Oil leak on front of engine. 4 cylinder...

Today I picked up a oil leak. I noticed burning oil smell while driving today so I checked it while getting fuel. It must have just started since the oil level was barely below the line on the dipstick.

So its leaking from the front of the engine above the crank pulley and below the valve cover. Could this be the headgasket?
The engine runs fine and does not seem to have low compression on the front cylinder if the head gasket was blown. Where could the oil be coming from?

 

You need to be more specific. Is it directly in the front of the engine? or to one side? Pics would surely help.

 

I'm betting valve cover gasket. A leaking head gasket would give you worse problems than oil leaking. They sell dye at most auto parts stores that you can pour in your oil then you take a black light into your engine bay after running it for a few days and you can track the leak. That is the easiest way I have found to track leaks. Also If you dye your oil and there is no dye trace but you still have a leak that could mean it is power steering fluid or something else.

 

could also be a Cam Seal. Clean it off real good and check again

 

At the rate it is leaking if it were any faster it would be a steady stream. I had the truck running for 5 mins at the gas station and it had a 8" puddle on the ground.
It seems to be coming from over the crank and below the valve cover. It is running down the front of the engine and dripping off the crank case. Could it be the top of the oil pump leaking?
With lighting it was difficult to get a pic but behind the tensioner pulley and a little lower down is where the oil is coming from.

 

I don't suppose you ever figured that out...? I have a 95.5 that isn't gushing like yours was, but leaked oil is accumulating in the same places. It's been a slow one for the last 6 or 7 months, and seems to be getting worse. Strangely, after my last oil and filter change a couple weeks ago, the oil level has risen compared to what it was right after oil change. I don't smell gasoline, so it don't suspect is fuel in the oil.

 

You're gonna have to tell us where It's originating from....

above or below the water pump .....and then on the left side or right side (looking from the front) of the timing cover....

maybe take some pics......or better yet clean it ....drive it for a while....and then take pics....

for example this looks to be leaking from the top left side(looking from the front) of the timing cover....right at that triple joint....where that 1" bead of RTV should of been....when they put the head back on....on top of the timing cover and block.....






BUT......Most common place is the oil pump cover.....down there lower.....

 

My money is also on valve cover gasket.

 

Yep.....your right......I stand corrected....because of those rubber washer screws.....valve cover gasket is the no1 most likely to leak....

However....in my defense....that is the easist to detect and diagnose...

And fix...thank God....

If you have your truck long enought....you'll most like get that visit.....

and a lot of times its that rtv/fipg bead that fails......right at another triple point...
in this case....the moons...

Reason its so important to pull and redo those half moons at that same time......or your making a big mistake...

And if they'rre the rubber ones.....crack that wallet and buy new ones....

ask me how I know......ugh......