How can oil leak here??

[wilsonk97330]

I've cleaned up the underside of the engine, to find the source of a couple oil leaks. I was very suprised to see oil leaking from the bottom backside of the valve cover. It almost looks like it's leaking from the exhaust! The leak has been there since I bought the car in March. The oil hasn't been overfilled, but perhaps the dipstick line isn't accurate?

I took a picture as it's much better than my novice description. Any idea how I'd get oil leaking here?

The leak seems to start from up between the exhaust and the wall, then run down onto the nub and finally drip off the bottom rail.



Thanks a bunch!

Karsten Wilson
karsten@tarck.com
Corvallis, OR
'77 911S coupe

[sammyg2]

From your description and the picture it looks like it's coming from between the head and the cam tower.
Yes, it could leak from there but it's rare. Oil leaks can be very deceiving. If you are absolutely positive it is coming from that location and not migrating from another location you would just about have to do a top end job to fix it.

[CarreraS2]

Seems like oil leaks are the least of your problem.

Your car is upside down!

[wilsonk97330]

I thought it was between the head and camtower as well, but actually there is an oil film along the wall right next to the exhaust, so it seems to be dripping from higher up (err, lower since the car is upside down, haha). Weird.

[john walker's workshop]

possibly a rocker shaft leaking. pull the covers and see if there is oil around the shaft bores.