Subaru Forester: EJ25 front timing cover oil leak — seal carrier

High-mileage SH Foresters with the EJ25 engine develop oil leaks at the front timing cover, specifically at the crankshaft front seal carrier and the camshaft seal housings where the covers bolt to the engine block. The seal carrier O-rings and RTV-sealed mating surfaces degrade with age and heat cycles, allowing engine oil to seep forward and coat the timing belt, pulley faces, and surrounding components. Oil contamination of the timing belt dramatically reduces belt service life and can cause catastrophic belt failure if left unaddressed. The repair requires cam belt replacement at the same time to avoid contaminated belt reuse, making the combined job labour-intensive.

• Oil staining or wet residue on the front face of the engine block
• Timing belt visibly oil-soaked or discoloured
• Oil drips from underneath front of engine bay
• Oily residue accumulating on alternator or power steering pump

1. 1

   Check the front crankshaft seal area and camshaft seal faces for weeping.

2. 2

   Look underneath the vehicle at the front of the engine sump for oil trail.

3. 3

   Confirm timing belt replacement history — an oil-contaminated belt should be renewed regardless of age.

4. 4

   Check for any previous workshop notes on seal replacement.

5. 5

   If a workshop inspection is possible: With engine cold, remove the upper timing belt cover and inspect the belt surface and pulleys for oil contamination.

Parts involved: Timing belt.

$800 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

• “When was the timing belt last replaced, and were the front seals done at the same time?”
• “Has any oil leaking from the front of the engine been noted?”
• “Has the timing cover been off for any reason?”

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.