I have an oil leak that finds its way to the passenger side CVJ and then slings out. I cleaned the underside well then got underneath with the engine running and waited for the drops of oil to start. Soon I saw a drop appear on the underside of the PCV breather/ separator. Last weekend I removed the breather/separator and reapplied RTV to the surface interface with the timing chain cover. The leak continued. I thought: darn, I should have removed the new PCV valve, put Teflon tape on the threads and put it back but at the time I saw no evidence of oil from the area of the threads. This weekend I again removed the breather/separator but this time completely. I had another from an old engine into which I threaded the PCV valve using Teflon tape. Also I mashed some RTV up against the timing chain cover surface interface with the block at that spot just in case the leak was there. Cleaning the timing chain cover/ breather interface well, I used RTV again. After 24 hours for the RTV to cure, I took the car for a drive and the oil leak persists. The leak amounts to a couple of puddles, one the diameter of a golf ball and the other the diameter of a racket ball, appearing after I get to work in the morning. The head had recently been replaced and I had put in a new timing chain, guides and tensioner. When I last removed the breather/separator/PCV there again was no evidence of oil under the PCV valve itself. There's a brace for the power steering just on the outside of the breather which prevents me from getting eyes on the timing chain cover. I don't see how it's possible to remove this brace without lifting out the engine. What I just tried a minute ago was rolling paper towels and tucking them: a) between the power steering brace and the breather, b) on the inside of the breather outer top where there's a half inch opening. I let the engine run for a few minutes but no evidence of oil at those spots.
I realize it's difficult to get a clean seal between the breather and the timing chain cover so the RTV will bond cleanly but I went over it well with brake cleaner which dries without a residue and I don't believe I could have failed to get a good seal there twice.
Anyone seen or heard of this kind of oil leak?
snipped-for-privacy@charter.net Heard County, GA (formerly of Long Island)