Posted on 7/25/2026
Even a tiny oil spot under your Subaru indicates a problem that should be looked at. If you notice an abrupt drop in oil levels and a burning oil odor, it’s important to top up oil level and to bring your Subaru to our San Francisco auto care facility to have your vehicle diagnosed as soon as possible. Subaru engines, particularly those of the “boxer” design, are known for suffering from oil leaks. Valve cover gasket is often the culprit – due to high heat rubber seals tend to degrade over time, resulting in oil leaks. In addition to the valve cover gasket, camshaft carrier seals may deteriorate and leak, so can variable valve timing solenoid O-rings, and front crankshaft seals. If the oil pressure switch cracks, oil will seep out, and of course there is always the “old faithful” – oil pan gasket, which is a popular cause of oil leaks on all vehicles, not just Subarus. Naturally our first step involves thorough diagnostics so we find the true ... read more