TJquattro

I am having trouble identifying a slow oil leak on the upper rear/passenger side of the engine above the exhaust manifold (see photo). Some of the oil is getting on to the starter. My valve cover gaskets were replaced at the dealer ~30k miles ago and I just replaced them again myself (including half moon seals). I made sure to add a thin line of black RTV on the top and bottom of the half moon seals and all four corners. The valve covers are the updated plastic version. I also replaced the crankcase ventilation valve. The leak still persists...

Any idea where else the oil can be leaking from? The area around oil pressure switch is completely dry. It sounds like if the valley pan and/or oil filter to block gaskets were leaking, it would be at the front of the engine? I do not see any leaks at the front. Any help is appreciated.

John Kintz

[QUOTE=TJquattro;25151279]I am having trouble identifying a slow oil leak on the upper rear/passenger side of the engine above the exhaust manifold (see photo). Some of the oil is getting on to the starter. My valve cover gaskets were replaced at the dealer ~30k miles ago and I just replaced them again myself (including half moon seals).


Any luck?

Warhead

Sounds like you checked all the easy stuff. I can only think of two places that oil maybe coming from.

1. The valley pan gasket, but I agree that if you had a leak for the valley pan that it would show up in the front of the car.

2. Timing related. Could the oil be coming from under the timing cover or seeping from the of it?

Are you getting timing chain rattles?
How is you oil level, are you losing oil between changes?

Thankfully that leak looks to be small.
any chance that it could be left over from spills while maintenance was going on?

TJquattro

It ended up being the cam solenoid seals. Replaced them and the leak stopped.

Warhead

glad to hear you got it fixed.