January 11, 200719 yr .......but from where? That plate is covered in oil, but its not coming from the drain plug nor is the oil pan leaking. View from the top; some burnt off oil, which would explain the burning smell. None on the other side. View from the bottom, also got some oil, but the opposite side does as well. Cam seal? Baffle plate? Something else? My '96 LGT leaked from the cam seal. $200.
January 11, 200719 yr leaking pic 1: rear separator plate. engine or tranny has to come out for this. engine is easier to pull if your doing other things. pic 2 and 3: valve covers and gromets. do when engine is out.
January 11, 200719 yr a new PCV valve may slow down the leaking some. use Subaru only on that part. i'd replace the easy stuff - the cam seals and monitor the oil level. if you're not loosing a significant amount then i'd leave the separator plate for awhile, they typically seap and don't leak significant amounts. it could also be the rear main seal, though they rarely leak from the factory. or if you're paying someone big dollars to replace those $5 cam seals, then maybe you can live with that minor amount of leakage as well. the cam seals are located directly behind the timing belt, so it's nice to time those for replacement at the same time. in other words if you timing belt is due in 20,000 miles, just replace the cam seals at the same time. or if you go in to do the cam seals now, have the timing belt done as well, since it has to come off anyway. there's zero extra labor for installing a new belt, except removing it from the box! and some epoxy on the garage floor might help so you can wipe up the drippage!
January 11, 200719 yr Author Thanks. Timing belt due in 15,000 miles. I agree, might as well get it done now.
January 12, 200719 yr valve cover seals. leak and blow back ont that plate. i just had same problem on 97 outback. i thought sep plate or rear main seal. turned out to be just the valve cover seals jake
January 12, 200719 yr Author Right you are. $440 to get both seals done. So much for saving money replacing my timing belt. Oh well.
January 12, 200719 yr Right you are. $440 to get both seals done. So much for saving money replacing my timing belt. Oh well. ihad mine replaced and then read that some else, with more hands on, found his valve cover bolts LOOSE. you might check before you just spend.
January 13, 200719 yr These guys are right on- separator plate or rear main seal on the first pic, both are what I like to call "livable" leaks as long as oil leakage isn't copious. Both my EJ22 and EJ25 leak a little oil from that same area. But I am glad to say that I haven't seen any seepage as of late. Just watch your oil level and everything will be fine.
January 13, 200719 yr Author Seperator plate is A ok. $400 even to get both seals replaced. Time & cold weather got the best of them.
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