98 V6 (1MZ-FE) Camry Oil Leak Question

[jimbo3san]

I recently changed oil (as I have many times before) in our 98 V6 Camry. Shortly after I noticed that there was a significant oil leak (this was about a week later, I went to TX for a business trip).

I got under the car and checked the oil plug. It was tight. I then pulled the new filter off. It was one of those high mileage filters from Fram (HM3614). It looked fine but I replaced the filter with a regular one (PH3614). Put in 5 quarts of new oil.

I measured the used oil in the pan. I guesstimated that it lost about a quart over the week. I started and ran the car and have been obsessively checking for oil drips. It seems to be leaking still but not as much as before.

I was looking at the top of the engine and the oil did seem to be coming from around the filter but it could be the oil pan too.

My questions are:

1) Has anyone ever seen this before?
2) Could it just be a freaky coincidence that an oil leak started almost simultaneously with a regular oil change?
3) Could both of these filters be defective (seal wise)?
4) Any troubleshooting advise?

Thanks,

Jim B.
Jimbo3san