Anyone seen this kind of oil leak before?

I just purchased this couple days ago 2003 Eddie Bauer 5.4 L there was a lot of oil caked underneath the underside of the motor behind the drip pan I spray washed and cleaned it all off last night and then drove the car for 20 minutes or so parked it overnight and came out this morning expecting to see a perfectly clean engine and this is what I saw.

See video.

Could this be the valve cover not tightened and dripping down the backside of the motor or is this potentially a rear engine seal?

I can see the leak is coming straight down just behind the front passenger side wheel. Can’t see exactly where it’s coming from.

If anyone has a good guess or his experience something like this before I would appreciate your input and advice! Thank you!

Looks like the passenger side valve cover gasket to me. Maybe somebody had the valve cover off and screwed up the re-installation, letting the gasket fall out of place. It's tough to get the cover back in position and the gasket not slip out of place unless you use some superglue on it to hold it in place during installation of the cover. You might have to get something like a mechanic's endoscope camera and look higher up the backside of the motor. Did you get any maintenance records with the Expy ?




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With 270,000 miles someone has had that cover off and it sounds like a tough reinstall. Check around see if someone has a camera you can borrow, but can't think of a more likely place for it to leak.

Looks like a valve cover gasket. Get a couple of cans of brake clean and some safety glasses and spray it good.

Thanks, a camera will definitely help! All your input is very appreciated. She only has 170K, I hope to fix her up and take good care of her.
Check out my other post about the mpg if you have any ideas there I'd appreciate it as well. - Blessings to all!

neogenesis said:

Thanks, a camera will definitely help! All your input is very appreciated. She only has 170K, I hope to fix her up and take good care of her.
Check out my other post about the mpg if you have any ideas there I'd appreciate it as well. - Blessings to all!

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Sorry about the mileage mix up, saw the other trucks mileage in your post.

Hamfisted said:

Did you get any maintenance records with the Expy ?

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The owner had only a few oil change records. He was the 3rd owner. I just got the carfax last night and there are no service records beyond basic oil changes and a water leak check and fix from a door. No tune up records, belt changes or anything.... I'm new to getting service records from online. I don't know where to find out from other sources if the differential fluid has ever been changed, radiator flushed and other maintenance fluids done. The car is really well cared for A++ except for some cosmetic dings outside, No rust, stains or anything other than evidence of that valve cover leak. aLL THE LINKAGE BOOTS UNDERNEATH ARE PERFECT! No rust and It drives like a brand new car too.
The computer is concerning it says I am only getting 6-8 MPG. The miles left until empty go down 5-7 miles per minute of driving, and the advancetrac keeps chiming every 3 minutes. A wheel sensor or wheel bearing perhaps?