I have a 96' TE 3.0ltr and my car is leaking oil from something below the alternator...directly below it! I first thought the car was leaking oil from the sump but that wasn't the case...I topped up my oil and turned the car onto idle and I had a look underneath and oil is just trickling out of something directly below the alternator...I dont know what it may be...any guesses?.

Likely to be your rocker cover gaskets and it is just leaking down.

Funny you should mention that . . . . . bought a TL with oil drips hanging off the alternator. Turned out it was coming from the rocker cover, loose bolts that stopped the leak once tightened. Have a look upwards, you may have the same problem. Rocker cover bolts only need 3.5 Nm, which isn't tight at all. If that isn't it, degrease and run the engine again and look around with a torch.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a27/super_turbo_turkey_puncher_3/20120909_202755-1.jpg

Ok...just so i can be as specific as I possibly can be...as I said not mechanically minded...the piece of metal the blue arrow is pointing at is where the oil was trickling...

I would say rocker cover gaskets. Considering how widespread this leak is it looks like they have been leaking for a while.

Any idea how much it may cost to get the front/rear gaskets replaced?.

You say trickling? Not sure a rocker gasket would trickle... drip maybe.
Find the highest spot on the engine where you can see oil and start there... normally oil will not go up unless the fan blows it up there. If its trickling it should be fairly easy to locate.

You say trickling? Not sure a rocker gasket would trickle... drip maybe.
Find the highest spot on the engine where you can see oil and start there... normally oil will not go up unless the fan blows it up there. If its trickling it should be fairly easy to locate.

Yeah I had a look...no dripping, topped her up, started, looked, trickling down that piece of metal in the picture....!
I will take a look during the day time I think.

I assume that when you say trickling, you can see the oil path making its way down the engine. Rocker cover replacement including spark plug tube seals is around $250 for a mechanic to do it. Parts are around $100 and 2 hours labour roughly.

Queensland members like beer, maybe you can come to some kind of arrangement? Not a difficult job, I did my front one not long ago. Still not game enough to do the rear but I'm a pussy. It's not difficult.

I assume that when you say trickling, you can see the oil path making its way down the engine. Rocker cover replacement including spark plug tube seals is around $250 for a mechanic to do it. Parts are around $100 and 2 hours labour roughly.

Queensland members like beer, maybe you can come to some kind of arrangement? Not a difficult job, I did my front one not long ago. Still not game enough to do the rear but I'm a pussy. It's not difficult.

I am going to ring around and find out...I am going to get the rear rocker cover gasket done just for good measure! and I may as well get them to do my spark plugs as well

Queensland members like beer, maybe you can come to some kind of arrangement? Not a difficult job, I did my front one not long ago. Still not game enough to do the rear but I'm a pussy. It's not difficult.

Its not particularly difficult, less so with two sets of hands. Its more fiddly than anything, trying to line up the gasket when refitting is the fiddly bit.

I am going to ring around and find out...I am going to get the rear rocker cover gasket done just for good measure! and I may as well get them to do my spark plugs as well

Of course, while the plenum is off, change the platinum plugs. It's a good idea to change the front ones while you're at it.

Dropped it off to the mechanics it's the cam shaft seal.