Where are all the possible places oil can leak from the FRS/BRZ?

[lupindub]

So long story short I have a VERY slow leak coming from God know's where and currently trying to pinpoint it. As someone who's generally new to cars, i'm not even sure where to begin looking for this mysterious leak.

As far as I can tell from doing a little research, the places that other FRS/BRZ owner's seem to have oil leaks are from:
-Cam Plate (Can someone confirm if this is only on the MT or is it also on the AT?)
-Timing chain cover
-Valve Cover
-Oil drain plug
Any other places I should be checking for?

Also, even though I just named some of the places where the leak may be coming from, I have no idea where they are located on the car... Every time I do a search; for example "Cam plate oil leak", user's will post pictures of where the leak is but it's so close up I can't even tell what i'm looking at. So it would be awesome if anyone can show me WHERE on the car the things I listed above are located, thanks.

[stevesnj]

Get an oil leak detection kit. It used UV dye and comes with UV flashlight and yellow goggles. Will be cheaper than guessing. Good Luck!

[mav1178]

front cam cover.
front main seal.
rear main seal.
head gasket.
intake valve seal.
exhaust valve seal.
PCV valve.
oil filter.
oil dip stick.
oil pressure sensor.

intake manifold gasket and exhaust manifold gaskets are possible areas too, but those are minor.

-alex

[lupindub]

Originally Posted by mav1178

front cam cover.
front main seal.
rear main seal.
head gasket.
intake valve seal.
exhaust valve seal.
PCV valve.
oil filter.
oil dip stick.
oil pressure sensor.

intake manifold gasket and exhaust manifold gaskets are possible areas too, but those are minor.

-alex

So is this cam cover not on the AT models of our cars?! Because either I am blind or looking in the wrong place. Some user somewhere said that only MT models have the cam plate/cover.

[mav1178]

Missed the "cylinder head plate" cover on MT or vacuum pump assembly on AT cars, rear of passenger side cylinder head.

-alex

[Leonardo]

There are multiple locations. Good luck.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by lupindub

So long story short I have a VERY slow leak coming from God know's where and currently trying to pinpoint it...........

It's my understanding that only the MT versions have a cam cover plate.

As far as your car's leak, I suggest you start where you see the fluid.

Then identify the fluid .... oil, coolant, brake/clutch fluid ... ??

Next, try to trace where the fluid is coming from (it may not be where the leak is), but following a path to the location where you see it.

Is it leaking to the point where it is forming a drip .. ??

Show us where you are seeing the fluid, maybe we can offer some places where it might be coming from.


humfrz

[lupindub]

So it ended up being the most obvious place oil might leak from - drain plug. So after changing the gasket TWICE (two fresh ones), I have concluded it is not the gasket improperly seating and something with either the oil pan or the bolt itself. From the looks of it, there are no cracks in the oil pan and the drain plug seems to have no cracks in it either. Now I usually know what a stripped thread feels like but is this somehow a possibility? Like the threads are all boogered up but I can still torque it down? I'm honestly lost on this and if all else fails I guess I'll have to replace the oil pan?

P.S - At this point I don't feel like doing any shade tree fixes like putting crap on the threads to stop it from leaking, putting in a bigger sized plug, etc.

[radroach]

On MT, oil leaks from the rear cam plate (passenger side) and drips directly on top of the header cover. You can easily check for a leak there by swiping a paper towel underneath it.

This aftermarket part is the shape of the cam plate: http://www.raceseng.com/cam-plate-20...r-s-subaru-brz



I figure enough oil will cake on there at the seal to not be any trouble. After awhile the burning odors went away, I haven't noticed anything burning off the headers in awhile.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by lupindub

So after changing the gasket TWICE (two fresh ones), I have concluded it is not the gasket improperly seating and something with either the oil pan or the bolt itself.

Easy to overlook:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54142

[lupindub]

Originally Posted by mav1178

Easy to overlook:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54142

Nope I threw away my old one and I meticulously checked the plug for any cracks so no way I could have missed it. (I also read your thread prior to changing gaskets so I knew to look for it!)

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by lupindub

So it ended up being the most obvious place oil might leak from - drain plug. So after changing the gasket TWICE (two fresh ones), I have concluded it is not the gasket improperly seating and something with either the oil pan or the bolt itself. From the looks of it, there are no cracks in the oil pan and the drain plug seems to have no cracks in it either. Now I usually know what a stripped thread feels like but is this somehow a possibility? Like the threads are all boogered up but I can still torque it down? I'm honestly lost on this and if all else fails I guess I'll have to replace the oil pan?

P.S - At this point I don't feel like doing any shade tree fixes like putting crap on the threads to stop it from leaking, putting in a bigger sized plug, etc.

Well, if the drain plug had been cross threaded while being put in at one time, it may be not seating squarely and the crush washer can't take up the slack. It would still torque down but leak.

If the threads are "straight" you should be able to screw it all the way in with your fingers. If you can't do that, their is a chance the it has been cross threaded.

So, since you don't want to goop it up with plumbers putty you could use plumbers tape (jest ah messen wich ya).

A new drain plug, new gasket and new oil pan ....... will fix it up first class ....


humfrz

[stevesnj]

Get the thread size use a thread tap clean up the threads. Order a new pan bolt and it should be fine.

[Leonardo]

Uuuugh, I am dealing with this too! The local scion dealer cross threaded my drain plug. My car leaked oil all over my drive way. They sent a mechanic out, who "fixed" it, but did not clean all the oil. Now my car smells like a 250,000 mile car. Called and they said they would detail it, if I brought it in. Lame. Hope, you got it figured out.