Source of Oil Leak?

[deguitars]

Any idea what the source of this oil is? The oil is higher up than the valve cover, but if you look at the upper cover nut it's wet. I just shot this quick photo after a drive tonight, guess I'll have to investigate further. Clearly the chain cover is leaking but that's no bog deal.

Thanks!

[proporsche]

Hi your oil leak could come for couple of places.The valve cover oil leak is possible your rock arm shaft ,either loose or on wrong place-my guess loose.
I would check them all, upper and lower.
The clear spot on your chain housing is from camshaft cover o ring or the gasket-you do them in the same time.
Are you doing the repair your self?

Ivan

one more thing ,how old are your valve cover gaskets?

[Discseven]

DE... were covers removed/cleaned/replaced lately?

[deguitars]

Cover gaskets haven't been changed in a few years so I don't doubt they are weeping. But oil is coming from somewhere higher up as well, I'm assuming? Since the cooling fins are covered in oil

Thanks!

[Luccia at Pelican Parts]

Start by following the oil, you will notice some of the oil on the engine is darker and dirtier; this is typically the oil furthest from the leak. Follow the oil toward the cleaner area, sometimes even spotless with just a coating of light colored oil. I posted some of our oil leak articles below to hopefully give you some insight as well. Good luck!

Porsche 911 Fixing Common Oil Leaks | Pelican Parts DIY Maintenance Article
Porsche 911 Oil Leak Fixes | Pelican Parts DIY Maintenance Article

[T77911S]

you have to degrease the engine then start looking for the leak.

some no obvious sources
seal between the chain box and cam tower
where the cam line bolts to the cam tower. this usually shows up as a drip from the lower front bolt on the cover.

too much grease to tell for sure. clean it all off and drive it

[proporsche]

Like i said, take your valve covers off and inspect the rocker arm shafts.If you have loose upper rocker arm pins-shaft it will drip down trough the heads.
Also there is possibility that your sealnt between the camshaft housing and cylinder heqads is no longer good.
like this one

[deguitars]

Thank you for the suggestions! I had a chance to jack the car up and take a closer look last night and my sense is it's the valve cover gasket. The chain tensioner cover is weeping slightly too but that's not the source of the dripping. I also checked the records (only had the car about three years) and it would seem the covers were last off for the 75K service which was several years ago. New gaskets are in order, I will report back.

cheers

[proporsche]

that sounds like a good plan a little too long.Also your front chain housing gasket are a little wet...
I would not sweat it too much...

Ivan

[safe]

My bet:
*Rocker arms
*cam shafts (between chain housing and cam housing).

The latter if the leak are more to the rear of the engine.
But it could also be valve cover gaskets or maybe oil return tubes.

Clean properly and do the easy stuff first.