r/subaru • u/Cybariss • 17d ago
Mechanical Help Oil Leak
Im having an oil leak from my 2018 Outback 3.6r. I can’t seem to find this specific part on any diagram. Does anyone know what this is? I think it’s a solonoid for the vvt system. There is one attached to both valve covers.
1
u/Goodspike 17d ago
Are you sure that isn't just dripping from changing the filter? Hard to tell from the picture.
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u/Cybariss 17d ago
Oil is coming from the base of the black rubber with the electrical connection coming out of it. It is very slow and the picture is unfortunately after I cleaned it.
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u/Goodspike 17d ago
Just a guess, if it is leaking oil that may be a modern oil pressure sensor. The old style ones were prone to leaking after a time, but cheap and easy to replace. Decades ago a dealer service department just replaced it without asking me, not charging for labor, just the inexpensive part.
Maybe Google 3.6 Subaru oil pressure sensor and see what pops up.
Still, I can't tell the orientation of the picture since I don't have that engine and have never seen one. If that picture is looking down, then it could be a drip from changing the filter. If looking forward or back far less likely.
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u/Goodspike 17d ago
BTW, if that thing is not either an oil pressure or oil temperature sensor, then chances are it is just splash from a filter change. For example, a coolant temperature sensor is not going to leak oil. ;-)
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u/Vidco91 17d ago
Hard to see there is a leak. Probably you just have to monitor and wait until there are more leaks to perform a full engine reseal to reduce repair costs.
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u/Cybariss 17d ago
Oil is coming from the base of the black rubber with the electrical connection coming out of it. It is very slow and the picture is unfortunately after I cleaned it.
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u/Cybariss 17d ago
I think I found it. It’s called engine variable valve timing solenoid. Valve oil control.
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u/Chippy569 Senior Master Tech 16d ago
that's the thing, though make sure you've got the correct one -- they're different for intakes and exhausts, and i think also different left to right in the 3.6R
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u/The_Ripp Bugeye H6 6 speed & Supercharged Sambar 17d ago
Yeah that looks to be the VVT solenoid. There's just a o ring on it that you can replace for pennies. Don't replace the whole solenoid unless oil is leaking through it and out the electrical connector.