Oil leak. Possible causes?

[BRGcoopahS]

So my car has been leaking oil. I put the car on ramps and inspected it. I really have no idea where its coming from so I snapped some pics. A friend said its not coming from the bottom.

[Oli77]

Oil filter housing gasket? or oil filter itself? Can you feel oil under the oil filter?

Do you see oil along the side of the engine near the waffled area (between CCV and the alternator)? Remove your air box and inspect here:

[Hermes]

oil filter housing gasket

[BRGcoopahS]

I didnt check that... of course. What makes you so sure?

[alexandre]

+1 for OFHG. An advanced leak can definitely send oil everywhere on the bottom of the engine. Best way to know would be to degrease the engine and check it again in a few days.

[Pip]

The waffle area in the last picture makes him so sure. That's a common area for oil when the ofhg is leaking.

[Hermes]

I didnt check that... of course. What makes you so sure?

the fact that it's perfectly clean above the housing and all the oil stains are directly below it's position in the engine bay

above:


below:



edit:
this is the power steering pump, you can see the liquid oil about to drip which leads me to believe the leak is from above that position

[Dave_B]

+1 for OFHG, it's on my short list to do.

Also, while your there go ahead and do the Serp belt. I can see it cracking in one of your pics.

[SoarinZHP]

And while you've got it that far apart, do the CCV...

[echo46]

Either OFHG or power steering pump/reservoir. Does the steering make any whining noises when turning?