Chrysler Repair: Oil leak, oil drip, oil seals

Question
Hi Roland
I have a 1996 Plymouth minivan.The engine has had a slight oil drip for a while but a couple of days ago it started to leave large puddles.I raised the front end up on ramps,had a look at the oil pan,no leak.It is coming from higher up on the engine seems from the back of engine.Would it be from a valve cover, someone mentioned  intake manifold? I'm not sure.Any ideas?
...Thanks Mike

Answer
Hi Mike,
You didn't say which of 4 possible engine that you have so I can't be specific. The valve covers are certainly a source, as is the fitting for the oil pressure sensor located in most engines adjacent to the oil filter. And the oil filter can spring a leak or be loose. Then there are other external oil seals, depending upon the engine. So I would wipe the old oil off the engine in the area above where the leak is hitting the ground and see after you run it whether you can spot the fresh oil mark running down the engine and thus trace it upward to the source of the leak. You can also buy some oil dye that will highlight the leak once you add it to the sump and run the engine.
Roland