Hi all,

I am about to go under my 1996 960 wagon to hunt for the place that alot of oil is leaking. It is leaking enough that I went from over halfway on the dipstick to below the dipstick driving about 30 miles. You can actually see and feel a layer of oil all over the back window and bumper. What I am wondering is if there are any likely suspects that I should concentrate on. I have been under there before when it was leaking and all I could see was drips on the lowest spots. One place that I have felt oil, and as soon as the car cools down I will feel for it again, is the back of the engine that I can touch reaching in from the top of the bay. I understand that this car does not have a conventional valve cover but there is obviously something that must have a seal on it where the valve cover would normally be. What is that seal sealing and is it a likely place for an oil leak.

The only other clue I have right now is that it smells like some oil is leaking on to the exhaust manifold or the pipe because I definitely have that burnt oil fragrance. It is not overwhelming but it is there.

I will report back after I take a look underneath and feel the back of the engine.

Thanks very much,
Jim Lee