Imprezza STI v4 - CAM SEALS LEAKING OIL!

[Careosel]

Hey,

Just wondering if anyone has had this problem before and knows some possible causes.

A while back the car started leaking oil. I took it to a mechanic the main problem was the cam seal leaking. He fixed it and was all good for about 100km's then smoke comming off the exhaust manifold The bloody thing has done it again.

I took it back and he came to the conclusion that he needed to glue the seal in (mechanic mate of his told him that was why is crapped out) i mean im no mechanic but it seems a bit odd to glue it in, i maybe wrong.

Sure thing, 100km approx later . . same thing.

Im hoping someone has had the same problem and can tell me how the resolved it, because i really feel i need to tell this mechanic how to do his job or i'll never have my car for more than 2 days.

Thanks, DJ

[Swindog]

Is he a subaru specialist? Is he using genuine parts?

[Guest SPANKU]

if you drive a subaru then take it to someone that works on Subaru. a lot of mechanic stays away from Subaru as they dont have a clue on how to fix them.

there are some area where the glue should be paste around head. has he replaced all the rubber washers and tighten them up properly. most of the time it leaks from there

[Careosel]

Ohh ok, i'll have to double check with him.

I was told he specialised in subaru but im not sure, but yea they are genuine parts.

[Careosel]

Ok, talked to the mechanic, camseal was aftermarket going to get him to use genuine. also the leak is only coming from the cam seal so i have been told.

Cheers

[Guest SPANKU]

its not common to leak from the camseals unless it poped off. most common on the ej20 are the oil pump crank seal (front oil seal)

[Guest]

I recently replaced my cam & crank seals (both were leaking)... the seals had broken down with age so it does happen (mines a 1996 GC8)

It is a fiddly job and if not done right the first time it will be prone to leak again... if the rubber washers/O rings are not correctly fitted once the pulleys go back on then it would leak for sure.

I would suggest only genuine Subaru parts (no matter the cost) and get someone who specialises in Subbies to do it for you.

[smokn4]

yea i had a similar issue jus before xmas cam seals etc, and it was cambelt time

so i got that and the rest of it done o-ring etc..

prob solved

[Guest boostcut]

because theyre in a prick of a place, mechanics use a small screwdriver to remove the seals, if not correctly done you can score the housing and then the oil leaks around the back of the seal... just something to think about..

[smokn4]

might be better to go see a real subie specialist

[ReubenH]

Yeah, cam seals are a common leak spanku, seen plenty. Mind you, i deal allot with old Gen 1 leggy's it seams. We just did all 4 on matts car today, all 4 were leaking, as well as the seal around the back of the oil pump, and not the front crank seal surprisngly. All the cam seals had basically turned to plastic with age.

 boostcut said:

because theyre in a prick of a place, mechanics use a small screwdriver to remove the seals, if not correctly done you can score the housing and then the oil leaks around the back of the seal... just something to think about..

Yeah, that certainly was on my mind. I had the presence of mind to only dig them out on the camshafter retainer thing side of it, so if i did scourer them, they can be replaced easily, rather than scratching the head itself.

[Guest SPANKU]

its just a pain in the butt because you have to redo the timing again. but ive done it so many time i dont have to take the radiator off just the fans. takes about one hour to do

[log1call]

It should be a simple job for a mechanic and the seals are just common seals, they don't have to be in a subaru packet as long as they are the same design and size.

If the mechanic is reasonably competent even then I'd suspect there is some other problem, like play in the cam bearings perhaps or the leak is between the cam retainer and the head.

[Stoffa]

Not all seals are created equal, genuine ones are alot stiffer and have stronger springs in them than the permaseal ones, I know of a few people who have used after market seals and had them leak.

The cams themselves are pretty soft, so if someone has damaged one taking the original seal out this can also cause a leak, even on a genuine seal. the only fix is to replace the cam.

[DRFVDR]

 Stoffa said:

Not all seals are created equal, genuine ones are alot stiffer and have stronger springs in them than the permaseal ones, I know of a few people who have used after market seals and had them leak.

The cams themselves are pretty soft, so if someone has damaged one taking the original seal out this can also cause a leak, even on a genuine seal. the only fix is to replace the cam.

Or maybe a speedi sleeve,or do a light machining,or cold metal spray it

[Careosel]

Well hasnt been using oil since we used the genuine parts. mechanic trying to be cheap, wont go back there.

[Guest boostcut]

what a knob end comment to make. you probably wouldnt want to pay for all genuine parts anyway.

pull your head in

[Stoffa]

concur, by using after market seals the mechanic has SAVED you money, as trade vs. retail prices are worked out on percentages. It comes down to personal prefenences of the mechanic for which parts to use.

If you ask for genuine parts to be used, you'll pay more AND the mechanic will make more profit.

[Guest boostin]

Mechanics actually make less on genuine parts.

Aftermarket seal would be around $20 retail, trade discount of 50%, = $10 per seal profit.

Genuine seal would be around $25 retail, trade discount of 30% = $7.50 per seal profit.

Both prices are guesstimates, trade discounts are max what you would get from dealer and Repco/BNT/Appco etc.

[driftrex]

 boostin said:

Mechanics actually make less on genuine parts.

Aftermarket seal would be around $20 retail, trade discount of 50%, = $10 per seal profit.

Genuine seal would be around $25 retail, trade discount of 30% = $7.50 per seal profit.

Both prices are guesstimates, trade discounts are max what you would get from dealer and Repco/BNT/Appco etc.

but mechanics dont always just charge the retail, they will have a percentage they put ontop(usually 50%), no matter where the seal comes from or what discount they got.

but yea as above, if you didnt ask for genuine parts, it was silly to assume they would be used.

[Guest boostin]

Oh yeah, fully. I know of people who used to ring around places getting all the buy and retail prices, then buy the cheapest parts and charge for the most expensive. Dodgy bastards.

[Careosel]

 boostcut said:

what a knob end comment to make. you probably wouldnt want to pay for all genuine parts anyway.

pull your head in

Well after aftermarket parts fail work (gave it a go . . didnt work), think you would try genuine parts? Mechanic didnt. . . Then lost all my oil again. . . Had to take it 2 him for the 3rd time. . Told him to use genuine parts. 3 Months on no problems. . .

Dont mind paying for genuine parts. What i dont want to do is have 2 take my car back to a mechanic 3 bloody times. . Time = Money