Well, I gave it a few days and decided to go ahead and drop the pan and replace gasket. So, I just finished up changing the gasket, drove it around for awhile and I still have the seepage! I dont know what else to do, I followed the rave to the letter twice and it still leaks. Im thinking now its coming from higher up and running down I notice down the sides of the bell housing and what I can see of the back of the block, it looks oily damp kind of greasy like its been seeping a long time. The valve covers looks good I really cant see any farther back then that, maybe its coming from somewhere on back of motor? Im getting tired of chasing down piddly stuff, its not even enough of a leak to drip onto the ground, just makes a wet spot at the joint between oil pan and bell housing. Could the heads be leaking what else back there leaks?

 

The valley pan has a "u" shaped spacer/ washer that is bolted thru to press down on inverted arc of the gasket. This covers most of the trough of the valley at each end (fore and aft).

 

Is this a common leak point? As much of the head to block joint that I can see is dry so another source seems likely. In that picture, is the smaller port to the far right a coolant channel?

 

Yes, there are four of them. See attached drawing. Also note that head gaskets have a coolant channel at each end, can blow out. Pix attached.

Valley pan much easier than HG to change. Don't know if you could use a mirror to look under the intake, or behind motor.

 

Thanks, I dont have a coolant leak just curious about locations. Its such a slow oil seepage I dont think I will even address it at this time, not even enough to drip to the ground. Can a headgasket leak oil? seems like it would either be a coolant or straight up pressure from the cylinder leaking out?.

 

HG can leak oil, and even in a car like my Mercedes (iron block, aluminum heads), about 1 quart every 1300 miles. But in my case it is an annoyance, not an engine killer.

One thing I may have forgot to mention is the oil separator on the passenger side valve cover. It has a rubber hose to the intake plenum chamber. Vacuum sucks oil vapors from under the valley pan and elsewhere into the engine to be burned and treated by the cats as exhaust. We all breathe easier. But if the separator is clogged up, pressure inside the engine can make oil vent in lots of strange places. The separator pulls out with needle nose pliers, or you can spray some carb cleaner down in it. Here's what it looks like inside, just a series of baffles. Oil Separator - Valve Cover | Land Rover Engine Parts at RoverParts.com

 

Yes, pretty much a guaranteed leak point.

 

Thanks for the replys. I will check out the oil separator.

 

Maybe some White Shepard oil leak treatment, just have to drive for a couple of hours after use.

 

The white shepard stuff, can it cause any problems? Clogging up lifters or other small ports?