Hello.

2003 Diamante 3.5l v6

Been having a little bit oil dripping for a while, no big spots but engine started to smell bad. Cleaned it off and added florescent dye to track the leak.

I tracked it to at least 3 different places, so what is actually leaking?

I don't see anything from the top of the engine.
It's dripping from a mount above the oil filter.
Also around 2 bolts at the exhaust (driver side).
And another mount above oil pan.

I pulled the front spark plug wires to clean around them, and noticed oil in one of the spark plug holes (front passenger side), not sure if it's related to the other places that is more underneath. Could that be caused by overfilling a little bit last time I changed oil?

Or could it be too much oil pressure pushing oil everywhere?
Gaskets? I don't know, hope for some good tips

Thanks in advance.

 

I took off the valve cover? to start with to see how the oil could have gotten to the spark plug. However the seal and the rubber rings (plenum gaskets?) look just fine. So I can't understand how oil could have gotten to the spark plug, could it be too much oil pressure?





The little valve (pcv valve?) on the passanger side didn't rattle very much, wasn't completely stuck either, but I sprayed it out with brake cleaner and air.

Also, on the driver side there was a hose connected (some part of crankcase ventilation?) that had plenty of oil residue in it. It's just a open hole to the inside, but should it be oil spilling in there or could it be pressure related? Also, someone has replaced the hose with a radiator hose of the wrong size and there was no hose clamps or anything either, is that a problem?





It sticks in under the manifold to whatever it's called?



I don't know if I should just start replacing gaskets, like manifold gasket, exhaust gasket etc, since I still don't actually know where the oil is coming from?

Thanks in advance.

 

I gave up, cleaned it up and took it to a mechanic who quoted me 6.5 hours of labor to replace the oil filter housing gasket which he found is leaking (around 600 dollars). I can't afford that right now so I was wondering if it's a possible DIY job?

To drain fluids and replace the gasket should be easy, but I assume the problem is that you have to remove a whole bunch of stuff on this engine to get to it, hence the hours? How much is required to be removed and how much of a pain is it?

I don't have access to a garage so would have to work in a parking lot so I can't really pull out half the engine.

Thanks in advance.

Edit: I'm also curious if my car has an oil pressure relief valve? Mitchell's troubleshooting guide mentions to repair that if it's stuck. But I can't find a diagram of where it is, nor can I find any "oil pressure relief valve" replacement part anywhere online?