to be taken out and cleaned at least every 6 months, replace if damaged.

You DO NOT want to remove them! They keep crap out of the cam gear actuators.  Definitely need to be taken out and cleaned at least every 6 months, replace if damaged.

 

No offense, but every '6 months'? Is this listed in the maintenance manual somewhere? I've never seen that and seems unreasonable...even for Subaru's new(er) 3750 mile OCI on the turbo models. Plus, isn't the oil filter supposed to 'keep crap out of the cams'?

 

And  this Subaru TSB (although old)- Step 10,  states to 'reinstall the original union screw w/out the filter', which leads me to believe even Subaru deems them dubious.

 

Thanks,

TD

Edited June 27, 201510 yr by wtdash

We've built quite a few of these engines and the problems always crop up with stuff getting into the cam phasers.  Given the oiling problems of these engines, which "corporate" won't admit, it is cheap insurance against a very costly problem. 

 

It's not the cams themselves which are the issue: it is the cam phasers (I used the wrong term in "actuators".) which are part of the upper cam pulleys on these engines.  Oil filters will not keep them clean enough.  They are electronic in nature, part of the AVCS system and easily disturbed. 

 

As you know, bearings constantly shed minute particles of metal as they wear.  It's part of the nature of the beast.  These extemely fine screen mesh filters help keep junk out of the cam phasers.

 

Emily

^Thanks for this info....never read about that.

 

But have read about others (ask Ford about there F150/5.4 cam phasers!).

 

Td

Edited June 29, 201510 yr by wtdash