So what is leaking? need some detective work

[latief]

So, last September, i completed my head-gasket on this car as some might remember....end of problems, right? wrong.....

I have noticed there is an oil leak coming from the back side of the engine, driver's side....it seems to be originating from the area around the oil filter housing...i cannot see where the oil is coming from while looking from above or even from under the car. it is leaking down on the ridge above the oil pan and leaking down onto the steering damper....

here is a picture from when the head was off....of course it was dirty as hell back then, but now all nice and clean except for this mysterious leak....



In the picture, that ridge just under the oil filter housing is where the oil seems to be pooling and leaking..once i have time, i would like to remove the intake again and trace this down.....

I am worried about this considering the location. look at the picture and tell me what could be leaking? the small voice in my head is saying that maybe my headgasket is leaking again. hopefully not! i will burn this car if that is the case ....

Oil pressure sender has been replaced recently so i know it is not the cause......the leak is rather slow so i am hoping something simple.....

what do the guru's think?

[ps2cho]

Highly doubt your HG is leaking..unless you broke the new one or did not torque the head bolts correctly in the right sequence...

It could be a warped oil filter gasket on the housing. I have the same leak pooling there and onto the damper...same places as you that just started when I changed the oil about 500mi ago, so I am thinking it's gotta be the gasket as I have retightened the filter about 3 times now and it is still leaking trails of smoke behind me on the freeway.

You can always get some dye to figure it out. I will probably do the same to make sure its the housing.

[latief]

Everything during the head gasket replacement was done as it should be, and i am quite sure i did not damage the gasket or anything like that...hopefully no freak issue there....

I too noticed that the leak seems to relate to oil change, i did change the seal in there and tightened the thing as much as i can.....can the housing or the cap be cracked?