Just want to make sure I am not chasing a false lead again. I have an oil leak that is making a mess of the front/lower area of my 4.4 AJV8. It had very much appeared to be my main crank seal, so I replaced it. When doing so it was clear it was not leaking - with the crank pulley out of the way the overall view was much better and since replacement the leak continues. I think it may be timing cover gaskets. The leak seems to be mainly from the passenger side. Not enough to drip on the ground, but on longer highway drives I will smell oil burning. Valve cover gaskets are new, main crank seal as mentioned and I replaced the oil housing gasket (shaped like an 8) again just to be sure.

On past engine there were other potential leak locations like chain tensioners, etc. From what I can tell this engine does not appear to have any other potential leak locations but I want to run this by you all here and be sure it could not be something that I can not see as the leak *almost* looks like it is hidden behind the alternator mount. I did snug up the timing cover bolts that I could get to with the crank pulley off, but that does not seem to have made much a difference.

 

I've got a small leak at the oil cooler/ail filter adapter. There is a small figure 8 looking gasket/seat that I have heard many say is the cause in the leak. 3 bolts and it is out. might look there.

 

You goofball.... did you even read what I wrote? lol I did that. In fact I did it a couple years ago with an OEM then again a few weeks ago with another OEM gasket just to rule out, cause cheap. The oil mess is pretty much that area though but above it and to the side it seems. I just hate to pull the timing cover cause it will mean another crank seal install and another crank bolt - both can never be used more than once upon removal.

 

Timing cover is a prime candidate. I have a leak on my 06. I replaced the oil filter housing figure 8 gasket and that wasn't it. I have looked closely around the front crank seal and it looks ok. After having done the VVT gear job on my 07, I have convinced myself that the timing cover on my 06 is the likely culprit. The job has a heavy payload, but I think that's what it's gonna take for my 06.

 

Yeah... putting money on timing cover gaskets too but I want to be sure there is not some little lesser obvious spot first. I guess the only blessing is that having done the crank seal once I am not at all intimidated by doing it again. Was A LOT easier than I had expected.

 

DOAH! My bad. Give me a break. I'm starting a new company and going blind reading/reviewing legal patent BS.