Oil leak near the base of the dipstick tube
 

Sitting still this afternoon I saw smoke coming out form under the hood so pop it and take a look. It appears to be coming from somewhere near the base of the dipstick tube and running underneath and dripping onto the exhaust. There was a fair bit of crusty buildup in the area so I sprayed it with some engine cleaner and sprayed it down while it was hot, it came out pretty clean so now I can get a look at it without the buildup.

Does someone have a picture of that part of the engine with it out of the car so I can get an idea of what I'm looking at while it's clean and compare it to what I saw and keep an eye on it going forward? Thanks.

There's an O-Ring on the bottom of the tube. It could be damaged. Just unbolt the tube and pull the tube out to inspect.

For want of a nail, the shoe was lost, for the want of a shoe, the horse was lost ..........:rolleyes:


humfrz

Why two threads on this there Grav?

Since the other is closed and for anybody with the same issue here is the TSB that covers this and several other common leaks.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...1&d=1413834741

The question still remain, why got closed?

Duplicate post in wrong section. No drama.

Duplicate thread in wrong section. No drama.

Some people don't seem to check every sub forum and I figured max exposure...

Thanks. Unfortunately I don't think those are the problem but at least now I have something to keep an eye on. I guess there's a chance it could be #3 but usually when there's a leak it would drip/run down not go up. This is on the passenger side of the motor and starts higher than the oil pan.

Still seeing smoke after I thought I had all of the old grimy stuff cleaned off. I'd really love to see a pic of the bottom of the motor above the exhaust on the passenger side of the car so I can formulate some sort of idea where the oil is coming from.

Whatever happened to wiping things down with a rag.

Ffs. I never wanted the world to get involved the first time my points closed up on my old mini in the 70s

Does everyone need a hug. Group keyboard hug?

This.

Unbolt it with a 10mm socket. Take the dipstick and oring to a bearing or seal place. Buy new oring for a couple of dollars. Slip it back in the hole. Do up the bolt. Get on with life.

^ you can also get the o-ring from the dealership for something like .68 lol. Remember to apply some oil to it before you put it back in so it doesn't tear.

Mr. Know it all! You and your "10mm socket" JK :thumbup:

https://i.imgflip.com/r44lt.jpg

FIRST ....... pull the hood latch, then open the hood ....... it makes that bolt easier to get to ....... :D


humfrz

You gonna get a demerit for double posting!:lol:

(now watch me click twice....)!

After a good cleaning so I could see what was going on it wasn't the dipstick tube that's why I asked for a picture. It's to the left of that and further underneath so the only way to see what's up is to pull the exhaust and I'd rather not go through that if I don't have to.

C'mon guys I've been around the block a few times, been driving and working on my own cars for nearly 35 years. I might ask some dumb questions but utilizing the hive mind is one of the things the interwebs is good for.

And another one! :thumbup:

Oh, gravitylover ...... we were jest ah messen wich you ....... ;)

I've been driving and working on my own cars for almost twice that many years ...... so, welcome to wrenching, there, young man ....... :clap:

Back-in-the-day, I would have guessed your oil leak was a front main bearing seal ....... :D

Oh, we aren't back in the day ...... :bonk:

Hell, I'm not sure what's leaking but, as you requested, this is the best I can come up with a picture ......:iono:

(I would guess that the lower part of the timing chain cover is leaking).


humfrz

There are more images here.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=fa20+pictures

Pray it's not this. Long story short I had a damaged timing cover that leaked. It was an 18hr job doing it myself, pulling the old cover off and putting the new cover on. I shudder to think what Toyota would have charged me to do the same job.

Young man? Thanks!!

After going through a bunch of pics I think your lower timing chain cover assessment is correct :(

Thank you! I guess I could have come up with that but sometimes I don't think of searching for images :bonk:

I'm well over the regular 60k warranty period but hoping that the 7/100 that I got because I bought the car CPO covers things like this. I'm going to contact the dealer today and see what happens.

Thanks for the help guys :clap:

Well, gravitylover, since you have the ability and no doubt the tools, what I would suggest is that you torque all of those bolts down that hold the timing chain cover on. I'd start from the bottom and work up.

Maybe you will get lucky and stop the leak ..... :iono:

Back in the day, I used to tighten all the oil pan bolts in hopes of stopping a leak like that ...... rather than biting the bullet and replacing the main seal(s).

That strategy usually didn't work and I would wind up twisting off at least two oil pan bolts ..... :( ...... because I didn't have a torque wrench.

All you need is a 3/8" drive socket wrench, the appropriate size socket, at least 14 universal joints hooked together ....... along with a lighted flexible inspection scope.........:eyebulge:


humfrz

If you do decide to tighten things up yourself, these may help.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...579f7bb882.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b75e79162f.jpg

Am I missing something ....??

Which numbers go with which letters (torque values) ..... ??


humfrz

A and B are solid black/white. You can see the C and D patterns in the second pic.

The manual goes off the bolt length to determine which is which. It would have been more straight forward to say the 10mm hex are 10NM and the 12mm hex bolts are 25NM though. Bolts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are all 10mm the rest are 12mm.

I stumbled on the top one this morning and that's what convinced me to call the dealer and get an appt to bring it in. Turns out the 7/100 CPO warranty covers engine issues up to that 100k so since it's covered, and a known issue, I'll let them take the risk of screwing something up :thumbsup:

One final question. I need to take a ~400 mile trip tomorrow for work, as long as I keep an eye on the oil level I shouldn't really be risking anything too serious right? I mean it's not like oil is pouring out, it's just a drip but because it drips on the exhaust it smokes when the car is sitting still and the oil is burning off. I'll take a few rags with me to wipe the dripped stuff when I stop.

Just get a UV oil leak detector kit and be done with it. The dealer would do the same anyway.

I wouldn't see a problem with that trip. It may use a cup of oil, but so what.

As far as the smoking, back-in-the-day (before crankcase return tubes), we just had a tube that went down along side of the engine block that belched out blue smoke (if the piston oil rings were bad).

That and the dripping of oil from the rear main seal and the smell of raw, partially burnt, gasoline just made for the average driving experience.


:happyanim:


humfrz

Bubba says "that's a bunch of hog wash; iffen it ain't leaken bad enough to be able to tell where it's leakin from..... just pay it no never mind."

:D

humfrz for Bubba

The call that it is the timing chain cover leaking was correct. Even though the car has 83k on it Subaru is covering it under the CPO 7/100 warranty and they gave me a brand new Forester loaner because they can't get to it until late next week and they don't want me to make it any worse. FWIW the Forester is a nice car but the drivers seat is such a letdown...

Good info, could help others with the same issue and above the 6/60 warranty.

Just keep in mind that it can only work if you bought the car as a CPO vehicle. They're not just going to 'hook you up' with a really expensive repair because you're a good dude ;)

Never said they would :)

OK ........ who wants to re-clarify this ...... again .......:popcorn:


humfrz