If my question-asking rate gets a little heavy this week, it's only because I've gone on this random, I'm-so-bored-because-I'm-injured-and-can't-run, exploratory expedition in my engine compartment. Somehow I've found entertainment in standing in the 8-degree F weather and investigating every crevise of my car's mechanical trappings. Needless to say, I have seen some things that are confusing, concerning and/or intriguing.

The most concerning thing I noticed was that there seems to be oil being thrown toward the passenger side fender. I noticed some residual oil on the ABS lines toward the front and it seemed "fresh" (my engine comp is pretty sludgy so it's hard to tell what's new and what's been there for ten years and is no longer an issue). I also noticed significant oil staining on the hood pad way over toward that passenger side. Now, the hood pad has had a big oil stain on it for quite some time. This car was ferociously throwing oil five years ago, to the extent that the dealership recommended "retiring" it (of course, it turned out they'd MISSED the fact that a bolt had backed out of the water cooler and it turned out to be a relatively simple fix). Anyway, long story short, it stopped throwing oil after that, but we never changed the hood pad. It seems the stain has gotten bigger, but it might be my imagination. The oil on the ABS lines leads me to believe it's spewing something from somewhere. So:
1)What's a good way to check for oil being thrown? Is there something I can stick to the hood pad to see if it picks up stains (same idea as putting cardboard underneath, only to catch stuff going up and around)?
2)Is a little bit of this normal? Or should I start checking around the belt for a possible source.
The front crank casing does leak a little bit. I had this checked out about a year ago by the indy and he did the works as far as oil leakage goes ... and I got a "thumbs up," as in for a 19-year-old car, it's doing very well in that department. So it could be that the oil from the crank casing is being thrown, and it may not be very much ... sometimes in the winter it appears worse because the oil tends to get viscous and rather than drip off steadily it sort of goops to the parts and then suddenly lets loose when it gets warm and thinner.
3)Is a professional engine cleaning a good idea just to clear up the picture? There's a lot of crud in there ... I try to wipe some of it out, but I'm afraid of damaging some of the small, fragile bits and pieces and not even noticing it. But with all the residue in there, searching for current oil leaks is kind of like looking for turds in a sewer.

Thoughts?

I think I'm becoming the automotive equivalent to Adrian Monk ... only he would never touch this goo ...

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