Timing Cover Oil Leak

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by Keenercarguy

I also talked to the mechanic who did all the work and am honestly confident that he know what he is doing.

I want to call BS on this, because if he knew what he was doing there should have been a better fix after the second time you went in for the same problem.

Oil dye is great but if a routine fix is no longer routine, then it should be the next fix.

My timing cover was fixed on the first try.

-alex

[SpectreRT]

Originally Posted by mav1178

I want to call BS on this, because if he knew what he was doing there should have been a better fix after the second time you went in for the same problem.

Oil dye is great but if a routine fix is no longer routine, then it should be the next fix.

My timing cover was fixed on the first try.

-alex

Mine also appears to have been fixed on the first go. Still keeping an eye on it.

- It comes down to the prep work. If all the existing silicon was not removed and the surface prepped for the new silicon, the issue will just return.

[Keenercarguy]

Originally Posted by mav1178

I want to call BS on this, because if he knew what he was doing there should have been a better fix after the second time you went in for the same problem.

Oil dye is great but if a routine fix is no longer routine, then it should be the next fix.

My timing cover was fixed on the first try.

-alex

He only did the second to last and the last fixes, and he's the one that found the split in the blocks... With help, it took him and a visiting Subaru engineer together to figure it out. Everyone was confused. I'm just trying to help others that didn't get their problem fixed on the first try, not those that did.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by Keenercarguy

He only did the second to last and the last fixes, and he's the one that found the split in the blocks... With help, it took him and a visiting Subaru engineer together to figure it out. Everyone was confused. I'm just trying to help others that didn't get their problem fixed on the first try, not those that did.

So in other words, he's not the mechanic that did all the work... he's only the guy who did all the final repair work.

Your post made it seem like it was one guy from start to finish.

-alex

[Keenercarguy]

Originally Posted by mav1178

So in other words, he's not the mechanic that did all the work... he's only the guy who did all the final repair work.

Your post made it seem like it was one guy from start to finish.

-alex

Ah, yes, he just did the final work. They put him on the problem once the first few fixes didn't work despite being done by the book.

[adrianfrs]

Originally Posted by Keenercarguy

So it appears it's time to bump an old thread. I dropped the car off in mid February at my "local" dealership in NC. They had it for about three weeks and they replaced the shortblock. Yes. The SHORTBLOCK. For those confused that's kinda the majority of the engine, minus the heads. The leak wasn't actually coming from my timing cover: it was coming from the T-joint where the timing cover meets the block. That section is also where the half blocks connect. The leak was (finally) found as a split between the two block halves right as they meet the timing cover. It is now (to my knowledge) fixed. I took it for a 7 hour drive through the mountains and highways today and it has lasted infinitely better than the multiple previous fix attempts. I'm actually confident in the fix for the first time since smoke poured from my engine bay.
I also talked to the mechanic who did all the work and am honestly confident that he know what he is doing. We discussed the actual original problem (while looking at my old short block in a box) as well as the FA20 in general and autocrossing/tracking. For the first time in almost a year I'm not worried about my car leaking oil.
IF ANYONE HAS A TIMING COVER LEAK, have the dealer put a dye in the oil and ensure that the leak is coming from the timing cover and not where the half blocks connect (and meet the cover). I've heard of a couple instances of people having recurring "timing cover oil leaks" and actually selling the car after a few fixes, there's a chance that they had a different problem masquerading as a TSB like I did. I don't want anyone else to lose the car they enjoy for such an unfortunate reason.

Thank you, good info! I think I have the same problem as you. Long story short. I took my car 3 times for the same problem, oil leak coming from the timing cover. First trip, they re-sealed the timing cover. Second trip, they replaced the o-ring dipstick. And my recent trip, like 3 days ago. They have no idea where the leak is coming from. So they added dyed. I'm just waiting for call from Toyota. I probably also going too need a short block.


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[Keenercarguy]

Good luck man! Are they driving it to try and find the leak or are you? For me it always took about 100 miles for it to spring up so the dealer could never find it in the max 35-40 miles that they'd drive it... So it took me finding it in 200 miles and then them cleaning it and doing 100 miles themselves to actually source the problem. Food for thought if they "can't seem to find the leak" @adrianfrs

[adrianfrs]

They're driving it. Hopefully they spot the leak. I'm hoping, it's simple

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[CTB727]

I've also had oil seepage for quite some time now. I've noticed that it's gotten worse over the past few months, so I'm finally bringing it in tomorrow. I have a 2013 with 48,000 miles.

[SpectreRT]

Originally Posted by CTB727

I've also had oil seepage for quite some time now. I've noticed that it's gotten worse over the past few months, so I'm finally bringing it in tomorrow. I have a 2013 with 48,000 miles.

Any mods? You may want to reference this tread. I did that at first to my dealer when they started the "your mods likely caused this."

Good luck!

[CTB727]

Originally Posted by SpectreRT

Any mods? You may want to reference this tread. I did that at first to my dealer when they started the "your mods likely caused this."

Good luck!

Had full exhaust and a tune for a while. Subaru tech line already gave my dealer and I a hard time about my tune when I was getting my throwout bearing replaced (I fought with SoA and won). It's now back to stock, but I'm prepared for whatever they may say.
With there being a TSB for this very issue, I'm hoping that I'll have an easier time dealing with it.