Oil leak? What is this?

[MuddyButt]

Noticed this yesterday after My drive back to school. I'm thinking valve cover gasket since I only did the passenger side so far. I did a lot of hill climbs last time I went wheeling so I think the oil might have just been leaking out the back of the gasket and down.

 

[dirteater4]

Noticed this yesterday after My drive back to school. I'm thinking valve cover gasket since I only did the passenger side so far. I did a lot of hill climbs last time I went wheeling so I think the oil might have just been leaking out the back of the gasket and down.

That would be my guess MB. Go ahead and do the driver side. When you do, check to make sure the gasket has seated correctly on the passenger side and that the half moons aren't leaking. That ended up being the majority of my issue. BTW, the leak coated my steering rack just like yours.

 

[MuddyButt]

That would be my guess MB. Go ahead and do the driver side. When you do, check to make sure the gasket has seated correctly on the passenger side and that the half moons aren't leaking. That ended up being the majority of my issue. BTW, the leak coated my steering rack just like yours.

Thanks man that's very helpful. part of the reason I didn't do the drivers side is because I didn't have the time or necessary stuff to do the half moons. I just did spark plug tube and valve cover gaskets on the passenger side because I figured if I needed to go back and do the half moons it wouldn't be that hard. I'll be replacing the drivers side valve cover gaskets ASAP because it looks pretty bad
I just checked again today after cleaning everything up and I haven't seen any oil yet. still a crap ton of mud everywhere though. I'm not looking forward to cleaning all that out.

 

[MuddyButt]

Sighs...

Whelp...looks like I'm gonna be taking everything back apart and trying again. looks like the culprit of the leak was my camshaft plugs/ seals. I didn't replace them while I was in there because I didn't think they were bad. Gonna dig into it one week again and make sure I replace everything I can. like half moons and camplugs. If that doesn't stop the leak then I can only assume its the rear main seal that is causing the oil leak. but I don't see how oil could leak UP.

I only really notice the leak after driving 300 miles home and to school.

 

[orbot]

mine was leaking similar to yours, just had the engine repacked so i thought a bad tranny seal but after some time it suddenly stopped dripping, would leave me an inch or so stains at every stop.