I have a 2012 Camry SE 72,000 miles. I am the original owner. I will own it five years in October 2017. Last week I noticed a small drop of oil on the garage floor. I checked oil, I check it every 5000 and it was about a quart short. I change it every 10,000 as recommended. The oil that was on the stick was not burnt or discolored. I use mobile one 0w20. If you look at the attached picture of the engine, you will see a dark area near the head gasket (red arrow) and the donut engine mount. It does not feel oily but dirty and old as though sometime spilled there in the past. Is this a leaky head gasket? Most websites point to engine coolant leak and/or over heating for that, but this looks like it can be oil. The valve cover gasket looks fine. I have had other Toyota (Tercel and Corolla) that also developed this problem over time (8 to 10 years) they just used excessive amounts of oil but they still run. My Corolla is 27 years oil and kids use it. But this is a relatively new car and I am concerned as to what it is.
Could it be a timing cover leak?

 

i can zoom in on that picture very well

dirt on black area below your arrow could be serp belt and road grit

timing cover edges look clean

i can not see a leak in that area loosing a quart in 5000 km

bolt heads in the are look clean

could your leak be lower in the engine bay

say the ,timing cover seal sump ,rear engine seal ...

place paper on the floor under the motor to catch the drip
and use that drip to locate the loss point

 

thanks, rear engine seal I had not thought of that. I thought that the dirty area was a sign of oil near the cover. We had a blizzard so it will be a few more days before the pavement is dry that I can jack it up and look at it. I have placed paper under the car and the oil splat is in the approximate area of the oil filter. I reach hand under the car and I did find oil in that area too, so I can't rule the filter yet.

 

I got a chance to jack up the car and look under it. I see oil ooze around the oil filter. Also, I looked at the black spot by the red arrow and I believe you are right, it is dirt from the belt. It rubs off like a black wax shoe polish. So I think I am the victim of a bad oil filter. I gave it an extra turn by hand for now. When I get a chance, I will change it and the oil.

Thanks Paul

 

thank you for the feed back

 

Start engine and look for leaks.