New D24tic, what checks before tweaking?

[Retrohowla]

That's excellent advice thank you.
I would say from what you've described it's the cam cover that's at fault.
There is oil all around the back if the cover and the belt is wet.
I expect I will get a chance to investigate properly over the Christmas break, but for now I can live with it, it's not a massive leak.

[ngoma]

Oily belt will cause it to prematurely deteriorate and fail. You'll want to plan to replace it soon.

Valve cover gasket has a few failure modes:

1. There is a commonly available cork-sided version that is a proven leaker. Difficult to get this type to seal. The all-rubber version is better.
Solution: replace cork gasket with good quality rubber gasket.

2. Sometimes the shouldered studs get partially backed out during a VC gasket replacement. Subsequent tightening of the nuts bottoms them out on the (now raised) stud shoulders before sufficiently compressing the gasket.
Solution: Make sure the studs are bottomed in their holes before installing the VC/gasket.

3. Warped/bent VC or incorrect/uneven fastener torque. Too tight may distort the VC sealing surface.
Solution: Inspect VC sealing surface and repair if necessary. Torque down the nuts evenly, in steps, like when torquing down a cylinder head. One or two fingers on a 1/4" ratchet handle seems about right.

[Retrohowla]

Yes I'm planning to Change the belt and tensioners very soon. I'll inspect the valve cover gasket and see what I find. Thanks again for all the advice guys, really appreciate it.

[S&W 629]

My car had a leak from the mating surface of the oil pump. Someone in the past had removed the oil pump and used a screw driver or other tool to pry off the pump and put a shallow gouge on the mating face of the pump. I removed the pump and had a bead of weld applied to the gouge and then had an automotive machine shop mill the surface perfectly flat again, then reinstalled the pump.

[Retrohowla]

The more I look the more I'm convinced it's the valve cover gasket. When I do the cam belt I'll clean and inspect/replace.
Thanks for the tip. I'll be sure to double check the pump area's.