TD4 Dramatic looking Oil leak drivers side

Put the car on a pair of ramps to do an oil change, the back of the undertray had a little more oil on it than normal.
After removing the tray I found the sump had some oil around it but probably not from there.
So far nothing to worry about until I opened the bonnet to find oil sprayed over the coolant, steering and brake tanks, it was on top of the filler cap (probably bounced off bonnet) and over the drivers side of the cylinder head. We're not talking a lot, but sprayed oil, any amount doesn't seem a good sign.

I'd previously removed the engine cover, had that been in place it might have gone elsewhere.

While getting it on the ramp I rev'd it a bit heavily 2500 I'm wandering if this had something to do with the leak as it wasn't spraying oil at all before I put it on the ramp. Also I don't know if it makes a difference but I hadn't warmed the engine as I intended to do that after removing the under tray particularly as it was such a hot day.

This is all standard coloured used oil, however under the car on the gearbox was a also drip of very clean oil, I'm guessing this is totally unrelated.

Has anyone any ideas on where it's leaking, cam cover? head gasket? bearing seals, or maybe just a leak from an oil cooler pipe? (wishful thinking). Trying to guage how serious it is really.

I intend to clean it off and I'm thinking of not changing the oil yet as dirty oil might be easier to spot. Anyone think this is a good idea?

Is there a bolt missing from the timing cover, where the engine top cover is bolted down? If the bolt is missing, then that's where the oil is from.

Nodge68 said:

Is there a bolt missing from the timing cover, where the engine top cover is bolted down? If the bolt is missing, then that's where the oil is from.

Click to expand...

Nodge68 said:

Is there a bolt missing from the timing cover, where the engine top cover is bolted down? If the bolt is missing, then that's where the oil is from.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply,

I found the cause, and you're right, the bolt holding on the acoustic cover seals the timing cover.
Seems a bit obvious now, but for the life of me I didn't imagine taking the acoustic cover off would compromise the timing case.
I'd assumed (yes I know) the cover screwed into a blind threaded insert as that would be the sensible thing to do.
Still, happy that it wasn't the gasket, my first thought.