Can't find the source of a major oil leak

[dubliner]

Hi

My 2001 Protege 1.6L has a very bad oil leak (around 1 quart every 200 miles). Much of the lower passenger's side of the engine is covered in oil residue. The passenger's side of the alternator, the alternator belt, and the pulley that the alternator belt runs to are also covered with oil. There's also a lot of oil directly under the engine pulleys, like on the plastic splashguard thing that's under the pulleys. Pretty much everything from there rearward, both in the engine compartment, and under the car, is also very oily.

I don't think its the valve cover gasket as there's really no oil that high up, and I just replaced it anyway. (The timing belt was completely clean - no oil).

I'm looking for some advice as to what the source of the leak might be.

Thanks!

 

[riegs]

check out your oil pressure sensor. Mine was leaking from there. Just an idea. Same car

 

[thuzil]

There are a couple of spots in this area. Easiest to check is the oring that goes on the end of the dipstick tube. You have to take a bolt off of the top of the tube and it pulls straight up. Second is the valve cover gasket at the cam seals. It will leak down the side of the block behind the timing belt cover. Third is the rtv between the block and the main bearing support tray. The last, and unfortunately most likely, is your front crank seal is toast. You will need to remove the timing cover to check this out. To replace it, you need to take the timing belt off.

 

[mazpro00]

crank seal

same huge leak with the same oil spots just like yours on my mazda protege 2000 1.6l turned out to be crank seal

 

[kms1990]

that much oil in that area leads me to crank seal as well.

 

[scottywilliams]

Dont just rule out the valve cover gasket yet, and yes oil does get all the way up there. If you dont place sealant properly in the right places during installation of the gasket, you can get leaks from there even if it's a new gasket. Just a question: Did you see the oil leak before replacing the gasket? I also agree with km1990, that the crank seal could be bad since you're seeing oil covering the passenger side. Let us know what you find out though thanks