Scratching my head over an oil leak

[martybose]

My car has had a fairly significant oil leak for some time now. It is dripping off of the rear motor mount bolts and the bottom of the clutch cover. The problem is that I can't find the leak!

I see absolutely no evidence of oil leaking in the engine compartment. I've gone over the sides of the engine with a worklight, fixed the oil leak I used to have at the front valve cover, and don't have any leaks at the oil fittings on the left side. I've jacked the car up and don't see any leaks at the oil pan, and the oil is on the outside of the bellhousing, which would seem to eliminate the rear main seal.

I'm obviously missing something; anyone have any ideas?

Marty

[greg g]

Is it motor oil or gear oil?? could it be your trans to bellhousing gasket is leaking?? Is your oil line to the gauge leaking??

[Plymouthy Adams]

Sometimes oil leaks are hard to trace especially if you have just returned from a drive as the wind will blow the oil to another position on the car and drip from there throwing you way off track. It is best to clean the engine in the areas most prone to leak..now you can take clean white tissue/napkins and place in the areas and start the engine and let it run a bit..shut it off and see what areas now have oil traces..

[Niel Hoback]

I think theres a freeze plug at the back end of the camshaft. Is it above the bell housing? Could have a leak there?

[grey beard]

Marty,

Considering how much our fans blow oil around when it leaks, I have found that the best way to spot a leak is to get it up on a hoist, cleean everything off with dry rags or rattle can spray brakeclean, and then run the engine at a high idle until it leaks. Dry newspaper or cardboard usually shows you where it's coming from. Give it a try . . .

[martybose]

today, after taking my daughter out to an early dinner, I decided to take another look at my engine while ignoring all of the things that I knew couldn't be leaking because I had fixed them previously.

No signs of any leaks on the right side of the engine, so the fixes on the valve covers and the fuel pump block-off plate are still good.

Switched to the left side, no problems evident UNTIL ........

I looked at the oil pressure fitting that hasn't leaked since I fixed it almost 7 years ago, and there is fresh oil around it. I fixed it previously with teflon tape, but I now use an aviation gasket sealer that works much better. I'll have to check to make sure it isn't leaking somewhere else on the hose, but I may be making progress!

Marty