We've taken our 02 Montero Sport in to have the timing belt, seals, water pump etc replaced along with new valve cover gaskets. Everything has been replaced but the mechanic has been chasing an oil leak. He thinks it's coming from the front of the head, left side when looking at the engine. He's finding oil just below the cam seal. He wants to pull the head off and replace the head gasket. I'm concerned that what we actually have is a leaking valve cover that's seeping out and appearing at a low spot on the head. The engine only has about 90k miles and has never run hot as far as we can tell.

Has anyone else seen a head gasket leak oil on one of these engines? We're not seeing any oil water mixing in the engine or radiator. anyone know if there are any oil return holes on the end of head?

 

An oil leak on the front of the engine is likely to be coming from a front cam seal. By any chance are you getting oil onto the alternator?
Don't pull the head, replace both cam seals.

 

i'd be hunting frost plugs. or, the cam seal.
if the valve cover seal has just been done (properly) it shouldn't be leaking.

 

The cam seals have been replaced. The mechanic used UV dye and couldn't see any oil leaking from the cam seal

 

The freeze plugs do not connect to oil passages. There is coolant behind them.

 

Was he able to see where the leak was coming from the head with the UV dye?

 

hat's off. correct.

i'm sure he went back to edit

 

He says they can see it seeping out right at the bottom of the head, just below the cam seal. I'm just worried that's weeping in from somewhere else that they're missing and showing up at the bottom of the head. The actual head gasket leaking seems to be a very rare problem.