I've developed a small drip of oil from the area around the oil filter. It runs down the side of the oil filter and it'* only a drip. I've made sure the filter is seated good. Since I can't get up under it, is there something just above the filter that would leak? Is there an extension or gasket in that general area?

Thanks for the help.

front valve cover gasket. the oil was dripping down the block and hitting the shield and ending up right below the oil filter...check the front exhaust manifold for oil and or smoking.

there are some other options but valve cover gaskets and oil pan gaskets are very common on these cars. Lets check the obvious (replace the valve cover gaskets anyway if they have not been done before..they are around 20 bucks for a set)

Pressure wash the motor and degrease the heck out of it if valve cover gasket dont fix the leak..then you can see where its coming from.

You can also see if the Oil Sender unit may have become loose, it could cause a leak I suppose but I've never seen one.

I'm guessing you also swapped a different oil filter on already?

The valve cover gaskets are good. Where the filter screws onto and the engine oil cooler lines connect, is there a gasket in there? Is that a bolted on extension? It'* definately leaking from that area. The oil is running down the slanted side of the filter. The passenger side that is. I'll probably have to take the wheel and splash guard off to get a better look.

Hans is quite a bit off base here.

The most likely oil leak point (valve covers are obvious, and not really that common) are the lower intake manifold seals in the corners where the meet the cylinder head, LIM, and block. These corners erode, and suffer from an internal 'splash' leak as opposed to a pressure leak.

In basic terms, you need to find the highest point the farthest forward you can trace the oil.

Other than that, trust your own observations on the location of the leak. Follow it up from the filter/and/or/adapter.

And the timing cover gasket.

One possibility is the oil pressure sender located on the oil filter adapter plate. They often start to drip before they go really bad. In the image below, the sender has been removed and replaced with a brass plug. You can see the plug clearly in the aluminum plate above the oil filter. It is easy to get to the little bugger by removing the RF wheel and going in under the fender.

If the oil filter was over tightened with a filter wrench, the seal could be cut. AKA cookie cutter effect.

Don't ask me how I know this.

For an oil filter to leak...that would have to be VERY tight Possibility though.

As mentioned, the easiest way to find the leak will be to clean down the area and run the car a bit. Looking and observing where the leak begins.

From the bottom up the possible leak points are: Pressure areas are more likely to leave drips, non pressure will usually be more of a slow seep.
Oil pan (non pressure)
Oil pressure sender (pressure)
Oil filter adapter gasket (pressure)
Timing cover gasket (non pressure)
Valve cover gasket (non pressure)

I think I've traced it down to the EVO solenoid on the Power Steering pump. It seems to be wet with PS fluid and it'* in the general area of the drip. I had the car up in the air the other day and it looks like the trouble spot. I'll have more when I get the old one out.