I just replaced the valve cover gasket and spark plug seals, and have checked the valve cover gasket perimeter a few times (it's fine), but there are still a few drops of oil when my car leaves a parking space.

 

Post up if you find it.....mine's been dropping a drop or two at the right front of the engine for a couple of weeks now...and I haven't located the source yet. Think it is up high...but unsure..

 

I still haven't found the leak, and I've still got a misfire. 2 of the spark plug wells had oil in them today. I went cleaned them out and went for a short drive (after covering the area in smoke) and it was misfiring worse! I'll check the spark plug wells tomorrow and if they're filled with oil I guess I'll need to remove the valve cover and check the spark plug seals.

I've had to remove everything 3 times now. I'll go insane soon. I can hear the voices.

 

Check the plug wells in the cover. Could be corroded all the way through.

 

No ... you'll just get really, really good at it.

 

Oil leaks at the front of the AJ16 that I have found are:

Triangle plate about dead centre.

Oval plate on the RH side of the timing cover, basically the end of the auxillary drive shaft, has NO seal in the cover by design??, and relies on a gasket only to seal, mine did NOT, so NO gasket and RTV Hi-Temp, all dry. I will find a seal for that hole one of these days haha, on the loooooong wish list.

Timing cover seals do leak sometimes, although rare in the big scheme of things.

Front pulley BIG bolt is loose (or not as TIGHT as hell) will allow oil to get between the seal runner and the pulley and find its way to the outside. I smeared the runner/pulley face with RTV on assembly, all dry.

There is a power steer hose coupling just near the underside of the a/c compressor (RHD car??) and mine was always "damp" and a simple 2 spanner tweak fixed that one.

Upper timing chian tensioner leaks oil out of the joint with the cylinder head.

Cam angle sensor (that wizzy thing where a distributor used to live) also leaks out of its o/ring seal. RTV fixes it real quick, just a smear on the face when sliding it back in.

Camcover gasket, as the groove in the cover that the gasket sits into gets all crudded up, and mine took some time to scrape all that out, so the gasket sat nice and sweet, then a smear of RTV to hold it TO the cover, and juggle it back into place. I ALWAYS coat the "D" seal bits with RTV just to be sure, and have reused my gasket many times (scrooge that I am) and no leaks.

 

Does anyone know where to find a gasket for that triangular plate? Mine looks to be leaking oil... I've been looking online and I can't seem to find it. Not even sure what its called... Thanks

 

It is called "intermediate shaft seal", and the part number is EAC5721.

I swear mine had a "gortex" gasket on it as well as the seal when I had the cover off, but that was a while ago, and lot of stuff has gone in and out of the brain since then, and some just not stick these days.

I would fit a new seal and a smear of Hi-Temp RTV on the plate, and it should be sweet.

 

Will do, thanks so much!

 

I suggest you check each coil for hairline cracks and seal any [found] with a non hardening sealer.

 

Another place I had leaks from was the oil filter mount - it has two tubes that use O-rings. May need to google for this but I'm not sure on the size.

Also - if you have corrosion on the cam-cover that has made holes -- and cannot get a replacement - I have used that thick epoxy putty that comes in a small tube and you knead between your (gloved) fingers to mix/activate it. One brand name is "QuickSteel" but I think they all alike.