oil leak. what to fix?

[fourbangin3315]

Hey my s40 1.9t has an oil leak, it's in the tb cover area and by spark plug wires. I also noticed it being underneath on my sway bars. I need some help pin pointing it out so I can fix it myself , better than paying twice as much at a shop. I don't want that to cause any other problems. Any info would help. Thank you.

[1clean00]

Couple spots to check.  

 

On the cam cover around the spark plugs you can usually check the oil cap seal,  they harden and behind to seap.  Also the orifice of the top PCV hose that enters the cam cover, as they harden they can split and leak. 

 

The oil dipstick on the front of the car has an o-ring sealing it to the pan, they can harden and spit oil. 

 

The oil down the back of the block or on the backside of the pan could be a leaking VVT solenoid/gasket or cam gear itself. 

 

Oil on the back of the pan could also be from the turbocharger oil drain, it has a gasket on the turbo and an oring where the drain enters the back of the pan. 

[fourbangin3315]

Thank you. I'll take a look. The previous owner didn't maintain the car. So I gotta fix it.

[Phixion]

If it's under the plastic plug cover, I'm thinking it's most likely the VVT solenoid that's passing oil.  But that wouldn't explain the oil down low, as when mine was leaking, it was ALWAYS up top, and nothing down below.  Good pointers above on areas to check.  Possible that you may have multiple leaks as well, since it seems to be coming from different areas.  Have you cleaned up any of the trace of leaks you've found and see which ones reappear?  That's what I'd do first to at least narrow things down from there.  Good luck!!