V6 Oil leak

[Eratosthenes]

The passenger side rocker cover gasket has always leaked a little and it came progressively worse. I checked the nuts and some seemed quite slack. I tightened them a touch and that seemed to solve it. The mot and service is due in 2 or 3 weeks and I propose to get the gasket replaced then.
With all the rain at the moment the road is permanently wet and and a small drip of oil seems to spread everywhere yet hardly noticeable when dry. I have tried to see if the few drips are from the rocker or some where new. However after laying on a ground sheet and with a torch can not seem to find any obvious place where it may be coming from. Are there any typical places where a V6 develop leaks? Couldn't have happened at a better time as a long journey arranged in a few days. Any comments appreciated.

[g8dhe]

Yes cam seals, this then runs along the body of the engine filling the alternator then onwards till it drops of the rear onto the exhaust where it crosses over at the rear, you often get a hot oil smell when stopping at lights etc. when the air wafts back and gets sucked into the cabin air intake!

[Eratosthenes]

Yes cam seals, this then runs along the body of the engine filling the alternator then onwards till it drops of the rear onto the exhaust where it crosses over at the rear, you often get a hot oil smell when stopping at lights etc. when the air wafts back and gets sucked into the cabin air intake!

Geoff, thanks for the reply.

If it were to be the cam seals, do these get progressively worse, or can they just give up and drop all the oil and that is the end of the engine?

[g8dhe]

They get progressively worse unless you put some treatment in the oil to swell the seals again. I did this for a couple of years until the cambelt needed changing then did the whole lot in one go (other than cleaning out the alternator - that failed a couple of years later due to overheating!). Getting to the front of the V6 is not the easiest of jobs so you need to plan to do as much as possible in one hit and then its good for another 50-60,000Kms when the belt needs doing again!

[Eratosthenes]

I may try this over the next couple of weeks until I can get it in the garage for further investigation.

Thanks Geoff.

[g8dhe]

Iused the Wynn's stuff https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wynns-Profes ... 2093693913

[Eratosthenes]

Thanks - that was my next question.