ATTENTION:
GENERAL MANAGER
PARTS MANAGER
CLAIMS PERSONNEL
SERVICE MANAGER

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IMPORTANT - All
Service Personnel
Should Read and
Initial in the boxes
provided, right.

SERVICE BULLETIN
APPLICABILITY: 2013MY BRZ with FA Engine
SUBJECT:

Oil Seepage Diagnosis and Repair Procedures

NUMBER:
DATE:
REVISED:

02-136-12R
09/26/12
10/02/12

INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this Bulletin is to provide procedures for the diagnosis and repair of oil seepage
which may be coming from the timing chain cover, front camshaft cap, camshaft carrier and / or
upper oil pan.
There are four areas that should be closely inspected if an oil leak is reported by the customer:
1. The 6mm tapped hole casting boss area in the left-hand camshaft cap
2. The sealing surfaces between the cylinder head and camshaft carrier
3. The sealing surface between the upper oil pan and the engine block
4. The sealing surfaces of the front timing chain cover
Note: Refer to the April 2011 issue of TIPS for more information on Fluid Leak Detection.
If oil seepage is verified coming from the 6mm threaded hole in the left-hand camshaft cap, install the
specified bolt and flat washer.
Bolt: Part# 800206180
Washer: Part# 031106000
Tightening Torque: 6
.4 +/- 0.5 Nm
(57 +/- 4 inch-pounds)

Continued...
CAUTION: VEHICLE SERVICING PERFORMED BY UNTRAINED PERSONS COULD
RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY TO THOSE PERSONS OR TO OTHERS.
Subaru Service Bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians ONLY. They
are written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur in some vehicles, or
to provide information that could assist in the proper servicing of the vehicle. Properly
trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how
to do the job correctly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that this
Service Bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition.

Bulletin Number: 02-136-12; Date: 10/02/12

SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. IS
“ISO 14001 COMPLIANT”
The international standard for excellence
in Environmental Management Systems.
Please recycle or dispose of automotive
products in a manner that is friendly to our
environment and in accordance with all
local, state and federal laws and regulations.

Page 1

If oil seepage is verified coming from between the cam carrier and the cylinder head as
shown in the photos below, remove the cam carrier. Clean the machined sealing surfaces
thoroughly and then re-seal using Liquid Gasket ThreeBond 1280B (Part No. SOA5499100)
or equivalent*. As shown in the photos below, the o-rings between the cam carrier and the
cylinder head will need to be replaced as they are not re-usable. This would also be a good time
to clean the Active Valve Control System (AVCS) filter screens which are contained in the cam
carriers and shown in the photos below. NOTE: The filter screens are one-time use and must
be replaced if they need to be removed. The replacement filter part # is 14451 AA 050.
Top left view

Cam carrier seepage seen
from top left and lower right
side of engine

One-time use cam carrier o-rings which must be replaced.

AVCS filter screens must be replaced if removed.

Continued...
Bulletin Number: 02-136-12; Date: 10/02/12

Page 2

If you find oil seepage between the cylinder block and upper oil pan, remove the upper oil
pan, clean the machined sealing surfaces thoroughly and then re-seal using Liquid Gasket
ThreeBond 1280B (Part No. SOA5499100) or equivalent*. In addition, the o-rings between
the upper oil pan and the cylinder block along with those between the upper and lower oil
pan will need to be replaced as they are also one-time use items.

These photos show areas
of seepage coming from the
upper oil pan to engine block
sealing surfaces.

Continued...
Bulletin Number: 02-136-12; Date: 10/02/12

Page 3

Front Timing Chain Cover resealing procedures:
NOTE: Only reseal the front chain cover AFTER confirming there is no oil seepage coming
from the either cam retainer cap (area 1) and / or the cam carrier (area 3) as previously
described.

1. If there are no oil droplets found on the engine under-cover or the lower radiator hose,
thoroughly clean the chain cover sealing area along with the surrounding cylinder head
and crankcase areas. Re-check for oil seepage again at the next service interval.
2. If the front chain cover is leaking and needs to be resealed, follow the repair procedure in
the applicable Service Manual. Thoroughly clean and inspect the sealing surfaces then
re-seal using Liquid Gasket ThreeBond 1280B (Part No. SOA5499100) or equivalent*.
*See Service Bulletin 01-167-08 for recommended and alternative sealing materials.
COUNTERMEASURES
INSPECTION
AREA

COUNTERMEASURE

STARTING VIN#

STARTING ENGINE #

1

Elimination of 6mm Tapped Hole in Boss
of Camshaft Cap

D*600112

0802437

2

Additional sealer for Chain Cover

D*601688

0814630

D*600979

0808647

D*601429

0811545

3
4

Additional Sealer between Cylinder Head
and Cam Carrier
Additional Sealer between Engine Block
and Upper Oil Pan

Continued...
Bulletin Number: 02-136-12; Date: 10/02/12

Page 4

WARRANTY/CLAIM INFORMATION
For vehicles within the Basic New Car Limited Warranty period, refer to the Subaru Warranty
Wizard® for claim submission information. Use the chart below for the 6mm bolt installation
procedure outlined on pg. 1 of this bulletin.
LABOR DESCRIPTION

LABOR OPERATION #

FAIL CODE

LABOR TIME

LH Cam Cap Boss Oil Seepage Repair

A243-611

AFR-34

0.3

NOTE: Liquid gasket ThreeBond 1280B can be claimed using part number SOA635065, quantity
one (1) per repair order. This part number is non-orderable and used for claim purposes only.

Bulletin Number: 02-136-12; Date: 10/02/12

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