Vx v6 sump removal

[machone]

Hi guys went out today and moved the wifes VX and noticed a pool of oil under it....I had a look underneath and it looks like its coming from the sump gasket but hard to tell as it seems to be leaking behind the harmonic balancer...i cleaned the area and i nipped up the sump bolts at the front a bit more took it for a drive and it still leaked so i nipped them up a tad more i took the engine back up to working temp again and drove it a few klms it seems ok now but Im still not 100% sure if ive fixed it...ok the question Ive read a few things and it looks like you dont have to take the engine out you just have to raise the motor up...is this true? any info on doing the job would be helpful...also behind the harmonic balancer and between the timing case there seems to be a plastic cover thats just sits there any one know what this is?...im probably not describing that part well but help on removing the sump would be great. cheers

[scvs6]

It could just be the front engine seal. Check that before you change the sump gasket.

At work, usually we pull the engine out of the car and change the sump gasket and rear main seal at the same time. You can also drop the cross member but you need something to support the engine because the engine mounts will have to be undone.

Sump gaskets seem to be common to leak on commodore V6's, I have done a few at work.