fortworthmatt

So my valve cover is leaking on the passenger front cam side. After surfing the web I found this to be common and to replace the cam seal. I went to Honda and got an OEM one and went back home. Before I took the cap of the cam seal I pried out the plastic plug on the end as it already looked loose. Once I got the cap off I was expecting a cam seal like I saw on the online videos for B20 engines but there was nothing there but the end of the cam. So the cam seal I bought goes on the drivers side by the gears and I take it that just the cam plug was leaking. So I guess my engine just has a plug on the passenger side and no seal? Should I have been able to pull that plug out with just a screwdriver and put a new one in the same way without taking off the cap on the end of the camshaft? Thanks for any input.

tony_2018

suppose to be a rubber o-ring on the cap

OneBadTurboCRV

Part #7

Honda Automotive Parts

No, technically it doesn't come out that way. If it doesn't look like the picture in the link above then you broke it out (most likely). Here is a write-up (although not the best) but it has working pictures:

Diy: Ls/b20 cam seal change

Technically there are no O-Rings on stock cam cap plugs, only ribs built onto the rubber plug. If you purchase an aftermarket plug (as seen in the write-up) then they typically have 2 or 3 O-Rings. The aluminum plugs are a better long term solution in my opinion due to utilizing an aluminum structure and actual O-Rings. The factory style plug as a whole is prone to failure when they start to shrink over time. This won't happen with an anodized aluminum plug (well during the cars lifetime LOL). Hope this helps, Good Luck!

Runnerdown

The later models including crv are the plastic plugs with an o-ring on them. Cam seals on the timing belt side, blank plug such as mentioned in this thread, and distributor o-rings get really leaky with age.

fortworthmatt

Thanks for the info guys. That helps. I need to get the car back in the road soon so I'll just grab a plug at the dealer. I replaced the distributor cap, rotor, wires and plugs while I was in there. All of which were corroded and ready to be done. I just bought this car with 123k miles. Once I get the valve cover back on I just need to change oil and filter and drain and fill on trans fluid and I should be good to go.

fortworthmatt

And I used that thread as my reference but that is why I asked for the seal and not the plug. Should have looked at the parts diagram first.

wingmantx

Have you done any valve adjustment? Check the valve clearance. RD1 needs it