In my previous thread, I ruled out spark plug tubes for the cause of an oil leak (recent slowish leak from passenger side, front portion of engine).
I now have a new candidate, but I don't know what it is.
Here are some views from the front access panel of the engine compartment (where you would be working if you were replacing the belt). It looks to be coming from a large nut holding some electrical device onto the valve cover. I don't know what the device is, but when I pulled away the rubber boot, it was soaked in oil underneath.
[
www.tapir.caltech.edu]
[
www.tapir.caltech.edu]
[
www.tapir.caltech.edu]
And some more views from the top/main engine access (the parts that are only slightly wet from oil were wetted by my already wet hands grasping around at things to see what was wet)
[
www.tapir.caltech.edu]
[
www.tapir.caltech.edu]
The valve cover was removed and replaced by a reputable independent shop as recently as a year ago, and the car has had about 2500 miles put on it since then. The leak seems to have only just become noticable. For what its worth, I do hear a ticking sound from this area of the engine, when it's running.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/25/2013 01:01PM by Steve (Iowa).
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