The engine undertray was full of oily gunge. Front and bottom of engine similarly coated.
A lot of cleaning followed.
After a few minutes of engine running I saw oil dribbling from the joint arrowed

I'm thinking that after draining the sump I could remove the round cover and casting, renew the gasket or gasket cement, reassemble, refill oil and it should be good.
Will the operation be that straightforward?
I'm hoping that perhaps someone with experience here can tell me whats behind this cover (does it have a name) and if there is anything else I need to do. I couldn't really see in the workshop manual except it has something to do withtiming thefuel pump cam.

Thanks
Steve, 2010XK 5.0 NA

 

Steve,

I've copied this question from your Intro.

Graham

 

[size=16px]I see from other posts it is not an uncommon place for a leak and its a brake vacuum pump! I've ordered the o ring type gasket and will tackle it once that arrives.[/size]
[size=16px]Hope thats the only leak but not sure because some oil finds its way onto the ribbed belt that's above it..... We shall see![/size]

 

Common problem and easy to repair. Interestingly enough the original on mine failed within a few years but the gasket replacement I’d done’s lasted 100K miles and still leak free.

 

Replaced the o ring type gasket and the joint stayed dry whilst watching as the engine warmed up, a success.
It was a straightforward operation, most of the time was cleaning and locating the leak in the first place.

Hopefully oil was being blown up onto the ribbed belt and there's no other source of external lubrication. I'll check after a few trips.