Access bolt oil leak? Or something else?

RP31 · 11-21-2012, 04:45 PM

I've had a small oil leak for about a month now, after putting 13K miles on this engine. I had investigated it earlier and determined it was almost certainly coming from behind the timing belt tensioner... Decided to fix it during the long weekend. After removing the tensioner, I was presented with what you see below.

Seems like it could be the access bolt, but I know of no way to pressurize the oil system and actually check it without starting the engine. So, should I pop this out, replace the seal, and hope my problem is solved, or could there be something else leaking in this area? Oil leak from the top of the water pump? Never heard of it. Something leaking oil further back or higher up? Anything else to check?

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

KillerBMotorsport · 11-21-2012, 08:54 PM

Not uncommon. I would find the torque spec and snug her down. Thew wrist pin access plugs on the front of our 05 were all loose and leaking at 50K miles :/

RP31 · 11-21-2012, 09:00 PM

Thanks, I will do that. I've got some new seals for them on hand just in case. Could there be anything else in this area that's leaking? It doesn't look like it but I'm not sure if there's something behind the bracket that the tensioner mounts to.

mod maniac · 11-22-2012, 12:24 AM

No nothing else, that looks like your leak.

RP31 · 11-22-2012, 07:11 AM

Found this in the FSM, posting it here for future reference in case someone is searching... Wrist pin access bolt torque spec is 51.4 ft-lb, and you are supposed to apply fujibond to it, and use the metal gasket/ring.

carnz-pj-410 · 11-22-2012, 07:20 AM

Like killerB said, it is a pretty common issue, I see many cars that come into the shop with oil leaking from there, pull it off, fujibond it up and re-torque

RP31 · 11-22-2012, 08:23 AM

Well ****... I don't know how this could have been the source of my leak... The damn thing stripped when I tried to remove it. No idea how I'm going to get it out now.

RP31 · 11-22-2012, 10:02 AM

Maybe we were wrong... Can the case bolts leak oil? I noticed that the tensioner bracket gasket to the top right of the access bolt had started to fail, degrading because of oil. It was hanging down, the adhesive had failed. When I realized it was only 4 quick bolts to remove the tensioner bracket, I popped it off and found the back of it, above the failing gasket, coated with oil. Looked around and the only thing I found was the case bolt to the left. It was coated with oil and grime, and actually looked a bit loose. Checked it and... It was loose! I tightened it back to spec.

I pulled my old block out and checked this out. It doesn't really seem like oil should be getting into this case bolt hole. Should I be worried if it turns out this was the source of my leak?

RP31 · 11-25-2012, 01:19 PM

I've got everything back together now, after tightening both the access bolt (after attempting to loosen it, just in case), and tightening the case bolt. So far no leak, but now my car is idling at ~17:1. Dammit! I've either got a leak somewhere, or the timing belt is off.

11-21-2012, 04:45 PM	#1
RP31 Scooby Specialist Member#: 123574 Join Date: Aug 2006 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Hanover Park, IL Vehicle: 2005 2.6L 9:1 425WHP CGM STi	Access bolt oil leak? Or something else? I've had a small oil leak for about a month now, after putting 13K miles on this engine. I had investigated it earlier and determined it was almost certainly coming from behind the timing belt tensioner... Decided to fix it during the long weekend. After removing the tensioner, I was presented with what you see below. Seems like it could be the access bolt, but I know of no way to pressurize the oil system and actually check it without starting the engine. So, should I pop this out, replace the seal, and hope my problem is solved, or could there be something else leaking in this area? Oil leak from the top of the water pump? Never heard of it. Something leaking oil further back or higher up? Anything else to check? * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

11-21-2012, 08:54 PM	#2
KillerBMotorsport NASIOC Vendor Member#: 198281 Join Date: Dec 2008 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Virginia Vehicle: 2005 WRX/STi WRB of course	Not uncommon. I would find the torque spec and snug her down. Thew wrist pin access plugs on the front of our 05 were all loose and leaking at 50K miles :/

11-21-2012, 09:00 PM	#3
RP31 Scooby Specialist Member#: 123574 Join Date: Aug 2006 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Hanover Park, IL Vehicle: 2005 2.6L 9:1 425WHP CGM STi	Thanks, I will do that. I've got some new seals for them on hand just in case. Could there be anything else in this area that's leaking? It doesn't look like it but I'm not sure if there's something behind the bracket that the tensioner mounts to.

11-22-2012, 12:24 AM	#4
mod maniac NASIOC Supporter Member#: 300551 Join Date: Nov 2011 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: mariposa ca. Vehicle: 2002 DD wgn 6 spd 2.1 kel 272's meth 2.5xtr	No nothing else, that looks like your leak.

11-22-2012, 07:11 AM	#5
RP31 Scooby Specialist Member#: 123574 Join Date: Aug 2006 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Hanover Park, IL Vehicle: 2005 2.6L 9:1 425WHP CGM STi	Found this in the FSM, posting it here for future reference in case someone is searching... Wrist pin access bolt torque spec is 51.4 ft-lb, and you are supposed to apply fujibond to it, and use the metal gasket/ring.

11-22-2012, 07:20 AM	#6
carnz-pj-410 Scooby Specialist Member#: 110994 Join Date: Mar 2006 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: BALTIMORE Vehicle: 2004 WRX STi something good on the way	Like killerB said, it is a pretty common issue, I see many cars that come into the shop with oil leaking from there, pull it off, fujibond it up and re-torque

11-22-2012, 08:23 AM	#7
RP31 Scooby Specialist Member#: 123574 Join Date: Aug 2006 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Hanover Park, IL Vehicle: 2005 2.6L 9:1 425WHP CGM STi	Well ****... I don't know how this could have been the source of my leak... The damn thing stripped when I tried to remove it. No idea how I'm going to get it out now.

11-22-2012, 10:02 AM	#8
RP31 Scooby Specialist Member#: 123574 Join Date: Aug 2006 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Hanover Park, IL Vehicle: 2005 2.6L 9:1 425WHP CGM STi	Maybe we were wrong... Can the case bolts leak oil? I noticed that the tensioner bracket gasket to the top right of the access bolt had started to fail, degrading because of oil. It was hanging down, the adhesive had failed. When I realized it was only 4 quick bolts to remove the tensioner bracket, I popped it off and found the back of it, above the failing gasket, coated with oil. Looked around and the only thing I found was the case bolt to the left. It was coated with oil and grime, and actually looked a bit loose. Checked it and... It was loose! I tightened it back to spec. I pulled my old block out and checked this out. It doesn't really seem like oil should be getting into this case bolt hole. Should I be worried if it turns out this was the source of my leak?

11-25-2012, 01:19 PM	#9
RP31 Scooby Specialist Member#: 123574 Join Date: Aug 2006 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Hanover Park, IL Vehicle: 2005 2.6L 9:1 425WHP CGM STi	I've got everything back together now, after tightening both the access bolt (after attempting to loosen it, just in case), and tightening the case bolt. So far no leak, but now my car is idling at ~17:1. Dammit! I've either got a leak somewhere, or the timing belt is off.