Unknown Oil leak
 

Hello guys.

First time posting something here. I bought my frs, last yr August. Completely stock with about 18,500 miles. I was doing my first oil change around 22,000-23,000 miles at my work, noticed it was leaking oil. Leak looked like it was coming from the timing cover. Called my local Toyota dealership, set up an appointment. They confirmed it, oil leaking coming from the timing cover. Timing cover re-sealed under warranty. I was pretty happy until 6-8 weeks later, I checked it again. It was leaking again, from the same spot. Went back too Toyota. This time they said, leak coming from the dipstick o-ring. I thought it was B.S. but I went along with it and I didn't say anything. I checked again, 3 days ago and omg lol its leaking pretty bad. I called them immediately, set up an appointment. I drop it off this morning, a few hrs later they called me. Saying, they have no idea where's the leaking coming from. That they going add dye, too spot where the oil leaking is coming from. Now I have too wait a couple days. My only guess a crack timing cover. I took 2 pics. Any of you guys had a similar problem? Much help appreciated. I will keep updating, when they call me from toyota.


http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...137dee32c9.jpg


http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...8307fb3620.jpg




Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

Hello @adrianfrs and WELCOME to ...... The Forum .......:clap:

Yep, it appears you car has a oil leak for sure.

Yours hasn't been the first one to leak around the timing chain cover.

You may wish to review several of the old threads to get some background.

As long as it's under warranty, I suggest you let the dealer sort it out ..... and try to relax and be patient.


humfrz

Thanks humdrz!

The thing is, they already re-sealed the timing cover and it's still leaking. Now, they're saying they have no idea where's the leaking coming from. I'll keep looking on here. And, yes. I'm definitely been relax and patient with the advisor. No need to be aggressive haha


Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

My suspicion is that "they" do more damage to the block and timing chain cover by removing it, than they do good by trying to reseal it.

It appears that the two parts are made of aluminum and glued together pretty darn tight. So, either of the pieces could easily be damaged by "prying" them apart.

Maybe the manufacturer has a "special tool" they use ....... but I doubt it. They probably use a small crowbar and/or a fat screwdriver, which could easily leave a section of the aluminum stressed or grooved.

Since this leak is relatively small and not likely to get larger and not dripping on anything significant ....... I would be tempted to just leave it be......:sigh:

Obviously, I do not have an OCD problem.

Back-in-the-day many of us drove cars with various oil leaks ....... and as long as it wasn't leaking on the clutch disk or the brake shoes or leaking more than a quart a month ....... we just drove on ....... ;)


humfrz

Give this a read through
Maybe they are not aware" I am not even sure there is a Toyota version but this still apples for info purposes.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...2&d=1413561405

Back in the day I had cars that if they were not leaking I would have to try and figure out what was wrong. It usually ment that I had simply forgotten to fill it back up.

Interesting information.

The referenced manual would be interesting reading ........ especially on how they separate the timing chain cover from the block.

"2. If the front chain cover is leaking and needs to be resealed, follow the repair procedure in the applicable Service Manual."



humfrz

Ask and ye shall receive. http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8374

Yep, fer sure ....... they will just leak so much ..... and then they won't leak no more ....... ;)

If a differential leaked ....... pump it full of grease; if the transmission leaked .... put thicker oil in it; if the engine burned oil ...... put heavier oil in it ....... simple ....... huh ...... :D


humfrz

Head gasket or rad little bit of fine sawdust would usually do the trick.

Hey, thanks, there Tcoat ...... :thumbsup:

So, it says to the split the cover off of the block using a wrapped flat tipped screwdriver ....... with a big CAUTION at the bottom of the page.

Now, with Bubba at the other end of the screwdriver, what could go wrong there ....... especially, if he didn't read the caution ....... :confused0068:

I would prefer to use a strong, thin putty knife, tapped in gently, following some gentle heat from a propane torch.

Oh, well ........ OR just bring me a big fxxxing hammer and a cold chisel and we will split this puppy apart in short order ...... :paddle:


humfrz

Another edition of porch-side talks with @humfrz and @Tcoat

lmao :p

Oh, yes, or a cup of oatmeal in the radiator stopped a lot of leaks ...... :)


humfrz

Yep, all that's missing is sitting around a pot belly stove in the shop, smoking cigarettes and drinking whisky ....... :respekt:


humfrz

And Steve sitting cross legged on the floor staring in wide eyed wonder.

Oh and I cannot drink whiskey. It isn't pretty.

Yep, then Steve @soulreapersteve would get real itchy when we talked about when we were kids and were sit up on the plow horses and our crotch and balls would itch from the horse lather.

Or as teenagers, castrating sheep with a pen knife and our teeth ..... :eyebulge:

OK, back in the day .... you could drink the beer ...... I would polish off the quart of whisky ...... :cheers:

I reckon it's about ma med time ...... ZZZZZZZZZZ


humfrz

I was at the Subi dealer yesterday and happened to bump into the regional tech rep for Subi and asked the question about the cover leak.
He said that they still recommend the factory cover but have a new tech bulletin on the install and a new adhesive to be used.

Thanks guys, good info! Read another post with similar oil leak as mine, dealer ended up replacing the short block. I'm just waiting on dealership too call me.

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

Forgot too update you guys. Dealership said leak was coming from the timing cover. They re-sealed timing cover, for the 2nd time. I really hope this time is fixed, for sure.

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

Just got my car back last night from the dealer after 3 days for a timing cover reseal. Service advisor said the tech stated some sealant may have dropped onto the exhaust manifold and there would be some smoke until it burns off, but he didn't sound very confident. The smoke is coming from the passenger side and the smell is pretty strong.

How common is the smoke after a timing cover reseal? @adrianfrs How is your car doing after a couple of months?

On a side note, I notice the same black gunk on the bottom cam plate after driving the car home. I did not check this area before dropping it off, it slipped my mind and assumed that with the timing cover coming off they would at least inspect the rest of the engine?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

After a second trip to the dealership, they stated they were going to look at the Subaru service bulletin I printed from this forum. Initially called and said they were going to replace the valve cover gasket. After opening up the engine, turns out I had a "hairline" crack in the valve cover. I don't know enough to even think about how this could happen internally. My only engine mods is a Perrin CAI and Perrin CBE. So far no smoke or awful smell, will keep an eye on it and hope for the best.

Thank you to everyone on the forum for posting their experience as it has prove to be priceless help.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

The FR-S is the first newish car I've had in a long time. When I first perused the engine, I was concerned that it didn't have the same protective black grimy coating most of my previous cars had. I felt some small measure of relief when I noticed the protective coating oozing from what I can only gather was the factory installed dispensing device on the bottom of the cam plate cover, but for some reason the dealership felt it necessary to seal that, too. Oh well.

Ya it is a pain since now I have to actually pay somebody to come and seal my driveway instead of just parking the car in different spots each day.