caliskier

Hi all, if you have seen some of my other posts I am trying to fix some oil leaks on my 95 VTEC. Here are some pictures of my oil pan, timing belt cover, and bell housing. I actually replaced the oil pan gasket 2-3 years back, so I am not sure if it is it, but there is oil on the bottom of the pan, and around some of the bolts on the back side of the pan. Here are some pictures... Oil cooler o-ring was replaced 2-3 years ago and looks fine.

I know the cam plug and vtec selinoid are leaking from the top, I am fixing that.

1. What do you think is happening here....
2. I also have some blue fluid that has been leaking for several months now, what is this stuff? Leaks on driver-side. I am guessing that it is washer fluid, but I replaced it with orange fluid a month back and I still see the blue liquid. (It has splashed onto the CV joint, not coming from it, it is like water.)

minilogoguy18

Honda brand coolant is blue.

You're making a HUGE mistake when it comes to fixing oil leaks, you're looking from the bottom. Oil is naturally going to run down the engine from gravity. What you need to do is start up top, check the valve cover gasket, distributor o-ring, cam plug and VTEC gasket, if any are wet, fix them, if not we'll go from there.

You also need to clean the engine, there is too much oil everywhere which will make some of them hard to pinpoint. The way I personally like doing it but it can cost a little more than some ways but it gets it done quick is to get something to catch oil in, put it under the car and buy a case of cheap brake parts cleaner and just start from the top and spray it down. Brake cleaner really cuts through the oil very fast.

Anything stronger than brake cleaner can eat up other seals, just make sure not to get too much on the dizzy and if you do let it sit for a while to evaporate so you don't catch the car on fire when cranking.

caliskier

Ahhh, crap, of course, Honda brand radiator fluid! That's all I put in there. ... Waterpump leak?, this leak is on the drivers side...could it be anything else....?.

You are right. I think the valve cover gasket is just fine, I replaced it 2 years ago. I am doing the cam plug and VTEC gasket right now, lots of wetness there. I also have an o-ring for the dizzy laying around so I am going to fix all of that at the same time when I get my golden eagle in. I am going to research the o-ring on the distributor.

True, in fact I have a leak detection kit I am going to pour into the oil after I fix the passenger side of the head. I am going to clean up the engine really good and let it run in the driveway for 20 min or so and see if I can spot where the leaks are coming from.

This is why we have a spare car.

You have been a big help, I appreciate it.

InvaderTrax

If I had to guess, I'd say:

Cam seals
Balance shaft seals
Oil pump seal
Oil pressure sender
Oil pan gasket
Rear main seal

caliskier

As for the coolent, it is 1/3 of the way up, and right next to the timing cover. Does that sound like the water pump?

if I have to pull that off, that would clarify for me if those oil seals back there were bad.

minilogoguy18

Water pump, might as well do the timing belt, balance belt, both cam seals, crank seal, front balance seal and the o-ring for the rear balance gear case while you're in there. Oil dripping from the drip hole on the lower timing cover means something behind there is leaking.

When is the last time this car saw a full timing side overhaul? I do EVERYTHING behind the covers when I'm in there, best way to do it.

caliskier

Car has 222k miles, probably saw a timing belt replacement around 140-150k. But it was a cheap job in some guys garage, so he probably just did the belts only. Was like $300

caliskier

Is that this....

http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...-+OIL+STRAINER

15114-PT0-003 007 001 GASKET B, OIL PUMP (ARAI)

minilogoguy18

Yes, more than likely the guy just did the belts and water pump, so many people do that for some reason then oil starts leaking from one of the seals ruining the belt and they wonder why it broke.

snobordboy

This is some solid advice, do it all, and the cam cap, vtec solenoid seal and dist. o-ring, and see where you are at.

jdmcertified909

what you should do is clean out the engine bay completely get rid of ALL oil. then start fresh with fresh oil leaks. your gonna have a hard time finding the real leaks with that mess.

cvcrcr99

Just in case no one mentioned it before, the seal between the block and the oil sandwich plate for the oil cooler is known to leak. You need a 30mm deep socket to remove it FYI. My half shaft had oil all over it like yours and found that to be leaking.

01euro_R

I have a few leaks myself, i gonna clean out the engine bay and then see where they coming from...

minilogoguy18

^Start from the top, looking from the bottom will just lead you to believe things are leaking that really aren't, gravity.

DCFIVER

Steam clean the engine. Many Parts Stores sell engine oil dye that can be used to pinpoint leaks.

caliskier

Thanks all, very good stuff, got my golden eagle this week and am going to install it tonight along with the Dizzy o-ring. Cleaned up the transmission side real good. This guy has been leaking a while from the dizzy, the cam seal, and the VTEC solenoid.
Going to have the timing belt done. one of the dealerships here will do all the seals, the belts, waterpump and the valve cover gasket for $870