Oil leaking

[priest 008]

Another technical difficulty. Before placing my car in storage several months ago it used to leak oil, I had changed the gasket of the crank case, but the problem continued. Oil can been seen on around the engine's left side but is difficult to locate the actual leak given the position of everything. I recently had done an engine clean with a bunch of stuff I mixed together, mainly (naptha lighter fluid 10% , Surgical spirit 30 % and 60% Petroleum) As I read on a forum that this is what SeaFoam is made of, and since I can't buy sea foam where I live I had to improvise.... the stuff did seam to have a Seafoam effect as the car did smoke for several minuets but a few days later I started noticing the oil leaks, my dad (who is dead set against cleaning engines with chemicals) said I ruined the gunk that forms over time to seal off exits. What can I do now?

[e21-Mark]

What engine is it? m10 or m20? I imagine you simply need to replace the gasket.

[priest 008]

Have no clue what engine it is, and no clue how to find out either... lol. It's a 6cyl 320 E21. So I imagine it must be M20..

[e21-Mark]

Yes, it's an m20. Can you describe exactly where the oil leak is or better still, post a photo?

[priest 008]

Photo will be hard as it's stored far from home. (mine is a right hand drive) Imagine if you open the bonnet and stand looking in from the right....the back of the engine from the crank case downwards seems to have oil, and this runs all the way forward but I can't put my hand there since there is that plastic thing that is connected to the spark plugs.

[nas80]

Could be rear crank seal. Look under the gearbox..