I have a huge oil leak that I caught by the smell of burning oil dripping down onto the exhaust manifold.
I could see oil spraying out the back of the valve cover onto the firewall.
I used a sprayer with dish detergent and a little bleach and hot water to clean the hot oil off the firewall and elsewhere.

Using paper to cover the firewall I see a circular splatter pattern coming out the back of the cam.

With a mirror I can see oil around the rear circular metal end of the cam shaft. There is no oil under the Valve Cover gasket. Thinking about it I do not know why there would be that much pressure inside the valve cover anyway (see below).

I can feel what looks to be a rubber ring around the circular metal end of the cam.
Is that the seal?

I am reading about a 1/2 moon grommet that goes somewhere in this area and see Seals on IPDs site that look to plug into the back outside of the cam ... as well as a retainer plate.

I am not finding an engine schematic that shows the parts in that area.

Is there a part that is supposed to be visible at the rear of the Cam that I am missing ... or has blown out?

Is the rubber ring I feel the "oil seal" and if so why such a hugh oil lose so suddenly?

Will the IPD part act as a seal or am I in for a major repair operation to get to the end of the cam?

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I will check the flame trap but it has never been dirty over the 25 years I have had the car. I pulled and cleaned the oil trap April 2011. It was clean at that time - after 23 years.

What else might be causing this pressured splatter onto the rear firewall ... if not the mystery missing part?
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1988 244 DL; B230F; LH-2.2; Manual 5-speed (M47)