Oil Leak From Block - Whats The Issue Here?

[eastlondonpug 6]

Greetings

 

Hope someone can help here. The head gasket etc on my Mi16 was replaced 3 months ago, and the car has been running perfect since. However, I thought to just visually inspect everything and noticed a small puddle of oil leak in front of the block. This leak is visible when looking through the gaps in the intake manifold. The dipstick tube is fine and does not leak, the leak is no where near the oil pressure sensor and the intake manifold is fine too. I cannot see anything apparent where this could leak from. Please see the picture.

 

Does anyone have any idea what the issue is with the leak please? How is it possible the oil can leak in such manner from the block? Could the head bolts be leaking oil? Hope this is nothing serious.

 

Thanks

 

 

[JeffR 51]

Have you checked the cam cover breather hose and catch/fill can hoses for possible splits or leaks? Unless replaced when the head gasket was done, they'd be hard & brittle by now.

If the block was cracked or head gasket leaking it would most likely be coolant.

[eastlondonpug 6]

Hi, yes all the hoses were replaced with brand new silicone ones.

 

I agree, it would be coolant if the blocked was cracked, but this oil leak has baffled me.

[JeffR 51]

Time to remove the manifold to find out what's going on I think.

[unariciflocos 49 1 Cars]

Are you sure it wasn't there for a longer time? It can't evaporate or go anywhere because of the engine's angle if that's the case, so may as well have been there for months. clean it up and see if it shows up again.

 

Its proximity to the dipstick hole may indicate however some overflow from blowby pressure?

[eastlondonpug 6]

Thank you, that sounds like a reasonable idea, I shall clean it up and see if it reappears.