cavaliertx

I have a 2002 Accord V6, 150,000 miles. Background...got the timing belt replaced at about 100,000 miles, and I always get my oil changes at the dealer.

I got my last oil change in late September 2012...soon after, I seemed to notice a mild burning (oil?) but only in a small confined space (my garage) and outside my car...never while I am driving (or inside). I've been busy w/ work so only got around to take it in this week. They said that my oil pump seal is leaking (not much) but that it leaked on my timing belt and that it needs to be replaced (and the seal fixed). They are asking for $1300. They mentioned that "your valve cover will be next"

I spoke with a friend's dad who is a Ford mechanic -- he looked up the specs on the net and the following (he was truthful and acknowledged he's no honda expert) -- he didn't know how they determined where the oil was actually coming from. I said they didn't charge me for the service so he didnt think they removed everything or took a good look since the timing belt and oil pump are in the back. He also thought they should have cleaned the area and then maybe use a dye to really determine where the oil is coming. He was also alarmed that they said the "valve cover is next" because he wonders if that is where the oil MAY be coming from (and Honda isnt sure)...so if I pay $1300 to get the other stuff fixed...and then notice the burning smell is still there....Honda can claim "oh now it's the valve cover." He also thought that valve cover would be more likely to cause the oil burning smell with a heated engine after I park my car in my garage. He was also unsure how the timing belt got oil on it based on what he saw on the internet...he thought there were covers between oil pump and timing belt and that they were next to each other and not on top of each other.

I'd rather not have to pay for all of this...so I am hoping to get some advice. I thought about taking my car to another honda dealership and see what they have to say. Thanks!

holmesnmanny

If it's the valve cover it should be clear considering you're saying you can smell it. Just take a look, you will see oil dripping from the valve cover.

If you got your timing belt replaced 50,000 miles ago, then it's already close to needing it replaced again, so just have someone replace the belt and all the seals while they're at it.

They will need to take the valve cover off to do the belt so there shouldn't really be a need to charge you for replacing the valve cover gasket at the same time.

Last thing, make sure to tell whoever does it to give you back all your old parts. This is CA law but I'm not sure which state you are in. I had a place do my seals when I was first starting out and it leaked after about 2500 miles it was clear they didn't replace the seals originally so now it's best to have places that work on car give you back your old parts to verify. Just be polite about it when you ask. Always say you want 'em just because.

Lost Again

Sounds fishy to me.......

cavaliertx

Lost Again,

Happy thanksgiving and thanks for the info. The photo is VERY helpful. Why do you think it is fishy? I'm still trying to determine how timing belt would get "saturated." I'm taking it to another dealer tomorrow.

v4lu3s

if oil IS leaking out the oil pump seal it gets slung around behind the timing belt cover and covers the belt. it COULD he from the valve cover gaskets, but you would also see it seeping out in other areas around the valve covers. its not uncommon for an oil seal to leak with that many miles on it. If the PCV gets a bit clogged the pressure has to come out somewhere and oil seals are common for that.

Hidenplanvew

On the V6 accord the valve covers dont need to come off. Yes the timming belt can get oil on it from the the oil pump seal. There is no cover protecting the belt from the seal area. MAke sure you replace the cam seals, "front main" (oil pump seal) and hydro tensioner with OEM honda parts, you can use gates waterpumps and belt. I wouldnt go over 60-70K miles on the V6's but thats just me. If you are close to Colorado, I would do it for 500 plus parts.

cavaliertx

Just got back from the second Honda dealer. I had a little more time (and information) to ask questions. They said that it was the main seal that was leaking (and that it was not insignifcant leak) NOT the oil pump. I asked to see the leak. They had the car raised and you could see fairly significant oil from the bottom that had sprayed/streaked from the front to the back. You could see where it had sprayed while the car was in motion. I asked the mechanic specifcally about the oil pump and he showed me the area and it was dry. He explained that he could not see how the other place thought oil was coming from the oil pump because the area was dry.

Any thoughts?

DCFIVER

If it were in my shop and I was unable to determine the exact location of the leak, I would take the engine to get steam cleaned, then add engine oil dye and recheck within a week.....

hondamark35

I'll second that.

v4lu3s

btw afaik the "front main seal" is the seal around the crankshaft in the oil pump.

cavaliertx

Just to be clear...the second dealer said rear main seal was leaking. I think they made that assumption based on location of oil on bottom of the car. The most moist area looked like area with oil pan. You could see oil streaking on the bottom of car from oil pan area towards rear of the car....looks like it could only happen while car is in motion. They start work on Mon morning

Three*point*O

Three*point*O

Hello,
First off the valve covers are in no relation to a timing belt replacement. The timing belt replacement is a cinch and keep about a grand in your pocket and do it yourself. The Honda V6 Accords are easy to work on, it's just there isn't much room to move around under the hood. I would have checked the valve covers first for leaks. I find the saddest thing about all of this is I thought Honda and its service department were a bunch of compitent people. How could a service tech make such an evaluation such as this? I have the most wonderful Honda dealership in Texas I use, but I will say 25 miles away is the worst Honda dealership I have ever encountered. Long story but I was thouroughly hosed by these people.
Three*Point*O

eksine

i have a 2001 accord v6 and the leak started about the same mileage as you. took timing cover off and guess what? oil pump/ crank seal dry!. the leak was coming from the valve cover gasket. also the spark plug seals were leaking. if you do repllace the oil pump seal do not forget to replace the oil joint pipe seals, two o-rings surround it. to get it out use your finger then if no go, round off the tip of the 90 degree pick and use leverage against the crankshaft and use a rubber hammer to pound on it while the pick is hooking onto the oil hole, you will destroy the screen so buy a whole new oil joint, the pick will scrape against the engine wall so thats why you need to round the tip off. if you're scared don't do it.to even remove the oil pump you need to remove exhaust, and a lighter to heat up the exhaust bolts cause they're rusted. then remove oil pan, then remove 3 10mm bolts holding the oil strainer, remove only the oil strainer and replace the strainer o-ring. put oil pan back on. then you can proceed to oil pump, strainer is bolted to pump which is why you need to remove it. put petroleum jelly in oil pump and spin it to get it in there. put rtv on the engine side, not the oil pump itself, and use a plastic piece to spread the rtv evenly and sort of thinly, at least on top so rtv does not plug up the 2 or 3 oil passages near oil joint.