If the list of required maintenance items includes replacing a timing belt between 50,000 and 100,000 miles, then you have a timing belt and won’t have a timing cover gasket leak. To tell which type of engine you have in your car, check your vehicle’s owner’s manual.

If your vehicle has a timing chain, there will be a cover over the chain and drive gears to contain the engine oil so it is very possible that is where your leak is coming from. If your vehicle is equipped with a timing belt, then it will be mounted external to the engine’s lubrication system so your engine won’t have a timing cover gasket to leak. On the other hand, timing chains take a little more energy to run but they are extremely robust since they are lubricated by your engine oil and rarely if ever, need to be replaced. Belts are quiet and efficient but require regular replacement to keep them in good condition since they are not lubricated. To keep these things in sync, some engines use a belt that runs from the crankshaft and drives the camshaft to keep things in time, while other types of engines use a chain. It’s important to keep the timing between the crankshaft and camshaft consistent because the cam drives the valve train and it’s important to keep the valves opening and closing in proper relation to the piston’s movement to maintain the maximum engine efficiency. There are two main ways an engine keeps the timing consistent between the crankshaft and the camshafts. To start to determine if you’ve got a timing cover gasket leak, you’ve got to figure out if that is even possible on the motor in your car. On the other hand, a timing cover gasket leak can spread oil over most of your engine, leave drips in odd places, leak sometimes, but not others, and be generally elusive. For example, if you’ve got an oil pan gasket leak, it’s obvious because you won’t find any oil above the oil pan gasket, meaning your entire engine will be clean except for the oil pan. Many leaks leave obvious indications in certain places that make it quick to tell what the problem is.

Timing cover gasket leaks can be one of the most elusive leaks your vehicle can get.

Classic mini front timing cover leak