Dreaded mystery drip

Its Saturday morning, i reluctantly get up early to head to a retail establishment to get a few things for my missus for the upcoming corporate male scam day

Usually crank the ol 2.5 gen up and let her run a few min before taking off (its back in the 80s now too here in FL, which sucks... may have to do with the drip?)

Soon as i back down the driveway i smell it, burnt oil likely spat on a part of the exhaust... i scream to the heavens "noooo youre too young for this!"
Get weird looks at the old lady walking her pug, and i carry on.

It was only for a brief moment, the smell.
No lights on dash. No visible garage/driveway stains.

I'm thinking its a fluke... then i get back in to fire the truck up leaving the store and smell it again. Def smells like burnt oil, only briefly again. I look under the hood, no drips, no smoke, nada

I did an oil chg 3k mi ago, the filter is hand tight. Got home. Checked the dipstick, all good there. All other fluids tip top.


Got under her today for a gander and find a drip, from where i cant really tell.

The valve cover has some weeping on the pass side towards back but no noticeable drip after waiting an eternity running and cold watching.

It seems to come from above the filter and possibly hitting the exhaust or hear shield. Theres sort of a cascade effect where it drips and ends up on the cross member. Still nothing on the ground or anything thatd alert the average person i reckon


So, valve cover gasket?

2015 2trfe prerunner


Weeping mid passenger side valve cover







Looking up and front pax side (oil filter on right) this seems to be the mid point of the drip cascade




Cleanest area i find the mystery drip start. Up above the oil filter on the block (somewhere...)



Drips on the crossmember

 

find the oil leak and fix it

dripping on hot parts = burn and smell
and potential fire according to engineers

looks like it’s at least the valve cover