Here are a few pics of the oil leak... 110K miles. Just had the Valve Cover gaskets replaced less than 500 miles ago by a local mechanic. Pressure washed the entire belly pan, seemed to stop it for a day, and it is back again.

Seems to sweat oil on several of the oil pan mounting bolts. Also, a drip always seems to come off the bottom of the front differential. When oil is hot and it drips - it travels.....

I am thinking oil pan OR front crank seal...any suggestions???

 

you need to clean/decrease the whole engine (block, front cover, bellhousing, etc. Then look to see where it originates form. Just cleaning the bottom of the engine wont tell you much.

 

Clean it all, top bottom and front of the engine, if you can't find it then take it to a shop.

 

From what I am told and learning these things are oil leakers plain and simple..mine with new motor, new gaskets is weeping oil from the oil pan with less than 350miles, pitiful. I am told the oil pan gasket design sux *****. I will be changing my gasket at the next oil change. Anyone have a tip to fix this once and for all?

 

I'm not too sure about this. The oil pan gasket is hard plastic with metal bushings in the bolt holes. I've taken my oil pan off three times in the last month for other reasons and continue to reuse the same gasket and it doesn't leak. You could be leaking front main seal, rear main seal, a whole number of places. Take the above advice, clean, inspect, and post pictures. You may want to make sure the valve covers and oil pan are nice and tight as well.

 

The oil on the front diff is probably coming from the oil filter area. Try tightening the filter as much as possible. There's also a known issue of leaks at the filter mount. If tightening doesn't help, look for that.

 

and you can wipe down the front crank seal, another prolific leaker, and take a fingerfiul of rtv and go around it. Let it cure 24 hours, crank, and it will shear a hairline crack in the RTV, and may slow your leak for a while.

A mirror on a stick helps.

 

nope all on oil pan. Weird I am going to buy another gasket and metal bushings and see if this fixes my issue

 

The metal spacers are built into the gasket and there so it can't be over tightened.

 

this is on the new cannibal motor? are you sure it is the pan and not the front or rear seal?
put a thin coat of black RTV on both side of the gasket, there is no need for them to leak.