Oil Underneath Car

Recently I've noticed that I small puddles of oil underneath my car every once and a while. It doesn't happen that often but when I had the oil changed today the tech notated a leak upon arrival. Could I have a valve cover gasket problem? Apparently from what I have read this is a common cause for oil leaks. I have my oil changed about every 3500 miles and the last time I had my car checked there was no mention of the leak. When they went to change the oil the last time could they have losened something during their inspection? When I have seen drops of oil on the ground it is usually closer to the right front tire. Apparently, since my last oil change I have only lost a quart of oil which seems to indicate this is not a big leak.

If it is the valve cover gasket is this easy to replace and if so how do I do it myself? I saw on the checker web site that the part is not expensive to get. I have a 1995 Beretta.

It would help if you'd mention what engine you have in your car.

It would help if you'd mention what engine you have in your car.

6 Cylinder. But what does that have to do with it?

If you have a 2.8 or a 3.1 it is prob the shaft that goes into the dist hole in the back of the block near the bell housing.The front wheel drive cars have the same hole milled for the distrib that it doesn't have.The O ring on this shaft is notorious for leaking.

If you have a 2.8 or a 3.1 it is prob the shaft that goes into the dist hole in the back of the block near the bell housing.The front wheel drive cars have the same hole milled for the distrib that it doesn't have.The O ring on this shaft is notorious for leaking.


I think I have a 2.8. I actually decided to try that No Leak stuff to see if that fixes the problem. The leak really might have been a seepage which I am told is less serious. My car is pretty old so I imagine the part (if that is what it is) just got old and dried out.

It matters because different engines have different inherent problems that can lead to oil leaks (like the oil pump drive shaft seal mentioned above). If it's leaking from the passenger side, then it most likely isn't that because it's on the driver' side. The most likely place is the timing cover front seal or oil pan gasket. The harmonic balancer can develop a groove where the seal rides which will cause it to leak. Fel-Pro offers a repair sleeve to address this problem, but requires the balancer to be removed to install.