MajorCommonFluid Leaks

Subaru Outback: EJ25 SOHC Engine Oil Seepage at Camshaft and Crankshaft Seals

EJ25 SOHC Engine Oil Seepage at Camshaft and Crankshaft Seals is a common fluid leaks fault on the Subaru Outback on the 2003–2019 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $400 to $1,200 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 34 documented faults on the Subaru Outback.

Vehicle: Subaru Outback
Engine: EJ25
Years: 2003–2019
Fuel: petrol
System: Fluid Leaks

This page covers the Subaru Outback 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 Outback faults34 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Timing belt or Head gasket yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

In addition to head gasket leaks, BP and BM Outbacks with EJ25 SOHC engines commonly develop oil seepage from the front and rear crankshaft seals, camshaft seals, and the rear main seal. The horizontally-opposed engine layout means oil pools at low points and seeps through aging rubber seals under heat cycling. Oil contamination of the timing belt from a leaking cam or crank seal is a secondary hazard, as oil degrades the belt and can cause premature belt failure. Seal replacement should be bundled with timing belt service to avoid additional teardown costs.

What you would notice

Oil staining on undertray or driveway beneath the front of the engine
Oil smell when engine reaches operating temperature
Visible oil residue on timing belt cover or around crank pulley
Low oil level between services with no visible external puddle

How to check it

Where to look. Front crankshaft seal (timing end), rear main seal (bellhousing end), both camshaft seals

Remove undertray and inspect front crank seal area and cam seal covers for fresh oil film.
Check the outer face of the timing belt cover for oil contamination which indicates a leaking cam seal is soaking the belt.
Inspect rear of engine block at bellhousing junction for rear main seal weeping.

Parts involved: Timing belt, Head gasket.

What it costs to put right

$400 to $1,200 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.

Ask the seller

“Have the cam seals or crank seals been replaced?”
“Was the timing belt replaced with or without addressing nearby seals?”
“Is there any oil on the timing belt cover?”

Now check the Subaru Outback 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 Outback buyer questions

Is ej25 sohc engine oil seepage at camshaft and crankshaft seals serious on a Subaru Outback?

We rate it major and common on the Subaru Outback. In addition to head gasket leaks, BP and BM Outbacks with EJ25 SOHC engines commonly develop oil seepage from the front and rear crankshaft seals, camshaft seals, and the rear main seal. The horizontally-opposed engine layout means oil pools at low points and seeps through aging rubber seals under heat cycling. Oil contamination of the timing belt from a leaking cam or crank seal is a secondary hazard, as oil degrades the belt and can cause premature belt failure. Seal replacement should be bundled with timing belt service to avoid additional teardown costs.

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

$400 to $1,200 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 Outback years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2003–2019 Subaru Outback. 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?

Remove undertray and inspect front crank seal area and cam seal covers for fresh oil film. Check the outer face of the timing belt cover for oil contamination which indicates a leaking cam seal is soaking the belt. Inspect rear of engine block at bellhousing junction for rear main seal weeping. Look here: Front crankshaft seal (timing end), rear main seal (bellhousing end), both camshaft seals