Small nuisance oil leak

[lrp374]

I have done a search for various oil leak combinations and can't find much that helps, even using oil* for a search.
I have a small oil leak that appears to be coming from the front of the engine. It is a small drip the size of a looney but makes a mess everywhere I park. It has been the same for the last 4 or 5 months and adding “ No Leak “ has not made much of a difference. The drip comes from the front U-joint. The oil also show as drips on the A/C pump and dampness along oil pan. I believe the leak is from the front crankshaft seal. My question is would this show as oil on either the timing or silent shaft belts. I took the cover off the timing belt today and I can see no evidence of oil on the belts or sprayed on the cover. I just power washed the entire lower engine again to look for leaks. Where should I look next.


Larry

[Stewart]

I had a leak from the front crankshaft seal and the oil did not spread to the belts and pulleys. I also had a leak from the gasket behind the housing that contains the front seals. It's damned hard to get a light and eyeball in there to see where it's coming from without a hoist, one of those skinny flexible mini lights and taking the covers off. It's unlikely but there's also an oil cooler in the grill and the lines to it might be leaking as well,valve cover gasket, diesel from the injector pump, atf headed to it's cooler...

Good luck
Stewart

[Firesong]

That sounds like the front crank seal leak alright.
I have one as well.
I have the seal for it just waiting for the right time to get it done.
In the meantime a nice heavy oil slows that down, in the winter
with a synthetic it doesn't leak.. more in the warmer weather.

Unfortunately to get it fixed the front pulleys, belts and such
have to be taken off so if you need to do your timing belt,
water pump etc, perfect time for it.

It's the kind of leak where it seeps down, driving - wind
pushes it onto the cv and it splashes all kinds of places.

If it's super leaky you might want to have it done sooner
than later since if it blows you can dump a lot of oil quick
and may seize your motor. One member here had that happen
to them. (Don't remember who but he pm'd me a long time
ago about the same thing)

FS

[lrp374]

Firesong your description is exactly what's happening. I think I'll just monitor the leak and wait til it's closer to the time to change the belts etc. or the leak gets worse. It seems like a lot of hassle for a cup of oil every 5000km.

Thanks guys