Oil leak, help needed

msdavis4 · 08-18-2003, 10:00 PM

I noticed some dirty caked oil on the black plastic to the left of the crankshaft pulley and it seems to be originating some where to the right of the water pump. I was thinking it maybe the head gasket, but I really don't know. Does anyone have any experience this type of leak?

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Austin · 08-19-2003, 01:40 AM

Oil pump o-ring, crank seal...

Was it on the outside or the inside of the timing belt cover?

msdavis4 · 08-19-2003, 08:53 PM

It was on the outside of the Timing belt cover.

Austin · 08-20-2003, 02:00 AM

Have you cleaned the area and has any oil returned?

If you do have a leak, it's definitely not from the water pump.

Your description is a bit confusing also... Assuming you're facing the engine, the crank damper pulley is in the middle (mounted on the crankshaft, of all places

) and the water pump is on the right side (driver's side). The oil pump is crank driven - it's casing is directly behind the crank timing gear, which is directly behind the crank damper pulley.

You said the oil was to the left of the crank pulley and to the right of the water pump... but the water pump is to the right of the crank pulley...

sperry · 09-16-2003, 06:20 PM

I think I've got this leak too.

How bad is it to just let it go? My leak seems very minor, and since I'm already fighting with my dealer and SOA about fixing a bad CV joint, the last thing I want to do is add yet another item in the mix that needs to be fixed.

After checking the service manuals, it doesn't look like too hard of a job to do myself (replacing the o-ring and gaskets on the oil pump), but it does look like it will take me a weekend to get gona, and I don't have one to spare for a while... so how much damage am I doing, and what are the risks to letting this problem go for a while?

Tomnel · 12-22-2003, 01:07 AM

Anyone? I want to know as well as I think I may have this too.

Tim Sanderson · 12-22-2003, 01:38 AM

If you are under warranty It would be preferable for you to take it in. You could go through the effort of removing the two side timing belt covers and try to locate the leak. But to remove the center cover you would have to remove th crank pulley.

A leak is a leak. Will it get worse? it might. Will it harm anything? If enough oil gets on the timing belt it sure could cause failure.

If you are concerned you should have it looked at.

08-18-2003, 10:00 PM	#1
msdavis4 Scooby Newbie Member#: 23410 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Austin, TX Vehicle: 2002 WRX sedan Silver	Oil leak, help needed I noticed some dirty caked oil on the black plastic to the left of the crankshaft pulley and it seems to be originating some where to the right of the water pump. I was thinking it maybe the head gasket, but I really don't know. Does anyone have any experience this type of leak? * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

12-22-2003, 01:38 AM	#7
Tim Sanderson Scooby Guru Member#: 6486 Join Date: May 2001 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: S.E. wisconsin Vehicle: 00 Impreza 2.5 RS Blue Ridge Pearl	If you are under warranty It would be preferable for you to take it in. You could go through the effort of removing the two side timing belt covers and try to locate the leak. But to remove the center cover you would have to remove th crank pulley. A leak is a leak. Will it get worse? it might. Will it harm anything? If enough oil gets on the timing belt it sure could cause failure. If you are concerned you should have it looked at. Last edited by Tim Sanderson; 12-22-2003 at 01:47 AM.

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08-19-2003, 01:40 AM	#2
Austin Scooby Guru Member#: 7089 Join Date: May 2001 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Moscow, ID Vehicle: 05 Legacy GT Sedan 07 4Runner Limited	Oil pump o-ring, crank seal... Was it on the outside or the inside of the timing belt cover?

08-19-2003, 08:53 PM	#3
msdavis4 Scooby Newbie Member#: 23410 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Austin, TX Vehicle: 2002 WRX sedan Silver	It was on the outside of the Timing belt cover.

08-20-2003, 02:00 AM	#4
Austin Scooby Guru Member#: 7089 Join Date: May 2001 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Moscow, ID Vehicle: 05 Legacy GT Sedan 07 4Runner Limited	Have you cleaned the area and has any oil returned? If you do have a leak, it's definitely not from the water pump. Your description is a bit confusing also... Assuming you're facing the engine, the crank damper pulley is in the middle (mounted on the crankshaft, of all places ) and the water pump is on the right side (driver's side). The oil pump is crank driven - it's casing is directly behind the crank timing gear, which is directly behind the crank damper pulley. You said the oil was to the left of the crank pulley and to the right of the water pump... but the water pump is to the right of the crank pulley...

09-16-2003, 06:20 PM	#5
sperry Scooby Specialist Member#: 8636 Join Date: Jul 2001 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Reno, NV Vehicle: WRX, OBXT, NA Miata, F250SD, no more SVX :(	I think I've got this leak too. How bad is it to just let it go? My leak seems very minor, and since I'm already fighting with my dealer and SOA about fixing a bad CV joint, the last thing I want to do is add yet another item in the mix that needs to be fixed. After checking the service manuals, it doesn't look like too hard of a job to do myself (replacing the o-ring and gaskets on the oil pump), but it does look like it will take me a weekend to get gona, and I don't have one to spare for a while... so how much damage am I doing, and what are the risks to letting this problem go for a while?

12-22-2003, 01:07 AM	#6
Tomnel Scooby Specialist Member#: 12625 Join Date: Nov 2001 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: San Fernando Valley CA Vehicle: MY02 WRX Impreza Silver	Anyone? I want to know as well as I think I may have this too.