Mysterious oil leak

[geoffg]

My '97 Camry, 4 cyl., has an oil leak that only occurs during initial warm up and at the end of the engine cooling down. No leak when the engine is cold or running at normal temp. It used to do this only when the outside temperature was below 40 or so but now does it in the summer too. It seems to be coming from the front of the engine near the top rear. Any ideas? I'm thinking maybe the oil pump seal?? It is definitely below the level of the cylinder head.

[ghettosled]

i had a similar leak and it turned out to be the oil pump o-ring.

[marc780]

Oil leaks can be hard to find, i try to eliminate the guesswork - for your engine, i would clean the engine within an inch of its life with simple green or gunk, and rags toothbrushes and what have yous until the thing is clean as new. Then remove the timing belt cover, run the engine and watch.
If it proves very hard to find there is special dye you can dump in the engine, and then you use a black light to find the leaks.

Since you are certain it is below the cylinder head, the camshaft seals are probably ok, the most likely culprit would be the crankshaft seal. To replace it, the crankshaft pulley and timing belt and covers have to come off.

It could also just be an oil pan leak, or an oil pump seal leak.

[marc780]

Top rear of what? need the info if you want some help. Since it is below cyl head here is what i would do. Buy some simple green and clean the engine til you can eat off it. Then ask again.