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[going crazy]

Have a minor oil leak in my otherwise clean engine bay - would ideally like a clean engine if this is not a major job.






Not sure where is the leak is - can any of the experts here help?

PS: Cam cover gaskets changed when I got the Cambelt done & it does not leak from the cam cover. Add the radiator is also replaced - these are some old pics

Many thanks in advance.

Edited to update radiator information

[feeutfo]

not that familiar with 4 pot, any 2.0 owners had this?

[VXL V6]

Is it oil or power steering fluid?

[JamesV6CDX]

Is it oil or power steering fluid?

Looks like PAS fluid given the area it's in...

[johnboy27]

the top of the oil pump housing is close the pas pump on the 4 pot engines. other than that it could be the corner of head gasket then running down.
Bets to degrease it & power wash off then check regular to see if you can see it starting to leak.
obviously it could be the pas pump if its not engine oil.
try smelling it, they smell totally different

[going crazy]

Is it oil or power steering fluid?

Thanks for your reply. I am not sure. How do I know and different between PAS fluid or oil?

Edit: Rephrased

[going crazy]

not that familiar with 4 pot, any 2.0 owners had this?

Many thanks for bringing attention to this thread.

[going crazy]

Is it oil or power steering fluid?

Looks like PAS fluid given the area it's in...

Thanks, James. I will have a look at the PAS fluid and check if that is decreasing. Apart from hard steering what are the disadvantages of having a PAS fluid leak?

[going crazy]

the top of the oil pump housing is close the pas pump on the 4 pot engines. other than that it could be the corner of head gasket then running down.
Bets to degrease it & power wash off then check regular to see if you can see it starting to leak.
obviously it could be the pas pump if its not engine oil.
try smelling it, they smell totally different

Thanks, degreased a couple of times and could not actually isolate the area - might have to try again.

Not really sure how I can differenciate between oil and PAS liquid. Any pointers on the different smell's?

Oil pump or corner of head gasket does not sound great 

[johnboy27]

If you smell the oil in your power steering bottle then smell your oil cap or dipstick you will smell there is a big difference. pas oil have almost a chemically smell to it. I think it would be a relief to you to smell pas oil & then you know its not too bad of a job.
Could even be a pipe joint on the pas pump.

[going crazy]

Cheers, will do that & keep you all posted:y

[going crazy]

If you smell the oil in your power steering bottle then smell your oil cap or dipstick you will smell there is a big difference. pas oil have almost a chemically smell to it. I think it would be a relief to you to smell pas oil & then you know its not too bad of a job.
Could even be a pipe joint on the pas pump.

Checked and it the smell is similar to the smell of Oil instead of PAS fluid. Also oil level has come down - now just below mid mark on the stick

How big the job might be? :question

[johnboy27]

If its just a small leak i would say your best off putting up with it as it will be quite a major job.
If its head gasket obviously a big job.
If its oil pump gasket you have to remove all the timing belt & rear cover, then the bottom pully etc to remove the pump. i think you also need to remove the sump as the oil pick up pick is usually bolted to the oil pump. (it is on the cavalier/astra 2.0 engine).
So you really need to determine where its coming from before taking the job on.
Obviously you need to check the common gaskets such as rocker gasket etc.