A few months ago I noticed oil collecting on the bottom of the oil pan. I wiped everything off and snugged the bolts to the oil pan to see if it was the cause. It's still leaking at a rate of about 1 quart per 2000 miles and it smells as if it's burning oil if it sits for several days without starting. The car recently sat unused for nearly 2 weeks and I had a small (4 inch diameter) oil spot on the floor. Before I take it to someone else I'd like to try and troubleshoot and fix the problem myself. I'm not afraid to do the work, I just don't have enough experience to figure out the source of the problem. I've searched to see if this car has any history of problems and the only one I've found is a few people reporting leaking oil pans which I don't think is the issue. Has anyone else experience something similar, or have suggestions on where to start looking? I'm the original owner and it has 78,000 miles.

 

If you think it is the oil pan itself you would have to take it off, clean it and inspect it for punctures and rust holes.
But I would make sure there is no oil leak above the oil pan. A leak at the end seal may run down the engine and make it look as if it were the oil pan.