ok so i noticed a few drops the other day and figured i would take a look.
At first i thought it was the sump plug so got new washers and put it in - no luck.
its basically run from the sump to the start of the gearbox from what i can see.
what is the best way to fix up the sum plug and where else would it come from?

I have a 1981 datsun ute with an A15 engine and its never happened until now.
I noticed that it tends to only happen if i dont drive it for a few days ( 3 -4 ) any ideas?
appreciated.

It could be, but hopefully isent your rear main, witch would leak into the bellhousing and then on from there... or it could be your sump gasket, witch could leak from anywhere around the edge of the sump?

You could have blown a poofit valve
Edit: Welcome to 1200.com

You havent done your sump plug up to tight and stripped the thread or squashed the washer???
If you tighten them excessively the washer can squash out of shape, its happened to me a few times when I was a 1st year. And make sure you have the right washer on it.

To tell where the oil leaks comming from clean all the oil off and go for a short drive then inspect the area to see whats going on.

Rear main,common as

thats the bizarre thing its not a constant thing i took it for a drive and no leaks it takes about 3 days for the oil to show up and then it only drops a few drops.
im going to redo it all tonight and put a new washer and see what happends.
im changing my oil filter as well this evening could that have anything to do with it?

If the rubber seal has warped or come out of its groove it can leak.
Always when changing the oil filter rub a bit of oil on the rubber seal to lube it up so you dont damage it when fitting the filter.

it sounds like your rear main seal is gone it happen to my mums commodore doesnt leak when the engine running because the seal expands under heat

p.s fill in your location

I had a similar problem and thought it had to be the rear main seal.
I had to take the transmission off for another reason and had a look but the rear main seal was A1.

The problem turned out to be the sump gasket at the rear of the motor were it curves around the crank. The rubber had shrunk over time and would allow a little oil through. Probably didn't help that the sump bolts were a little loose aswell.

It leaked mainly after driving it and having it sit for a few days, the oil takes some time to flow down the outside of the sump. It was expecially bad if i had been driving up hills, or parked on a sharp incline days before.
And after topping it up with oil it would tend to leak more and gradually reduce to a couple of drops as the oil level dropped.

I would suggest checking the sump bolts at the rear of the motor, if this doesn't help it may require a new rear sump rubber!

thats my 2cents anyway

yep sounds like rear main or seal on sumpo. had the same thing and still do, not as bad though. Did the rear main while it was out so i know its not that one.

Doesnt matter when the L goes in... will leak more.