For some time now I've had a seeping oil leak somewhere in the are of the passenger front side area of the engine, weeping downward where I cannot see it because of the air pump and associated clutter. I've thoroughly cleaned the area where I can topside to see if the leak comes from the cam cover, but no apparent leaks there. I can. however, see oil below that. Could this be a head gasket? If not that, is there a common problem leak area associated with the front-side passenger area of the engine?

Thanks!

Dave

 

Could it be oil "spilt" when adding oil? The filler neck is immediately above the area that I believe you are referring to.
Stuart

 

No, I am very precise about topping off oil. Fact is, I keep the engine very clean, but after even a 10 mile run, when the engine is shut down, you can smell burnt oil outside the cabin of the car. It's oil seeping onto the very front exhaust port of the exhaust manifold.

It's very definitely a constant leak - one can see it on the garage floor towards the passenger side front. It leaks right down into the alternator.

Thanks...

Dave

 

aermotor,

did you ever find the cause of the oil leakage?
I have the same issue on my 96, but don't want to start pulling apart everything to take a better look.

I also noticed it after looking up into the alternator area, oil was on the back side of the alternator and making it's way down and coating the sway bar.

Pls, post if you have successfully found a cause.

Cheers.

 

I actually did find the cause - it's coming from the conjunction of the cylinder head and the top front timing chain cover, where several castings converge. The only effective solution is to pull the head and the cover and replace the head gasket and the gaskets in the cover. I will do that this coming summer, but for a cold-weather hold, I bought some Permatex Hylomar, cleaned the area very thoroughly with brake cleaner, applied the hylomar sealant (which stays very plaiant and doesn't float off like silicon does) - did that last night, in fact. The leak has dramatically slowed to just a drop now and then.

If you, like me, intend to replace the head gasket and timing cover seals, let me know and I can steer you to a link that gives you step by step instructions by a guy who is an obvious professional.

The oil leak is, I have learned, quite common and is usually caused by shrinkage of the head gasket, which then pulls away from the other castings and thus the leak.

 

Hey sounds like a good temporary fix.
I'm going to do the same and fix the head gasket next spring.
Thank you!!

 

only permanent solution to the leak of oil thru the engine valve cover is to change the rubber gasket, no other short cut.