I think I've got an oil leak coming from the valve cover gasket or what I think is a banjo bolt. I read the sticky on oil leaks and I think this banjo bolt is referenced, but I just can't visualize things from the words. I know the oil is coming from that area. Well, I'm 95% sure the oil's coming from that area as it's not above the valve cover and I can feel it around that area. It's enough of a leak to be a bit concerned about, but it's sporadic. I just started the beaut after a couple of months up on jacks, clean oil, ran for about 5 minutes, left a nice pool of oil. I was actually working other areas of the car, so I was just kinda acking in my brain the fact it's leaking oil from somewhere. I just cleaned and gasketed (is that a word?) the lower oil pan, so I was having suspicions. I ran the car the next day for about 5 minutes again, but this time, no oil pool.

I'll probably watch it, check the oil level before driving, etc., but just thought I'd see about getting some help to clarify this banjo bolt that I'm looking at but can't quite relate in my brain to the sticky...

Pic...

 

There are 2 banjo bolts. One at the rear of each cylinder head Tappet Block.

RARELY leak there, and it will be HI pressure oil, so it will paint the engine bay quickly.

I warn everyone that asks, had one at 7AM this morning. Touch those Banjo bolts at YOUR peril. They are only 3 - 4 threads grip, and if you strip those threads, its engine out, NO exceptions., Longer Banjo's are available, as there are plenty of threads in the Tappet Blocks, just saying.

100% of all I have chased are the "D" seals, cover gaskets, just above said Banjo bolts, and gravity does the rest. The leak there is "bleed back" oil, so NO pressure at all.

Run it for an hour, go for a drive, idling a V12 for an hour is silly, and when it cools down enough, slip the hand down the back, and "feel" carefully. My money is on the "D" seals.

 

Do yourself a favour and get the machined aluminum D plugs. Guy in lithuania manufactures nice V12 peices including these with the old style Jaguar logo to. You'll find him on ebay.

 

Be aware too, that the cam feed banjo bolts, once loosened are VERY difficult to replace with new copper washers on B bank, and actually impossible to replace on A bank, as the bolr cannot be withdrawn from the engine as the bulkhead is to close.
I am sure that grant is 100% correct, the oil is from the D seal/the cam cover/engine gasket.

 

I was able to replace both banjo bolts with the improved longer ones on my 87 without taking the engine out. I had the intake manifolds off at the time so the job was easier. I guess there's enough variation between cars to account for clearance issues on some but not others.