Oil Leak.. from what?

[radionovember]

Ok, I have am 82 FI Fiat Spider 2000. I did an oil change myself about 2 weeks ago (like normal) and no leaks for anything... everything works perfectly. Then, a few days ago, I pulled into the driveway and noticed a small puddle of oil under the car. Maybe something like the size of a small tea plate.

No leaks from the oil plug or filter. Only place I see wet is back toward the back of the engine compartment. Looks like the idler assembly has oil around it dripping down to the assembly arm heat shield. There's a little oil around the transmission but it doesn't smell strong like the typical thick trans. fluid so I was kinda ruling that out. Anyone have any ideas where oil could be coming from is this area?

I'm getting ready to search this thing out here in a couple days but I was hoping to get some input before I do.

Thanks so much for the help!

[jsab]

Check for distributor shaft seal leaking, I have had a few with the same issue. Feel around the base of the distributor to see if it is oily, usually this drips down onto the heat shield, and pools up around the frame, etc.

[124JOE]

and retourque the oil pan

[vandor]

If the idler is wet, then it could be the culprit. It does not have that much oil in it, so it may run out soon...
Assuming you have the idler/dampener, there is no seal at the bottom...

Fiats do not use regular gear oil in the trans, so it may not smell very strong.

[radionovember]

Well, I checked the distributor shaft and no oil, and I always make sure to tighten up the oil pan bolts when I do an oil change (I think I read somewhere that it was a good idea to do that) so my guess is that it's most likely the actual idler. I didnt really realize there was oil in there.

There's also much less oil dripping out now so I bet you're right and its getting low.

Ill try not to drive it very much and check it out on Saturday. Thanks so much for the input... all of you guys! I'll let you know if I find out something different..

[124JOE]

the lube in my old idler was boiled by the headder
it froze tight and i snaped both the mounts off the idler
but i had a spare

[radionovember]

OK, this is more or less an update and to see if any of you have come across this before. Again, 82 Spider Fiat with leak somewhere around the idler area.

This leak went away for a while but just came back. I was able to check the idler and it has gear oil to the brim. I cleaned the idler up a while back when I was first trying to figure this out and as soon as I noticed the leak again, I went to check it out... totally dry. Jacked the car up again and this time was able to get a little better look.

Yesterday there was a good bit of oil but today not as much. The leak seams to be coming from somewhere to the right of the transmission and before the exhaust pipe. But not from any moving or mechanical parts. I took some pictures so you could see what I see.









Is there something under this spot of the frame? It honestly smells a little like gear oil... thanks for the help.