I'm new to this so forgive me for anything stupid/ if this is in the wrong section
I have had this ek9 with (what I believe is) a jdm b18c r swap for a year or so, only recently got it running again (its been on and off before I re-did some wiring and replaced the fuel pump), It has a small oil leak maybe a few ml everyday and im trying to figure out where it is coming from. It is on the driver side and seems to be dropping from where around the oil pan is, this leak only appeared after I got the vtec relay working (p06 converted to p28) so I'm assuming I pushed some gasket a little too hard. In the pictures provided I was sort of assuming the black stuff around the header was soot from exhaust leaks (it has been there for a good bit before any oil showed up underneath the car) but now I'm not sure and thinking it might be oil. as far as behind the alternator over by (what I think) is the oil cover here is similar black soot/oil that looks grimy and not exactly wet like I would expect from an ongoing leak. I need to clean the engine bay and get it on stands to get a better look which I will try to do very soon and provide updates but I was just hoping to get some more experienced eyes on it to see what they think, I was thinking oil pan/ oil cooler/ oil pump. I think the valve cover probably needs to be replaced regardless assuming that the back stuff is oil because It would be unrelated to whats dropping by the oil pan. I've read as many threads as I can about this topic before posting, just something that is a very case by case basis

I have also noticed the oil leaks when car is off and takes a couple of hours before it appears (I know this probably rules out the cooler just not sure)
The intake side of the head is also pretty much spotless if that means anything
I got the best picture of the oil pan as i could like i said ill definitely get it up and take better ones, It looks the wettest out of everywhere so its my main guess and looks like it wouldn't be to bad to replace to that is what im hoping for. It looks to be dropping from around drain plug it was hard to tell because angle but I also think the CV axle looked a little wet
I will try and get it up later today or tmmr after I wash the bay down

 

I got under the car, here are the pics. haven't been able to clean it yet because its raining and I don't want to do it in garage, could I just hit oil pan and axel with break cleaner to clean?
before its clean just looking at these photos i'm leaning away from oil pan and thinking axel seal, if that was the case wouldn't this be trans fluid and not oil?
Ive heard of people putting motor oil in these trans and haven't changed the trans fluid since i bought it(yeah typing that out I should really get on trans and diff fluid change). seeing this has honestly made me more confused I was pretty convinced it was oil pan as it would only start leaking once the car had sat for a while, like the oil was reaching the same level as the gasket then leaking. is this still a possibility? the oil pan definitely wasn't dry but if its coming from the axle seal it would also explain it being under alternator as because it was getting thrown around, I should probably just get a gasket set and re do what I can. any links to good ones or a list of gaskets I should replace? before I got the car im told in sat for a number of years so i'm not surprised some gaskets have gone bad.

 

Man, oil could be leaking from so many places on an old neglected motor. I would just let it leak until you are ready to pull the motor and replace most gaskets (Which is exactly what I've done with mine in the past).

Common leaky areas are,
Camshaft Seals
Distributor seal
Cam seal (Distributor side)
Vtec solenoid
Valve cover gasket
Oil pump
Oil pan
Drain plug
Rear main seal (Which may look like a transmission leak).
Real breather box
Oil pressure sensor

From the tranny, sure the axel seals could be leaking. There could be a leak in the trans case, or the drain plug.

depending on how thick the grime is, it may be effective to spray degreaser on the motor, let it sit and then pressure wash it off, but I never have had luck getting grime off that easily. I always end up pulling the motor and cleaning everything by hand or just buying new stuff.

The Type R motor is a gem and becoming more and more rare. Take care of it.

 

I would say everything is leaking on that engine. I wouldn't skip any rubber seals, if that many of them are leaking if you skip any they will be leaking soon.

 

thanks for the advice, both of you. I was sort of already thinking it needed a full gasket refresh so the list will be helpful. unfortunately the trans for sure has a crack in it so getting a new housing and swapping it in is going to take priority, the gaskets definitely need to be redone but I'm almost certain the pooling oil was from the trans because the oil level was barely moving. Is swapping out the trans case, hitting the lower seals that I can get to a good plan of action until I can afford to pull motor and have it rebuilt?

 

Not a terrible idea. While you're at it replace the clutch, and a MFacctory LSD and a lightweight flywheel

 

Big bucks for an LSD. Make sure you get the helms manual and check all the synchro clearances. All you need is a feeler gauge if I remember correctly. Check teeth wear and springs. And step 1 to finding oil leak should be to clean off your whole engine first. Your engine is filthy. Then you'll see where it's coming from. Let it run and get underneath and look where it's leaking.