Gasket leak

I was cleaning the throttle body yesterday and noticed a leak sort of on top of the block. Residue smelled metallic, was tacky, no distinct colour due to dust/dirt. Is this the valve cover gasket leaking? It wasn’t there last time I changed the plugs 12,000 miles ago.

 

I've never seen a valve cover gasket leak UP on to the fuel rail. Is it possible some one spilled oil when doing an oil change?

 

That'd be quite the oil spill since it's on the other side of the engine. Last oil change was in April, leak looks fairly recent.

 

I would recommend cleaning off that entire area, might need 2 cans of brake cleaner to, also clean off the engine cover, put everything back together and check it after 3 or 4 days of driving to see if there is any new fluid.
If it is engine oil its a very small amount so you don't need to worry about running out of oil(assuming your oil level is correct).

Does the fluid have any particular smell?

It is extremely rare to see any fluid leak upwards, it happens sometimes but generally its somewhere where air is blowing carrying the fluid, for example a pin prick radiator leak can be turned to mist and go everywhere due to the radiator fan, or a incorrectly installed splash shield may catch and force air upwards and carry a small bit of fluid with it.

If it is your valve cover leaking you are in luck cause the passenger side is super easy to change.

 

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll see what that uncovers. Only smell I could tell is 'metallic'.

 

I realize everyone has a different sense of smell but that would rule out coolant, gasoline and gear oil. So pretty much leaves engine oil or transmission fluid, I know how trans fluid smells but I'm not sure how to put it into words.

 

it's an 06. It could probably use:
-valve cover gaskets, good time to change their color, cam gears, inspect valve clearance
-clean your engine bay
-intake manifold gaskets, good time to install IM spacer and other stuff while in there, maybe same time as valve covers, like TB gasket
-check for anything else. Could be water from outside. Hopefully not fuel leaking from an injector.

 

Lower intake has the same stains. Definitely not valve cover gaskets imho. Something is spraying in that area. Definitely need to confirm it is not fuel from the rail or injectors.