I have a 2001 Forester with about 140k mi.
I have been smelling oil when I am at red lights for about 6 months. I decided to find and fix it. It lead me to leaking boots around the spark plug holes. The boots inside the valve cover, not the spark plug boots.
I replaced the 2 on the passenger side that were obviously leaking. But I still smell some oil after many miles. I then replaced the valve cover seal on that side, and got some new rubber washer things. I don't see any oil. But I still smell it a bit.
I need to do the drivers side now. But it was not leaking nearly as much as the passenger side. Neither leak put a drop on the ground. It always was just the bad smell and slight smoke.
Anyone have experience with this part? Anything else I should replace while I am at it that might go bad at the same time? Any trick to doing the driver's side?
Thanks,
CL