Leaking oil!

[96v8]

So I bought my car used around the beginning of June and I realized everywhere I park my car I leave little oil spots, so with my highly intelligent brain I deduced oil spots = leaking oil. I checked the oil level and the oil only came up to the very bottom of the dipstick, below the minimum line!!! :angry7: I had to put in 2 and a half quarts of 5w-20 to get the oil level just below the maximum line on the dipstick. I have two questions, first I feel like I caught the low oil level fairly quick but did I damage my engine, second any ideas on where it could be leaking from? Is there a common leaking spot on these engines? This really scared me when I saw this so any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[lutter94]

My oil pan gasket started leaking after the PCV valve plugged up. Built up too much crankcase pressure and blew the gasket out. Idk how many have had this problem. But I just yanked the engine, and put on a new gasket.....along with a new PCV screen.

 

[Smigjo]

I think you're good as for the damaging the engine part. It could be the oil pan gasket, as lutter said, or it could be something that requires you to tear your engine down. It could be the oil pan seal at the bell housing, which would be easier than other possibilities, but still harder than the oil pan gasket.