Re: Oil leaking somewhere

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Re: Oil leaking somewhere

21 May 2008 04:34

Thanks for posting this. I have a similar situation and I'm also interested
to hear the responses.

> I have a 2001 Forester with about 140k mi.

I have a 1999 Forester with about 136k mi.

> I have been smelling oil when I am at red lights for about 6 months. I
> decided to find and fix it. It lead me to leaking boots around the spark
> plug holes. The boots inside the valve cover, not the spark plug boots.

I occasionally smell oil after lengthy trips. I didn't spot the spark plug
boots until a couple of days ago when I decided to track down why my
Forester hesitated/stumbled a bit on acceleration. I think I found part of
the solution in a stuck PCV. I also found that my spark plug boots were
covered in oil which seemed to come from the valve cover seals.

> I replaced the 2 on the passenger side that were obviously leaking. But I
> still smell some oil after many miles. I then replaced the valve cover
> seal on that side, and got some new rubber washer things. I don't see any
> oil. But I still smell it a bit.

Was it difficult to replace the valve cover seals? I'm not very
experienced. I imagine that the valve cover seals would be tricky to keep
in position until the valve cover is in place. Is that true? How much
torque should one use on the valve cover bolts?

> I need to do the drivers side now. But it was not leaking nearly as much
> as the passenger side. Neither leak put a drop on the ground. It always
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> while I am at it that might go bad at the same time? Any trick to doing
> the driver's side?

Yes, please: I'd like to know more about this, too. Thanks

dnoyeB

20 May 2008 19:59

I have a 2001 Forester with about 140k mi.

I have been smelling oil when I am at red lights for about 6 months. I
decided to find and fix it. It lead me to leaking boots around the spark
plug holes. The boots inside the valve cover, not the spark plug boots.

I replaced the 2 on the passenger side that were obviously leaking. But I
still smell some oil after many miles. I then replaced the valve cover
seal on that side, and got some new rubber washer things. I don't see any
oil. But I still smell it a bit.

I need to do the drivers side now. But it was not leaking nearly as much
as the passenger side. Neither leak put a drop on the ground. It always
was just the bad smell and slight smoke.

Anyone have experience with this part? Anything else I should replace
while I am at it that might go bad at the same time? Any trick to doing
the driver's side?

Thanks,

CL

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