Parts for your 2015 Subaru Forester-Oil seals

2015 Subaru Forester oil-seals — what they do and when to replace them

Oil-seals absolutely are used on the 2015 Subaru Forester. Subaru’s 2015 Forester Service Manual (via Subaru Technical Information System) and the genuine parts catalog list multiple seals across the vehicle: front and rear crankshaft seals on the FB-series engine, torque converter/front pump and driveshaft/differential side seals in the Lineartronic CVT, and pinion/side seals in the front and rear differentials. While certain areas on the FB engine use form-in-place gasket (sealant) — for example, cam carriers and timing cover — rotating shafts rely on conventional oil-seals to keep fluids where they belong.

In day-to-day terms, oil-seals keep engine, transmission and diff lubricants inside the housings while keeping dust and water out. They’re typically made from high-temp elastomers with a spring-loaded lip that rides on a machined surface. When they harden, get nicked, or the shaft surface wears, leaks can start — leaving spots under the car, a whiff of burning oil near the exhaust, or a greasy buildup around the bellhousing or diff.

• Engine: front crankshaft seal