Mystery oil seepage

[pippo]

Guys,

Oil is collecting on the bottom of the starter motor. So strange, as I cant figure out where it is seeping from. The valve cover gasket is clean. The shop manual shows the starter sprocket teeth above the rear engine seal so I dont think it the seal as one would also see seepage/oil draining all over the bottom of the flywheel, which is clean/no oil stains.

Where could this oil be coming from? Ideas welcome and appreciated.

 

[melsg5]

If you want they sell kits where you add a dye to the oil and then use a UV light to find the leak. First you have to clean the area.

 

[pippo]

Great tip Mel, but I already did that- cleaned the bottom of the starter motor nice and dry, added 4 mls dye, ran the car for 20 miles, and oil collecting right away under the starter. With a dye light, it fluoresced yellowish, proving the oil, and not something else. I kinda figure that anyway. But I still cant figure out from where. That starter gear sprocket has to be above the crank seal, from memory. Never seen this before, ever.

Thanks.