B16CRXT

ok people. I have a problem wiht my PR3. I have a very slow oil leak. I am pretty sure it is coming from the seal behind the vtec solenoid. Not quite sure yet. I will examine my engine closer this weekend. Any help you guys can give me would be GREATLY appreciated. Here are some pics of wheer the oil is leaking from....

I am pointing to the seal I think is the problem in this pic.

A shot of the oil under the vtec solenoid.

Thanks guys!

EG69

yep...it definitely looks like its time for a new CAM SEAL.

B16CRXT

Are you sure? About how much should a cam seal run me?

Any other opinions or experiences with this?

Thanks!

ultimatehonda

Yeah looks like to be a cam seal. Have you done head work to that pr3? Cam seal shouldn't be that much.

Sleeper

It looks like the cam seal. Its probably the older hard plastic one with 4 "prongs" on it. I had one on my 95' RS and it was prone to leaking. The newer replacements are rubbery, they should be around $5 at your local honda/acura dealer. Or you can find aftermarket aluminum ones for more $$. They are the same part for all b-series heads. Honda lists it as a "cam seal", but this can also apply to the seals behind the cams, make sure you get the right piece(it will be obvious). You'll also need to pick up some hondabond for installation. Or you could just get the hondabond and try to re-install the current plug, but if its the hard plastic piece, it will most likely, leak again.

B16CRXT

I found a Golden Eagle cam seal for $32 free shipping

Anyone have any manuals for how to get to this cam seal? also, the pic looks like there is a hole through the center of it kinda like a gromet. Does it not? Making sure cuz the cam seals I found dont have any holes goin through the middle. I haven't done any head work on my pr3 yet. It has all been fine until recently when I noticed vtec didnt kick in. So I decided to check my oil level cuz I know that oil has to be "full" for vtec to work. There might be another oil leak location but I will check the entire engine this weekend. And post more pics if I come up with more leaks. Thanks for your help guys! keep em coming!

B16CRXT

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sleeper &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> if its the hard plastic piece, it will most likely, leak again. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah it is the hard plastic peice. Only $5 at honda? wow thats cheap!
Are the aluminum ones any better than oem? It usually isnt the case when it comes to stuff like this, but i dont know (hence, why i am asking. haha).

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sleeper &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You'll also need to pick up some hondabond for installation.</TD></TR></TABLE>

How much would that be? Like a buck? it would be in like a small tube kinda like locktite(?) that you would get for your brakes at autozone? I apprecatie all the help guys! any info on how to get to the seal and replace it or links to a good site or anything?

Thanks Guys!

Sleeper

The newer rubber one, or an aluminum peice will work fine. I forget how much the hondabond is but they'll have it at the dealer too. Its like grey liquid gasket, but works much better. Just remove the valve cover, ex. oil bar, and the last #4 ex. cam end cap encasing the seal, pull out the seal, clean seal surfaces with acetone and remove any old gasket. Apply hondabond to new seal, put in position, reinstall cam cap ( careful here, I forget the torque tolerance for these bolts, I think 7-10ft lbs.) Reinstall oil bar, valve cover.

If your vtec is not working, remove the vtec solenoid and clean the screen and inspect the rubber gasket on it. This spot can leak too.

SYD

hondabond is like 12 bucks a tube...or u can get the permatex one from any parts store for like 3 bucks..seems to work the same to me...

B16CRXT

Since the motor is a pr3 b16, What car do I order the cam seal for? The 94 del sol? I think thats right. A guy on here a while back made out a parts list for (pr3?) b16 and this was in teh post. Any confirmation on that? Will teh 94 del sol seal work? He says it's $8.52. That should be fine.

Anybody got the exact torque specs on the cam sprocket or whatever I have to remove? I dont want to over/under tighten anything.

Thanks for the info guys! keep it comin

Xsi

This manual might help if you're going to DIY.
It's down at the moment, try later.
http://a.domaindlx.com/jimbob/head.pdf

4crx4me

Just a heads up everyone. The newer one IS the slimmer plastic one with 4 prongs and an O-ring. It is part # P72. About $5-7.00
The older, thicker rubbery one is more expensive and doesn't work as well.
It is part # P30.
This info comes directly from a friend who's an Acura tech.
HTH

b19coupe

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4crx4me &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just a heads up everyone. The newer one IS the slimmer plastic one with 4 prongs and an O-ring. It is part # P72. About $5-7.00
The older, thicker rubbery one is more expensive and doesn't work as well.
It is part # P30.
This info comes directly from a friend who's an Acura tech.
HTH</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ditto. I like the four prong one better too. The rubber one gets hard over time and leaks.

B16CRXT

The maual that link takes me to is for a b18 and b17. Are the torque specs that same? Thanks for the DIY link Im all about DIY.


Modified by CRXTypeR at 2:34 PM 1/17/2004

mmuller

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CRXTypeR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The maual that link takes me to is for a b18 and b17. Are the torque specs that same? Thanks for the DIY link Im all about DIY. </TD></TR></TABLE>

yes

B16CRXT

awesome

11sec CR-X

If its not from the cam seal the vtec solenoid has its own seal. rubber rectangle with small mesh screen!!!

B16CRXT

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 11sec CR-X &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If its not from the cam seal the vtec solenoid has its own seal. rubber rectangle with small mesh screen!!!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yea, someone else mentioned the solenoid might be a leaking problem, so I checked it yesterday. It is fine, so I think I will go to Honda tomorrow and get the new seal and tehn make a trip to Wal-Mart for a 5 quart container of Mobil 1 synthetic and a good ol Fram oil filter.

Thanks for your help guys

B16CRXT

ok...saturday I took the valve cover off, the cam cover off, then took the bolts out that look like it holds down the cam seal on the side where the vtec solenoid is. That damn thing doesnt come off! Torque specs in that adobe manual were worng. I beleive they said 7 ft-lbs. i broke abolt then decided to use my socket wrench until it felt tight.

But my main point is: How the hell do I get to the cam seal? That cap is under the cam holder (which does not come off). It has a line goin all the way around it until it gets near the seal then it is one peice with the head. WTF? CAa someone please help me out with this?

Thanks guys!

mmuller

you have to take the cam griddle, then the cam cap where the cam seal is at.
Just wiggle and pry the cap cap a little, it will come off

Look at the link above....its all there...

B16CRXT

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mmuller &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you have to take the cam griddle, then the cam cap where the cam seal is at.
Just wiggle and pry the cap cap a little, it will come off

Look at the link above....its all there...</TD></TR></TABLE>

I cant seem to find the part in the adobe manual abt the head about it. There arent any directions to get that cap out. It just shows where it is but not how to get it out. Also the head in the pictures looks a lot different than mine (ie. the cam cover. The one in the pics look like multiple holders. Mine is one long cover).
Maybe you could point me to the right page/section in that manual, cuz I read and re-read it with no luck. Thank you

mmuller

from the link above.
http://a.domaindlx.com/jimbob/head.pdf

page 42,64,65

90 SiR Hatchie

Hey let me know how it works out for you im having the same prob.

B16CRXT

Oh yeah, I forgot. When I went to the honda dealership to get the hondabond and the seal, they told me they only had one kind of seal. It is a plastic one (no prongs). If you have some kind of proof that they are wrong, feel free to show me.
for your help guys!

90 SiR Hatchie

I juss did mine this weekend i went to my local import shop and they had them (4 prong, plastic with o-ring) cost me 5 and some change. Its was a really simple fix thanx guys.