Spark plug or cam cover leak (pics included)
 

I recently had a 60k mile service where the spark plugs were changed, rms, and clutch. I recently noticed a puff of smoke coming out of the driver side rear wheel well every so often. I also smell burning oil from that side as well. Here are some pics. The other side is completely dry.

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What do you all think? It's not losing much oil but I don't recall the smell prior to the service.


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Did the dealer do the service or did you do it your self. If the dealer did it then go tell them they didn't tighten something in the spark plug area.

I had the same oil pattern on mine because of the o rings around the spark plug tubes were not seated properly. This was after I had replaced them. Went back to it and fixed it. No more leak.

Give it a good clean and then look for the source with the car warmed and idling. I almost dove into my cam covers but it turned out to be an oil pressure switch that was leaking through through the blade connector, filling the rubber switch cover and then dripping on the passenger side primary cat. I would exhaust all other possibilities first because if you tear into it or pay to have someone else tear into it and find that the cam cover is not the problem you're going to be sorry...

I'm going to take it back to the shop to fix it. It's been 3 months but I drive so infrequently that I just noticed it. I think it's the plugs because it appears to only be wet from the plugs down and on the far left and right ones.

Spark plug tube gaskets are much more likely to fail than cam cover seals. Without evidence pointing one way or the other, I'd look there first. It's not a difficult DIY job costing less than $100 in parts.

I pulled the wheel this morning and couldn't find the source of the leak. It appears to just be around the bottom right on and around certain screws. I need to look behind the area pictured and above it. Is there anything around there that could be the cause of the leak?

The problem is that leaking oil spreads and seeps to cover large areas. Leave it running for a while, long enough to drip. Use an extending magnetic parts retriever or some other device from the oil spot on the ground to identify the leaking area. X marks the spot.