oil leak - 97 Camry

[jeffbreeden]

I have posted a couple of threads about an oil leak that I am having with my 97 Camry 4 cylinder and I am still trying to chase down the leak. The back of the engine closest to the firewall is quite oily. I replaced the valve cover gasket twice and then just had the local independent garage that specializes in toyota repairs replace it as well. The leak seems to have slowed down a but I am still getting some oil dripping on the flex / exhaust line which runs under the engine causing a burning oil smell inside the car when idling.

If I run my under under the coil pack which is on the drivers side of the car, there appears to be a fair amount of oil on the engine. I know on the series 3 camrys, they have a distributor in which the seal can leak over time. I don't think the series 4 with the coil packs have such a gasket but i would like to confirm that with the folks here on the board.

What else on the back side of the engine other than the valve cover could leak? When the car is parked, the majority of the oil spots are on the drivers side of the vehicle. I did check the main seal and that appears to be pretty dry so I think I have ruled that out.

Thanks in advance for any insight

[new echo owner]

Did you reseal the plug where the distributor used to be? What about the half moon plugs, did you reseal those when you replace the valve cover gasket/

N.E.O.

[jeffbreeden]

I sealed the half moon plugs when I did the valve cover last time and I am pretty sure the independent garage also sealed them as well but let me check and find out. I am not sure about the plug for where the distributor used to be. Is that right below the valve cover?

Thanks

[new echo owner]

The same opening where the distributor used to go for the last generation, Toyota put a plug in there instead. You will see the plug if you remove the rear cam cap.

N.E.O.