95 4runner mystery oil leak

[Midnight Blue]

3vz engine and If I hold a flashight and look up and behind the front passenger side wheel well i see what looks like aa aluminum housing connected to a darker colored housing and it's dripping oil from in between that flange. Is this the cylinder head gasket that is possibly leaking and what would this entail in making the repair. This engine only has 38k on it and sounds like i'm in for an overhaul to get this thing repaired. Any hints or suggestions would be of tremendous help.

[Midnight Blue]

The repair shop thought it was coming from the valve cover gasket which they replaced but when i got it back it was still leaking and thats when i discovered the leak was dripping from that joint what looks like the cylender head but it is hard to see.

[4Wheel]

Can you smell gas? The fuel damper is in that area and they have a propensity to leak, but not with out the gas odor.
Can you "confirm" it is engine oile and not tranny fluid? High pressure lines and cooler are also in the ares but would need to "squirting" the oil up there.
Same with the power steering lines.
Take it to the spray wash and get off all the old oil then get a mirror down there and start looking for the source.
It's hard to tell you with out seeing first hand.

Does the #5 spark plug look any diferent than the others? does the engine run or idle rough?
Have you done a compression check? all cylinders should be near the same compression.
Good luck, and post back this is curious.

[Midnight Blue]

There is no gas smell when i touch a drip and smell it and it definitly looks and smells like engine oil and not tranny fluid. I did take it to the spray wash and degreased and rinsed after the valve cover gasket replacement and i'll try to rig up a long handled mirror to see if i can get a better look, i'll still need to check the #5 plug...for what am i looking for?
The engine also has no sign of hold back or compression loss and the idle is fine too, having the compression test done today....Thx, i'll keep posting with any findings.

[4Wheel]

I just looked at the oil flow chart for a 93 V6 and it dose come up through the head gasket in the rear of the head on the passenger side and the front of the head on the drivers side. So it is possible that it could be leaking by the head gasket, never heard of that before but what do I know.

[Midnight Blue]

4wheel,
this valve cover gasket was reseated w/ some high end slicone and when they changed the oil i don't think they realized that if they don't want to make a mess they be careful w/ the filter, when i got it back the oil leak seemed to have cleared up except for a seap every few minutes which i'm hoping was related to their oil changing mess that may have gotten in between the engine crevices and is just eventually melting away, hoping for the best, while i got ya, i want to put new plugs in which ones are the best for this '95 2nd gen...

[4Wheel]

Originally Posted by Midnight Blue

new plugs in which ones are the best for this '95 2nd gen...

I don't have a preference but would favor any plug that would last longer between changing.