Oil Leaks from Camshaft Seals and Gaskets
Symptoms
Oil weeps or pools around the valve cover, drips down the side of the block, or accumulates around the timing cover. You might also see oil on the bellhousing or clutch/flywheel area.
Cause
Age. Fifty-year-old rubber seals and cork gaskets don't age gracefully. Heat cycling and oil degradation accelerate the breakdown. The rear camshaft seal is particularly prone to failure and often misdiagnosed as a rear main seal leak.
Fix
Valve cover gasket is cheap and straightforward, new gasket, clean mating surfaces, torque evenly.
Front timing cover gaskets require more work but are manageable.
The rear camshaft seal is the nasty one, it sits at the back of the head, and oil leaking here runs down onto the bellhousing.
Don't let a mechanic tell you it's the rear main seal at mega-bucks cost.
A $10 rear cam seal and a few hours of your time is all you need.
Strip the ignition components, remove the distributor, and replace the seal.
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