5sfe oil leak, Need advice Options

[dgbldr]

Have a fairly good size oil leak. About one drop per 15-20 seconds with engine idling. I saw oil coming down in the circled area (first picture) and dripping off. Apparently it dribbled on the axle "tulip" for some time and got flung everywhere. So I took the timing covers off and most of the pulleys. Notice crank seal area is dry.

In second picture notice no leak at cam pulley. In third picture, all pulleys are dry. Slightly oil-damp oil pump seal. In 4th picture, back of oil pump cover shows seal intact but hardened.

Questions: What is the most likely source? Could it be between oil pump body and engine block? Does it make sense to put it back together with new seals at this point and see what happens? Or does it make more sense to pull the oil pump? I'm not anxious to pull the pump, with the oil pan sitting on the jack currently.

Anybody see anything in these pictures that I don't? Thanks.

Edit: All belts are dry and clean.






This post has been edited by dgbldr: Apr 25, 2009 - 1:59 AM

[Ryouxrs]

X2 for oilpump body to block gasket, id start there