rovafa2002

Hi There,

I recently did some stuff in my car. It included the following:

1- Replaced Valve Cover gasket
2- While doing so I retorqued my Head bolts to spec, just a couple were a bit loosen
3- Replaced VTEC Gasket (the one with the metal screen)
4- Replaced IACV gasket

Since that I cannot stop a VTEC gasket I have, I took it off, put some silicone and didnt help either. Yesterday I took it off again, cleaned everything and put it back in and let it dry the whole night. The only thing I saw some oil going into the silicone when installing the solenoid. I just dont understand this. I guess my last try is to use the old gasket it had and check what happens?

I am pretty sure the leak is coming from the solenoid since if I put my finger in the bottom part of it I get my finger all oily. I thought that maybe I broke a bolt or something, but if it was leaking from there I dont thinkk the would go up to the solenoid, doesnt make sense. I also replaced the Dizzy o ring just in case.

Any suggestions?

JuggerNaut-CTR

Is the back of the solenoid clean and free of any scratches or imperfections?

Sounds like you've done what you should be doing. Only thing I can suggest is to maybe try a different solenoid with the new gasket and see what happens...

rovafa2002

Yes, I tried to check for imperfections or cracks but I coudn't see any. Is there a posibility that too much oil pressure is in there? The other day I had it off and I needed to move the car just a bit, I started the engine like for 10 seconds and i couldnt beleive how much oil it threw away. About a quart.

JuggerNaut-CTR

^It will do that, I dont see there being "too much" oil pressure.

My suggestion still stands until someone else brings something useful to the table.

nealnanoHX

Have your tired replacing the gasket on the top? Could it be the dizzy O ring leaking?

EM1SAUCE

+1 on the dizzy o-ring suggestion, it is easy to mistake it for the vtec solenoid leaking.

rovafa2002

I already replaced the dizzy o-ring. I don't think its the one on the top since the solenoid is clean except from the bottom of it where I can tell its leaking. Im really kind of lost here

JuggerNaut-CTR

If everything is as you say it is and you've done what you have stated....if you dont want to try a different one, I am starting to lean towards operator error....

EJ8_Man

I had this problem with my B18C. I used a hard/fine grit sharpening stone and made sure the mating surfaces were true and flat. I replaced the gasket, and applied a little Honda bond to assist with the seal. Leak = fixed.

Former User

This^

Remove all oil with brake cleaner and apply a little bit of HondaBond to both VTEC gaskets. Let dry overnight before running engine.

EpHatchy

some people also overlook the vtec pressure switch gasket it too has a 0 ring that can cause a leak.or you can wrap the threads with Teflon.that worked for me.

b-rice09

Having the same problem with my b18c1, replaced every gasket, seal, oring possible still leaks and its pissin me off, please please help!!!

Former User

I guess you haven't read the thread?

rovafa2002

Hi there,
Yesterday I tried using some sand paper on the head as well as in the solenoid, put some new good brand silicone and I am still getting the Leak.

Is there any chance that when I retorqued the head (which I am pretty sure has the original head gasket) I broke it? Or even maybe a bolt broke? I am pretty sure it leaks from under the solenoid which is above the head gasket but with oil leaks you never know.

I gues I have to try the sharpening stone method

JuggerNaut-CTR

^Cant see why over torqueing head bolts would cause a leak from something on the outside of the head.

civicexkid1

iTrader: (1)

the solenoid actually has 3 gaskets the one with the metal screen, a top one, and the sensor has a gasket also. i had oil leaking from my vtec solenoid and it would drip down the front and back of the block and i replaced the gasket with the screen and it still leaking so i bought the gasket for the top and after that it stoped leaking and my engine is free from leaks now.

heres the thread and the gasket you need for the top.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-del-sol-1992-2000-1/vtec-solenoid-gasket-2933066/

rovafa2002

i know but I was thinking that maybe because probably the Head Gasket is the one that came in the car in 99 I might wrap it or something. Maybe just an odd assumtion.

JuggerNaut-CTR

So you think that if the head gasket cracked you would have oil coming from the vtec solenoid?....explain more how that would work.....better yet leave it as that odd assumption.

EJ8mike

Lol, OP, what juggernaut is eluding to is that they are unrelated.

Replace the upper solenoid gasket and use hondabond or high temp rtv as stated by Ron.

94CoupeNY

Either need a new gasket by now from it being oil soaked or its the cam cap seal or dist o ring I usually replace all when I see oil over on that side bc it's so cheap and haven't had a problem since on either gsr u
I've done

instrument

Why would you randomly go messing with your head bolts anyway! And why has no one else.asked! That is the strangest part of all of this to me.

rovafa2002

While replacing my valve cover gasket I decided to just check torque on bolts was correct, just a three or four were kind of losen but within stock specs. I did the whole procedure following the manual, torque sequence, increasing torque until the expected one was reached.

I did it because I was suspecting of a leaking head gasket, I sometimes see a kind of sludge in the cap of my radiator, but only there.

civicexkid1

iTrader: (1)

if you have done BOTH vtec gaskets and the dizzy o-ring the only thing left is to go buy some uv dye and put some in the oil clean the engine off real well and see where it leaks from. i still havent seen where you bought a upper vtec gasket yet.

010

local tech told me if a new gasket still leaks, replace the solenoid. I had this problem and that did the trick.