Leak after a long perfect trip

[italianbigsky]

Hi all,
I'm sorry I don't write too often, I read but it's difficult to interact from workplace. Hope you my give me an advice, I posted some pictures of the problem at

http://foto.libero.it/giier/perdita-olio/

(if the link above is not working, please try this : http://foto.libero.it/giier/perdita-olio/ )

My Explorer took me all the way from Italy to Ucraine and back home, driving perfectly for more than 5000 miles in 7 days, on highways, into traffic jams and on mud, grass, dust and sand too. She's been amazing!

Now, this morning I found some oil under my Explorer, couldn't take a picture because it was too dark, then later I moved it to work'place and after 2 hours I found this.
I guess it's all about transmission, but not sure. It seems leak is in 2 point, one in the middle, the other near the wheel..
Sorry for my poor English, it's difficult to explain using technical words!
Thanks for your suggestions!

 

[yavapaires]

From what I can see, it looks like oil leaking from the right side valve cover and running down the engine block and off the oil filter.

 

[italianbigsky]

From what I can see, it looks like oil leaking from the right side valve cover and running down the engine block and off the oil filter.

Thanks a lot!
Am I supposed to see this opening the hood and looking the upper part of the engine? Because it seems clean and there's no trace of oil. Thats' just from a quick view, I'll check better later today.

If your answer is the correct one, what do you suggest? Is it a big damage?


- I checked the upper part of the engine and it seems clean. It seems that oil comes from the lower part. Could be a gasket, or maybe that a few weeks ago all oil was changed and maybe something leaves a space for oil to come out. Anyway I don'tunderstand the second leak near the wheel. Is there any oil component there? It's so strange... could be forom the other leaking, but even if the lower part of the engine is wet, it's not so much that it could reach the other spot and drop from there too.

 

[drdoom]

I have seen the oil filter seal leak before...just needed cleaning & tightening.