MajorCommonFluid Leaks

Subaru Liberty: EJ253 Front Timing Cover Oil Leak

EJ253 Front Timing Cover Oil Leak is a common fluid leaks fault on the Subaru Liberty on the 2003–2012 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $900 to $1,900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 38 documented faults on the Subaru Liberty.

Vehicle: Subaru Liberty
Engine: EJ253
Years: 2003–2012
Fuel: petrol
System: Fluid Leaks

This page covers the Subaru Liberty as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Subaru Liberty faults38 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Cylinder head or Timing chain yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The EJ253 engine (revised EJ25 used in later BP and early BR Liberty and Outback) develops oil leaks at the front timing chain/belt cover sealing surface where it meets the block and cylinder heads. The sealing compound used at the factory degrades with age and heat cycling, allowing engine oil to seep past the cover joint. On vehicles approaching 100,000 to 150,000 km this leak is very common. Oil typically accumulates on the front of the block below the crank pulley, is flung by the belt onto surrounding components, and can contaminate the serpentine belt. Left unaddressed, oil can reach the crankshaft seal area and worsen significantly.

What you would notice

Oil residue on the front of the engine block below the crankshaft pulley
Oily serpentine/auxiliary drive belt or glazing on belt surface
Oil smell when engine is hot
Oil drips on driveway directly below the front of the engine
Visible seepage at timing cover-to-block mating surface

How to check it

Where to look. Front of EJ engine, timing cover-to-block and timing cover-to-cylinder-head sealing surfaces

With engine cold, inspect the front face of the engine with a torch.
Look for oil tracking down from the timing cover perimeter, especially at the corners where the cover meets both cylinder heads.
Check the drive belt for oil contamination (glazing, cracking, oily residue).
Check oil level and compare to service interval.

Parts involved: Cylinder head, Timing chain.

What it costs to put right

$900 to $1,900 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.

Ask the seller

“Has the timing cover gasket or sealant ever been replaced?”
“Has the drive belt been replaced recently and was oil contamination noted?”
“Is there any history of oil top-ups between services?”

Now check the Subaru Liberty you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

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.

Subaru Liberty buyer questions

Is ej253 front timing cover oil leak serious on a Subaru Liberty?

We rate it major and common on the Subaru Liberty. The EJ253 engine (revised EJ25 used in later BP and early BR Liberty and Outback) develops oil leaks at the front timing chain/belt cover sealing surface where it meets the block and cylinder heads. The sealing compound used at the factory degrades with age and heat cycling, allowing engine oil to seep past the cover joint. On vehicles approaching 100,000 to 150,000 km this leak is very common. Oil typically accumulates on the front of the block below the crank pulley, is flung by the belt onto surrounding components, and can contaminate the serpentine belt. Left unaddressed, oil can reach the crankshaft seal area and worsen significantly.

How much does it cost to fix on a Subaru Liberty?

$900 to $1,900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Subaru Liberty years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2003–2012 Subaru Liberty. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

With engine cold, inspect the front face of the engine with a torch. Look for oil tracking down from the timing cover perimeter, especially at the corners where the cover meets both cylinder heads. Check the drive belt for oil contamination (glazing, cracking, oily residue). Check oil level and compare to service interval. Look here: Front of EJ engine, timing cover-to-block and timing cover-to-cylinder-head sealing surfaces