I know a larger rock hit the underside of my car but I can't find any dents or new scrapes on the oil pan, tyranny pan or framing around there. Oil has been dripping from almost all the oil pan bolts but mainly near the main pulley (I think thats what its called or flywheel) and oil filter it even drips a little off the filter. I spent a 1/2 hour under my car poking around (while running), and I can't find the oil leak. There doesn't seam to be any oil leaking from the valve covers or the intake. I just had it in to a dealer and they replaced the oil pan gasket. But the oil still seams to be leaking in the exact same place. Could it be the frost plugs and is there 2 on each side?

Any ideas?


Edit oops sorry posted in wrong area Thanks for moving it

If you are talking about the "core plugs" , they have coolant behind them.

Take a good look at the front timing cover. This cover is where the oil filter is mounted, and the oil pump is right behind there as well. Maybe something hit the casting somewhere and damaged it. Or maybe it'* a bad gasket or seal in that area, and has nothing to do with the rock.

Ok so those silverish aluminum looking things have coolant behind them. Ok I guess I'll jack the car back up and check around the oil filter area, but would that spray hard enough to get on most ot the oil pan bolts?

I had a similiar problem, could'nt figure out where the oil was coming from ( it was on the oil pan, filter, cooler lines). Because I was doing a lot of highway driving, the oil was blowing everywhere. One trip to the dealer, some powerwashing, drying and rack time, showed the culprit to be the timing chain cover. Three hundred dollars later and all was fine. PS check the timing chain while your at it, and get a second and third price quote to do the work, you'll be glad you did. Hope this helps.

Ok did some looking and they did indeed replace the gasket and used what looks like a sealant of sorts - so I'd say that rules out oil pan leaking. I looked as close as I could at the oil filter area looks 50-50 dirty and clean seams to be really wet looking (like new oil). But I still don't understand how oil is getting all over every thing from the filter the angle just doesn't seam right. But if it'* really leaking there than I have a little to say to the mechanic who "fix" it and didn't test it after.

If I've learned one thing in the service industry it'* test your fix before you tell the customer it'* fixed other wise it'll come back to get ya.

I saw two belts no chains, Where might this chain be?

Ay Yi Yi
The chain is behind the cover, if you have to take off the cover then have the chain looked at. Correction, if a mechanic takes off the cover.... (don't attempt this job)

The oil doesn't have to spray out to get everywhere. An oil leak up front will run back to the muffler given enough time.

If you want to figure out where it is coming from, get a can of engine cleaner, spray the bottom of the engine liberally, wait about 15 minutes and blast it off with a hose. Then drive for a day or so and take a look.

There is something about a clean engine, it just makes you feel good !!!!!

Teleplayer is right....a timing chain cover is not a job for a novice. Get a couple of quotes before you start. Based on where you have found oil that'* where I'd start. Clean her up good, and your leak will reveal itself.

Ok Bonnie is in again to the dealer (I know they charge a little more but) They are going to give her a good looking at mostly near the timing chain and oil filter area.

Thanks for the ideas guys.

I'd also suspect the timing chain cover. Or maybe the fittings to the oil cooler near the oil filder. Or maybe even the oil pressure sending unit.

Good luck.