Possible Crankshaft Pulley Oil Leak - Pictures

[sideshowalan]

Hello.
2003 Base vibe w/ 144K Miles

Asking for help in identifying the source of this leak around the crankshaft pulley. I've narrowed it down to either the crankshaft seal or the timing chain cover. Can anyone w/ experience offer some advice? Thank you in advance.

Couple basics, my garage floor is spotless, I've never been low on oil, I use synthetic oil at 7500 mile intervals.

This may turn into a project if it's the crankshaft seal, timing chain cover looks too complicate to tackle for such a small leak.

Two pictures attached, one of the crankshaft pulley, other from behind the oil pain looking towards the front of the car.

[mac99d]

I would spray it down with cleaner and watch it more closely.

[star_deceiver]

Also have a look at the oil pan gasket. Have you changed oil brands recently? Could just be the oil seeping through the gasket seal.

If the crank seal is going you should see much oil, both running down the engine and on the ground below. I've lost crank seals on 2 past vehicles.... when it goes, it goes!

[trb]

Ditto on what was said. And unless it is dripping and leaving a puddle under the car when you park it, I would not bother with it right now. About normal for a 10 yr old car. My Mustang has a light covering of oil just like that on the oil pan that I wash off every 3-4 months, but it does not drip oil. It just seeps through the pan gasket. I just keep a couple of pieces of cardboard under the car so if it does drip, it does not hit the floor and I know it pretty quick.

[sideshowalan]

The oil pan gasket is good, looks like it started from a little higher up and dripped down to the pan.

Already cleaned it up as much as I could. Will just check back in a few months and see if anythings changed.

Thanks.

[CharlesinGA]

Spray it down with Gunk engine degreaser and scrub it with a stiff bristle parts cleaning brush, hose off and keep an eye on it. If it isn't dripping it probably is a non issue. My Ranger drips some from the front seal but its more trouble to change it than its worth. I keep cardboard down on the floor to catch the drip from it. Changed the Ranger rear seal when I did the clutch a couple of years ago.

Charles

[lannvouivre]

Spray it down with Gunk engine degreaser and scrub it with a stiff bristle parts cleaning brush, hose off and keep an eye on it. If it isn't dripping it probably is a non issue.

Thanks Charles, I'm having this same issue and had been wondering what I should do to clean it off so that I can watch it.