Dropping oil pan, has a leaky seal, what else to look at while I'm in there?

[spoiled2.3]

My Milllenia S has had an oil leak since I got it last year, I already changed the valve cover gaskets as they were leaking. Thought I had it under control but noticed oil burnung on the exhaust again, has a little drip coming off it too. Everything above the oil pan looks dry from what I can see.
My question is,
what else should I look at or replace while I'm in there?
And the pan just goes back on with RTV, no gasket, correct?
Any suggestions on sealant to use?
What are other common oil leak areas on this motor?

[mazda-fla]

Black RTV silicon for the oil pan (no gasket).

Other places of potenial leak are; The o-ring that seats the bottom of the oil dipstick to the engine. The gasket on the oil drain plug (basically an aluminum crush washer available at any autoparts store, sold in small packages of 3-4, bring in your old one and match it up).

I think you might have to remove (or move) part of the exhaust system to drop the oil pan (I don't remember for such). So you probably want to verify exactly where the oil leak is coming from before doing the oil pan drop.

[Saint_]

I had wet oil pan when I bought it 6 years ago. I consider fixing it at that time. Then I didnt. It is still wet but it doesnt pour oil out.

I think you have to remove the flex pipe and for that you have to remove the cat and before that other long pipe and for that the muffler. You need all the gaskets.

Basically thats a lot of work. I assume you dont have a lift. If you dont have anything to do and you wanna do some exercise down there go for it. Otherwise just leave it as it. My 2 cents..

[spoiled2.3]

Originally Posted by mazda-fla

Black RTV silicon for the oil pan (no gasket).

Other places of potenial leak are; The o-ring that seats the bottom of the oil dipstick to the engine. The gasket on the oil drain plug (basically an aluminum crush washer available at any autoparts store, sold in small packages of 3-4, bring in your old one and match it up).

I think you might have to remove (or move) part of the exhaust system to drop the oil pan (I don't remember for such). So you probably want to verify exactly where the oil leak is coming from before doing the oil pan drop.

Thank you for these tips, I'll check the dip stick area, the plug is looking good. I'll post back with what I find.

[spoiled2.3]

Originally Posted by Saint_

I had wet oil pan when I bought it 6 years ago. I consider fixing it at that time. Then I didnt. It is still wet but it doesnt pour oil out.

I think you have to remove the flex pipe and for that you have to remove the cat and before that other long pipe and for that the muffler. You need all the gaskets.

Basically thats a lot of work. I assume you dont have a lift. If you dont have anything to do and you wanna do some exercise down there go for it. Otherwise just leave it as it. My 2 cents..

Awe dam*! that sounds like a little more than I was prepared to do this weekend, but I can't live with a burning oil smell if I don't have to. Plus I'm worried about it being a fire hazard, dripping and burning on the exhaust.
No, I don't have a lift, I have jack stands and ramps, I really hate crawling on the ground under cars, I'll at least get under there and see if you are right about needing to remove all the exhaust. Think there's a engine support crossmember in the way too. I have another car so I can leave it apart for a while if needed. I'll post back after getting under there

[spoiled2.3]

I raised the car up on ramps and took a look under there. Looks like it's leaking from a couple places. It's running down the front coolant hose coming from the thermostat, it also looks like the oil pan is leaking. The Y-Pipe is the only thing to remove to get to the pan, so three connections to remove, the two manifold flanges and the flex pipe to the cat is all. Gonna wipe it all down first and then get under there again with a mirror to check the leaks again next week. Some fresh trails of oil should help me pin point the leaks.