bmac6996

Hi All.

I have a burning smell coming out of my 97 Accord when using the heater. When not using the heater, I don't smell it, but when I turn off my car and get out of it, I can smell it from the engine bay but I cannot see it.

This is the same smell which I believe I fixed. I could see and smell buring oil. It came from the valve cover. The smell was strong and the smoke was very apparent it was coming from the valve cover area, so I replaced the valve cover gasket. I have also changed all 4 of the top spark plug oil gasket.

Now when I drive I get the smell occasionally when I start from a cold start and during driving sometimes. Could it still be burning oil?

See, I'm not sure because I've checked my oil and the oil level does not change. I've checked other fluids; brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid and they have not lost any. I'm not sure how to check the coolant level.

I am at a lost and driving gives me a headach, and living in MN, I need my heater to work.

Any ideas? Thanks all.

wengejor

I am also having burning oil issues in my wife's 97 accord. It's leaking oil onto the exhaust and then the smoke is coming into the cabin. I just ordered some gaskets to address the issue.

bmac6996

Was it leaking from the valve cover gaset or something else?

wengejor

Here's my thread with pics:
https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-accord-1990-2002-2/1997-accord-v6-oil-leak-issues-2495525/

What engine do you have? I have the V6 and it looks like it is leaking at the bottom of the rear side cover just above the exhaust manifold.

bmac6996

I saw your post.. your pictures don't work for me.

wengejor

Yeah, I was having issues with the pics, but I think I got it working now.

Are you also leaking oil onto the exhaust manifold?

bmac6996

I can't tell. From the Valve cover, I don't see any more leaks. I do not think my oil level has changed. Can you see from up top oil leaking to the exhaust manifold? is that right in front of the engine or the back?

I have a 2.2L

Thanks

Targa250R

External oil leaks rarely lose enough oil to cause a noticeable drop in the oil level indicated by the dip stick.

Have you changed the oil recently? If you use a cheap oil filter or do not tighten it properly, the oil filter gasket itself may leak.

Your best bet is to clean up the engine with some degreaser (I use a Simple Green & water solution), then drive it a bit to see where oil appears. The most common external oil leaks on 4-cylinder Accords are the valve cover gasket and spark plug O-rings, the rocker shaft assembly O-rings, the oil pressure sending unit, the oil pan gasket, distributor O-ring, rear main seal, cam seal, balance shaft seal, and oil filter base gasket (not the filter itself, but the base it threads onto).

The balance shaft seal and oil filter base gasket typically fail catastrophically and dump nearly the entire oil sump out onto the ground at one time. The rest of the items I mentioned will just leak in very small amounts over time.

bmac6996

Had an oil change but the smell started before the oil change.. I guess what I'll have to do is go under the car and check.


I replaced the Valve cover gasket and the spark plug O rings..

Are the oil pressure sending unit, the oil pan gasket, distributor O-ring, rear main seal, cam seal, balance shaft seal in the back of the engine area?

Could it be a gas leak? since all the fluids look good (as far as I can tell but could be what you said.. )

Thanks for the help.

bmac6996

Update,

I jacked up the car and I believe I found the source of the oil leak. Can someone tell me what pipe and/or hose this is? It's above the oil pan and below the valve cover in the back?

Thanks

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/1391/img00038nr2.jpg

redbull-1

Here is a picture of the hose connections. Not sure whether you are referring to it leaking from the connecting pipe, heater outlet hose, or water bypass hose.

redbull-1

BTW: If you are saying you have an oil leak, the oil is coming from somewhere else than the picture I posted above.

bmac6996

Thanks for the picture.

Well at that area, there is a lot of oil. I assume something is leaking from one of those times. Its oily. As far as I can tell, I cannot see anything leaking oil above that. Does the connecting pipe, heater outlet hose, or water bypass hose contain any oil inside of them?

What is above those pipes that may contain oil?

Thanks

redbull-1

Coolant runs through the connecting pipe, heater outlet hose and bypass hose. If its oil covering it, it may be a leak from the valve cover gasket, which is above those.

redbull-1

Clean up the area to see if oil is still coming from the valve cover gasket, since you said you changed it.

bmac6996

From up top, I have cleaned the valve cover gasket all around and I do not notice any leaks. everything looks clean.

Could it be possible that oil that leaked weeks ago from the valve cover can still be in that area?? I figured it would all drip off by now.

redbull-1

Yes, it could the oil from the previous leak.

bmac6996

Well.. if that's the case, i will have to go under and cover my eyes and head and use some brake cleaner.

Anything else besides the valve cover could leak oil?

redbull-1

Well, right above the connecting pipe is the engine oil pressure switch.

hondac27

Yeah i have and 96' V6 and the burning oil smell is from the side valve covers leaking. there cheap and easy to fix if you do it yourself. But if you smell burning when you use your heater you could have some leaves or debris near or on your heater core. iv actually seen smoke come out of the vents from this problem.

bmac6996

Where is the heater core? in the back above the oil filter??

bmac6996

Just to update..Took it to honda.. it was the oil switch gasket. .replaced and works.

FYI