I have spent the past 2 months tracking down all of the oil leaks on my new motor. It's odd, for the first 12,000 miles, the motor didn't leak at all, and then one day it started coming from *everywhere*.

The front and rear intake manifold seals are good, it is totally dry up there. Ditto for the valve covers, underneath them all around the head is dry.

The rear seal is totally dry. I've pulled the TC cover off three times, and it's clean enough to eat off of in there.

The front seal may be seeping slightly, it looks slightly damp, but not bad at all.

The oil pan *was* leaking the entire way around, but I went through the pita of replacing it. Never use cork oil pan gaskets.

I also bought a new dipstick tube and resealed it in the block, and that and the oil gasket stopped leaks on that side. The starter still will have a drop of oil hanging off of it, though I can't find from where. That doesn't look like a big deal though.

The drivers side has a moderate leak from somwhere, that will eave several quarter sized drops of oil on the ground when it's parked. The bottom of the pan is always very wet woo, and it is not coming from the drain plug.

The area is wet around the oil pressure sender above the filter. The sender was new when the motor was installed, and it was sealed tight. Just to be sure, I replaced it with a new one. The filter assembly is *not* leaking.

ANy other ideas as to what I can check? I think I've pretty much gone over the entire motor at this point....

 

Owned,

Welcome to ThirdGen.org!

Take a very close look at the front of the engine, on the right (passenger) side. There is a bolt hole almost directly below the right water pump outlet to the block. This hole is through-drilled right into the way for the fuel pump push rod. Even if the car has an electric fuel pump, the case is machined for a push rod, and the hole can leak oil if there is not a bolt installed there - with sealant on the threads.

If you have a newer case, there is a 1/8" NPT threaded plug in the center of the case, above the timing chain cover. That plugs an oil passage that is drilled directly to the main gallery above the camshaft. Check that for leakage.

In addition to the oil pressure switch mounting port, there may also be a pressed steel plug at the rear of the left side of the engine, just above the oil filter mount. Check that for leakage.

Good luck.