I noticed a slight oil smell on further observation I see oil at what I believe is the oil pressure sending unit?  the oil is on the lower part of the unit and to the left in the pic. and below there was a small puddle of oil.  Since I've always known the oil from any leak to run mostly down never up and the unit has got oil on it I'm guessing it's the unit.  Any one have any  thoughts on this? Replace switch? remove and tape?  Thanks

Not sure why the pics turned sideways

Edited February 9, 20188 yr by smartin

what car? seems more like ACVS system part.

The leak could be from the oil pressure switch.

Though your talking about the side with the oil fill. It's possible someone spilt oil while filling the engine.

 

Id wash the whole area off with degreaser and then hit it with water (on a not freezing day)

 

Then monitor that area closly for the leak.

 

The oil pressure switch your taking about is the oil pressure switch for the AVLS so the ECM knows the solenoid moved and the cam profiles changed.

 

The switch is just a pipe thread.

So you can try tightening it a little, or putting tape on it if that's the leak.

Edited February 9, 20188 yr by golucky66

2008 Outback

 

3000 mi. since last oil change no oil added 

 

I will degrease the whole area and see if I can get a better idea of where it is coming from.

 

So exactly what part is that I am looking at? just below and to the left of the blue plastic unit?

 

Seems like it should be easy enough to remove.

 

If not from the switch where else right in that area could oil be leaking from?

do not overtorque that part - sometimes the casting cracks if abused.

In that area there's only 3 possible locations of leaks.

Oil fill o ring.

AVLS solenoid

And the AVLS oil pressure switch.

 

And the pressure switch is the most common.

But as LT1 said. Be careful not to over tighten it. It's a pipe thread that's tapered and can easily crack the casting if really over tightened.

Edited February 9, 20188 yr by golucky66

What size socket needed??

good point on the o-ring.

 

Doesn't look like the fill cap is the issue though, too dry under there. I guess spillage is possible....

 

 I once noticed I was missing the seal on my fill cap in my WRX, ordered a new one, THEN found the old seal had fallen out, most likely at the previous oil change! It was still in the engine bay.

Edited February 9, 20188 yr by 1 Lucky Texan

To be completely honest I'm not sure.

I wanna guess it's a 21 or 22mm but I haven't had one out since the last HG job I did.

Edited February 9, 20188 yr by golucky66

Changed out the unit today will have to see if that was it.  Looking at how it was covered in oil I don't see where else it could have been coming from. Fingers crossed. I used a 15/16" deep socket worked perfectly. 

24mm! Of course. I remember using a big wrench for something so tiny.

 

Anyways. Only time will tell. Hopefully it be good!

AVLS pressure switches always leak from the wiring connector. They are now a standard line item on our head gasket jobs.

 

GD

Thanks makes me feel a little more confident that was what was happening as it appeared the oil was coming from the top of the unit.

Seems as the oil pressure switch was the culprit. No more leak.