I have recently just purchased a 97 anniversary LT1 SS and had no signs of oil leaks but once i had the oil changed one day it just let loose dripping oil while i backed in my driveway and created a small puddle between the right front wheel well and the engine. When i popped the hood to try to find the source i found oil on the bottom of my hood seeming to have been slung from the belts. This was all about three weeks ago but it hasn't dripped in my driveway since but the oil on the bottom of the hood hasn't stopped but only gotten darker as i put more miles on the car. This being said i still drive it everyday with no problems with engine oil level, pressure or water temp. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to start or has had similar problems?

 

If the belt is slinging it, it's coming from one of the seals on the timing cover most likely.

Sounds like a pretty severe leak though. We can not tell you what's leaking, only what some sources of leaks are.

Behind the water pump, there is a seal in the timing cover.

Behind the opti is a seal in the timing cover.

There is also a crank seal behind the balancer on the timing cover.

Since you have a 97, double check that your crank position sensor is not leaking.

Standing in front of the car, the bottom left corner of the timing cover has a sensor in it. Make sure there is no oil leaking from that.

The front of the intake could also be leaking.

 

It's on the left side of the car if your looking at it from the front but its not that severe just a oil residue every where cause of the belt slinging it that one time im guessing

 

Whoever changed the oil likely just spilled some on the front of the engine, and the belt slung it on the hood. The oil will get darker because it will collect dirt and road grime. Since you aren't having a problem with oil level, you have nothing to worry about.

The only problem you have is a dirty hood. Don't worry about the crank seal, waterpump seal, or any of that crap mentioned. Just clean everything up real good.

 

Seems like a hell of a spill though to have been spilled (assuming it was done at an oil change shop where they use a hose to fill it). I couldn't imagine driving all the way home and then still having a puddle form.

It's just odd to me that you don't have a loss of oil on the dipstick.

I just don't see how you can drive all the way home and then still leave a puddle. That would be the messiest oil change ever.

It doesn't sound like it's leaking now but damn that's strange.

 

9 times out of ten the W/P seal leaks first, and runs down and makes it look like the front main seal. best to just change em all at once , and there is no need to remove the front timing cover to change em.