Oil leak coming from somewhere above t-stat? (Many pics, 56K)

[suprarx7nut]

Hey everybody, I'm stumped.

I have a slow oil drip and I can't tell where the bastard is originating from. I recently replaced the distributor o-ring and the bottom of the dizzy is clean.

I can see drops form at the bottom of the back of the thermostat housing, but obviously oil isn't coming from there.

Cam covers aren't leaking anything more than a slow forming haze, as far as i can tell.

I took off the front timing cover and it looked very clean in there, no wet spots.

Here are a bunch of pics to help.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[HommerSimpson]

well you have a o-ring on the dizy... you have the 2 cam seals and the 2 valve cover gaskets.... prob one of them if not a few of them...

 

[jdub]

Clean the motor and put UV dye in the oil. Shine a black light on it in a couple days and you will have your answer

 

[AJ'S 88NA]

I noticed a leak on mine, looks very much like your's, and can't figure exactly were it's coming from. Guess I'll have to do the UV dye myself.

 

[Halsupramk3]

by the appearance of the center valley i bet those valve cover gaskets are rock hard. they can leak at the corners where the front cam bearing is. rep those and rep the distributer O ring. get the valve cover set that includes the rubber washers for the bolts. that may not be your only leak but i highly suspect the valve covers.

Clean the engine really good first.

Are you loosing any PS fluid? there is an oring on the top of the pump that is on the union pipe. it can leak sometimes but the old rubber suction hose can leak more easily.

cam seals can leak on the front of the cam gear plate or even behind it and then the oil shows up at the bottom of the plate where it ends at the lower timing rear plate.

 

[suprarx7nut]

I haven't used the UV dye yet, but I think it may be the valve cover gaskets. I have replaced them within the last 2 years, but maybe its time for a new set of genuine toyota.