Background:
1992 SSEi
189,000 miles
Driven 200+ highway miles a day (I've got a long commute)

Due to the fact that I drive 200 miles @ 70MPH everyday, the oil leak has 'spread' oil all over the under side of the passenger side of the vehicle, all the way to the back coil spring, exhaust and muffler. Needless to say it'* left a hell of a mess under the car. I believe the leak started two days ago.

The short of this is:
Major oil leak in the area under the vehicle between oil filter and transaxle.

I can't locate the exact spot because (as mentioned above) the oil is all over everything. I'm assuming it'* coming out under pressure rather than statically, but it'* hard to be sure. I changed the oil two days ago (after I discovered the leak) thinking that the oil filter was to blame. 5 quarts of oil and a new filter later and this maintenance job was deemed complete. Checked the oil level this morning and it was already a quart low. I checked it because I saw a small oil puddle under the vehicle at the gas station after I filled up.

The car is now on stands. I've wiped up everything I can find in the immediate area of the leak. I'm waiting to see if a static leak problem shows itself... nothing so far. As I said, the nearest I can tell is it'* originating between the oil filter and the transaxle. The belts, harmonic balancer, etc. are clean. I may start the engine for a short time to see if that yields any clues... but haven't done that yet.

I'm at a loss one this one fella'*...

what your going to need to do is get a big can of foamy engine cleaner, wait till the engine cools wash the crap out of the under side, especially around the possible point of origin for the leak and then inspect. It could be your front crank seal going, which could make sense, when those go, they tend to let alot of oil out.

Where are u in the cities? I might be able to stop by since i'm on a mini vacation....

Otherwise clean it to hell (i just bought some foamy engine cleaner today actually) and just turn the car on in park and watch it?

I would think it'* the just like stated above. Probably front crank/oil pan gasket. So far I've seen many wet 3800 oil pans.

what about the Distributor Plug? that O-ring goes to hell all the time

Distributor plug?? First I've heard of that...

What are the basics involved in the repair if it is the crank seal? Pull the engine, pull the pan, pull the crank, etc.? We're talking major down time right?

I never heard whether or not we had these. I know the 3.1'* have them. And yes they leak like mad.

Get a can of brake cleaner to clean it with. That stuff cleans fast. Then turn your engine on and watch for leaks and keep spraying brake cleaner & inspecting. I found a oil pan gasket and valve cover leak like that.
Maybe it'* your rear valve cover leaking down in between the tranny and pan?

I've seen the oil filter adapter gasket leak like that....like jr's3800 said.

Just a thought, I've never tried this, but maybe squirt a hole bottle of red food coloring into the engine oil and look for the trail of "blood"? Just a thought?