Oil seepage from the cam plate, cam carriers or timing cover

Added 2026-10-26 · Updated 2026-10-26

Symptoms

A burnt-oil smell after driving, and oil wetness at the back of the left cylinder head (the cam or block-off plate), the cam carriers, the timing chain cover or the oil pan joint.

Cause

Sealant joints on the FA20 can seep. Subaru's bulletin lists six areas to inspect, including a 6 mm tapped hole in the left camshaft cap and the block-off plate (manual) or vacuum pump (automatic) surface.

Fix (summary)

Subaru's bulletin 02-136-12R gives the dealer procedure: clean and reseal the affected joint with ThreeBond 1217H, replace the one-time O-rings, and plug the cam-cap hole with bolt 800206180 and washer 031106000. For the cam plate, owners also reseal it themselves or fit a billet plate with an O-ring.

Related parts

• Raceseng billet cam (block-off) plate with O-ring seal

Related build entries

• Check recalls and service bulletins before you modify
• Fix the cam-plate oil seep before it cooks on the exhaust

Other ZN6/ZC6 problems

• Valve spring recall (2013 BRZ and FR-S)
• Low-pressure fuel pump recall (2018-19)
• Key can come out when not in Park (FR-S and 86 automatics)
• Rough idle or stalling on early cars (ECU software)
• High-pitched chirp or cricket noise from the engine
• Creaking clutch pedal

More for this car

• All Toyota 86 / Subaru BRZ / Scion FR-S (ZN6/ZC6, 2013-2020) fitment answers · ZN6/ZC6 common problems
• Newsletter archive: past issues with every new and corrected entry

Sources

• Subaru service bulletin 02-136-12R: Oil Seepage Diagnosis and Repair Procedures (2013-20MY BRZ; rev. 06/29/23) — Subaru of America (bulletin hosted by NHTSA) (mfr spec; read 2026-10-26; full page read)
• Cam Plate Leak Repair — FT86CLUB (forum) (forum thread; read 2026-10-26; full page read)

Summaries are in our own words. Not repair instructions; consult the factory service manual.

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