February 12, 200719 yr I have 2 OBWs '99 & a'97. Both seem to be developing an oil leak in the front of the engine. I changed the timing belt and the water pump on the '97 @ 105,000 miles. What should I look for.
February 12, 200719 yr Check valve covers. This is happening to alot of us '96 - '99ers now. Cold weather and age. Also, is it just on one side? If the inside of your wheel is coated in oil chances are you have a leaky cam seal.
February 12, 200719 yr normally when you do the timing belt you should do the seals, waterpump and tensioner. It avoids doing all that work again in the future. nipper
February 13, 200719 yr Author I replaced the timing belt and the water pump. I did not see any oil leaking at the time. Also I did not know how to change the cam seal. On the '97 there are 3 puddles sometimes. Other times it is either the right or left side of the engine.
February 13, 200719 yr Cam seals should definitely be replaced. I have seen at least one suggested maintenance schedule that says it should be done along with the water pump and belt replacement at the 75K. Our 96 Impreza started spritzing oil well before that mileage mark so it may be age related too (independent of how many miles you put on). There are a lot of subes that make it well past the 100K mark before this gets taken care of but in my experience they all start leaking before 100K.
February 13, 200719 yr There are a lot of subes that make it well past the 100K mark before this gets taken care of but in my experience they all start leaking before 100K. if not they sure do before the next timing belt change. You change these seals weather they are leaking or not. nipper
February 13, 200719 yr Author if not they sure do before the next timing belt change. You change these seals weather they are leaking or not. nipper Where are they located? I do all of my own work. How much of a pain is this to do. Here in W.PA the weather has been very cold for the past 2 weeks. This will have to wait for warmer weather. My garage was 27 degrees last week.
February 13, 200719 yr Where are they located? I do all of my own work. How much of a pain is this to do. Here in W.PA the weather has been very cold for the past 2 weeks. This will have to wait for warmer weather. My garage was 27 degrees last week. Colder up here in Vermont! Change the camshaft and crankshaft seals, take the oil pump apart, reseal the rear of the pump(rtv), and tighten it, and change its o-ring. John
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