Leaking oil

Actually, after a bit more research I think that the cause for the leak is a rear main seal. All things considered and by where I see oil I think this may be the cause because this is a five speed manual transmission so it is probably leaking down the bell housing. I am going to degrease the underside of the engine, wipe it down and drive it a bit to see if that is what it is. If I determine that it is I will post the results here.

I have a 98 Ford Contour SE V6 2.5, had an oil leak dripping in the front off the AC compressor. You will find the leaking oil sending unit, seven dollars at O'reilly Auto Parts. About an hour job, jack car up, remove serpentine belt, remove bottom front cover, remove three, ten millimeter AC compressor bolts, but leave them in there holes, no need to pull them out. Pull AC compressor out and down about two inches at most, and a little to the right side of the car. Get a flashlight and see sending unit from the passenger side looking downward, or from the passenger side. Climb under vehicle with a socket and socket wrench, The size of the new sensor, and then put your hand up through the hole next to the oil filter and remove sensor wire. Do the same step with the socket wrench over the sensor, a little tricky buts there's room, I even used a 1/2 inch socket. Remove sensor, home free now. Goop up new oil sensor threads, and thread in new sensor with fingers, tighten with wrench, do not forget to install wire, jam AC compressor back in its slot, finger install three bolts, tighten three 10mm bolts, 1/4 drive works great. Replace drive belt and cover and start, check oil light on dash. Overall, the oil sending sensor switch is hidden behind the AC Compressor on a Ford Contour or Mystique 2.5, and can leak a lot of oil, mine was a quart leaking every three days, which is not good, but you do not have to remove the AC compressor to fix it. Richard