Oil leak from back of 2.3 - Up high, but not the valve cover gasket

[DougNuts]

Has anyone else seen an oil leak/seep from the engine around the passenger & firewall side of the cylinder head? Both my Mazda5 and my wifes Mazda3 leak in the same spot, but I can't figure out where it is. I can tell that it's not the valve cover gasket.

I will try to poke around with a mirror and take some pictures tonight. But since both of our 2.3L engines have it, I assumed that someone on here would have seen this before.

Thanks,
Doug

 

[brandini]

Just to be thorough, have you checked the passenger side engine mount?

It's fluid-filled and leaks and breaks and gets junk all on the shock tower/inner fender and could possibly get the firewall pretty nasty.

Also check the dipstick and oil fill cap, both have o-rings that could have gone bad or gone away.

 

[DougNuts]

Unfortunately I am familiar with the motor mount leak, but that is not the issue here. After a tip from someone in the Mazda5 section, this appears to be the timing cover leaking just a little, close to where the cylinder head meets the block.