Help locating M20 oil leak

[joeyb]

Whilst I'm prepping the M52 for fitting, I'd still like to get to the bottom of the leak on the current M20. I've replaced the rocker cover gasket and the four half moon shaped end caps with no success.

I'm putting a small spot of oil down every day even when the car is sat in the garage not being used.

I'm beginning to think it is the camshaft seal as it seems to be wet above the head gasket level.

See pics below...any thoughts?

[Brianmoooore]

Could fill a page on here listing the potential leak sources on a M20. It's been said on here before that a M20 that doesn't leak is one that's run out of oil.
The oil feed to the cylinder head flows up through the space around the cylinder head bolt which is the second back from the front on this side of the engine, and frequently weeps out between the head and block, past the head gasket, at this point. Could this be it?

[joeyb]

I read that quote about the M20 whilst searching the forum yesterday!

I was concerned about that ledge on the block corner but in the last picture the oil is higher than the exhaust manifold which made me lean towards rocker / cam seal. I'll double check that location you mentioned though.

[paultv]

My cabby was just the same, fitted new cam seal when I did the timing belt, cleaned it all up, been spotless since.

Paul