Smal oil leak, but i cant figure out from where...

[Le31504]

I have a smal oil leak on the last cm of the top... almost were its mounted to the block (but above)
Its more like an damp spot and dont seems to spread down or to the sides...

I cleaned it away with degreasing and it was gone... a couple of days later it was there again... but as i sad, it gets to an damp spot and dont seem to leak much more (not in a week anyway)

The leak is between the two inner channels on the intake manifold...and down... a little bit down from where the manifold connects to the engineblock

I cant se any leak from the either, the valvecover, the top, the manifold, the injectors, any hoses or so...

Any ideas?

http://www1.garaget.org/archive/30/2...23-2082058.jpg

http://www1.garaget.org/archive/30/2...23-2082053.jpg

http://www1.garaget.org/archive/30/2...23-2082054.jpg

http://www1.garaget.org/archive/30/2...23-2082055.jpg

http://www1.garaget.org/archive/30/2...23-2082057.jpg

[old guy]

Replace your valve cover gasket.

[rbj325]

What year is your car? I would check the base of the oil dip stick. They are known to break at the bottom and spew oil in that area.

[old guy]

What year is your car? I would check the base of the oil dip stick. They are known to break at the bottom and spew oil in that area.

Ain't that the truth! Mine split in the middle of the tube and is currently held together with duct tape. Replacement should be here Monday.

[rbj325]

Ain't that the truth! Mine split in the middle of the tube and is currently held together with duct tape. Replacement should be here Monday.

Luckily you caught it early. If unnoticed for a long time it causes the engine speed sensor to break along with the CCV hose that connect to the oil cooler and the hose running up to the suction jet pump.

[Le31504]

Replace your valve cover gasket.

Ok... but i cant see any leak from the valve cover... there is no trace of oil that could have leaked... especially not down to where the oil is in the pictures...

About the oil dip stick, shouldent that be like sprayed oil then? or oil is some othere place around that area?.. cus its just in that specific spot right there on the pictures...
My car is an -04 by the way

[old guy]

Either the valve cover gasket is seeping (a very common problem) or you are getting a little blow-by around your intake manifold gasket. A boost leak test would confirm a blow-by issue. Judging from the cleanliness of the oil I suspect it's the valve cover gasket.

[Le31504]

mm ok... well i cant see any oil traces on the valve cover or at the gasket... sure its a little damp in one place, but nothing that has run down towards the area in the pictures...

[old guy]

mm ok... well i cant see any oil traces on the valve cover or at the gasket... sure its a little damp in one place, but nothing that has run down towards the area in the pictures...

The reality is that there are very few ways to get oil above the head gasket on that side of the motor other than leaking down from the valve cover gasket. If the oil is a result of a leak below the manifold and getting blow upward you would be seeing an oily mess all over that side of the block.

[diagnosticator]

Also make sure the crankcase ventilation system is not plugged up anywhere. If the crankcase pressure is to high, that will provoke oil leaks from various spots that don't leak with normal crankcase pressure.

Normal crankcase pressure is regulated to be slightly below outside ambient air pressure most of the time. If this condition is instead malfunctioning, and pressure exists in the crankcase most of the time, this will force oil out any small leak paths that may exist.

[Le31504]

true... i will try to check for any more leaks in the valvecover...
I thaught of the Crankcase breather too and will see if i can check that one also... any easy way to check it without dissamble the hole breather system?