98 S70 T5 oil leak between Exhaust manifold

[Glencoeteen]

Hey everyone trying to figure out where this oil is coming from, there is oil between the Exhaust manifold and the head. you can see it when laying underneath and looking up. also traces of oil on what i assume is a coolant pipe that is below it. First thought would be the cam cover leaking, but there is no gasket, do these even leak? camshaft position sensor seal is new, double checked not leaking, but i can let the car idle for a while then rev it up and have a puff of smoke rise off the manifold.

I know my main rear seal is shot, least i am pretty sure it is and not the pan leaking. still trying to find a good write up on how to replace it, ( i.e removing the transmission ) I can be underneath have it revved up to 2200ish rpm and see oil being thrown up from the fly wheel.

New thus far regardless if its related.
PCV system
Water pump
timing belt
radiator
expansion tank and cap
passenger side axle seal
rear cam seal
turbo drain seal
oil fill cap

car has 172k runs great, compression numbers are 1-2 4-5 @160psi # 3 @ 155psi

[Ozark Lee]

There isn't anything to leak at the bottom of the exhaust manifold other than exhaust. The cam cover does have an anaerobic chemical gasket and it can leak but it isn't common unless there has been a recent repair that had the cam cover off. Is there any oil pooling under the spark plug cover?

...Lee

[Glencoeteen]

Lee, there is no oil under the cover. I cleaned all oil when I did the pcv and cap seal. I have not yet reinstalled it the cover. I can not seem to figure out where the oil stains on the bottom of manifold if you look at the one photo. Like I said car can sit at idle. Then rev and puff of smoke will rise from manifold. Tho I could speculate that oil is flung off the flywheel up onto the exhaust. But my oil loss isn't sever enough to justify a large pooling in the housing given the wheep hole has a small drip

[h20ham]

To resurrect another old, oil thread please
It seem its possible to have oil from the exhaust manifold studs. With enough movement if engine mounts are dead, and exhaust flex limited. That manifold steel studs, weaken the head and or allow the oil passages behind studs to more than weap. At least the mani bolts should be free and easy to remove if this is the case

[h20ham]

It seemed to be a combination of exhaust studs, and pcv
Only a few miles on her so far...