MLogan

I went to go look at a car for sale today. 1997 Civic DX auto with 103k. It was a little dirty, hood was repainted at one time and is now peeling, and the brakes were soft, but I think I can get a steal of a deal if he takes $400.

Aside from some issues mentioned, the idle surges and it leaks quite a bit of oil from the driver side. There is slight seepage from the valve cover gasket, but this leak is lower. It is difficult to tell exactly where it is leaking from as the engine is pretty dirty and I could not under it. A sizeable puddle formed when I parked it after the test drive and it appeared to be originating from where the head meats the block, underneath the power steering reservoir. The ps tank was full and the liquid was definitely oil, so I figured the head gasket was bad, but the coolant was clean.

Of the three Hondas I have owned, none have leaked a drop of oil, so needless to say, I am a little lost.

Could the cam seal be bad enough that a puddle could form on the ground in a minute? In my searches for cam seal on H-T, I have not found any instances where the oil gushed out, only a few drops.

MLogan

Basically, my question is this: What would cause a steady leak on the front driver side of the engine? Could oil leak steadily if the cam seal/oil pump seal was bad or is a cracked head/block more likely?

hondachris1994

could b valve cover gasket, or cam seal...any pics?

MLogan

No, I did not have my camera with me. It definitely was not the valve cover gasket.

If you are familar with the D15Y7, the leak appears to be coming from around or underneath the oil dipstick. There was just too much oil to determine the exact leak location.

95civickid

There is a Dip stick O-ring, the dipstick pulls up and out that may be whats laking but **** rolls down hill so make sure the leak isnt coming from somewhere else (higher Up), you could always steam clean the motor and make it lok nice then it will be easier to verify were the leak is coming from... **** $400 as long as the body is straight and interior is decnt and its a 5 speed (unless you dont care if its Auto) it IS a steal.....

MLogan

I was thinking that the leak might be coming from the dipstick. Guess I won't be able to locate it unless I clean it all and look.

The body is in ok shape (bumper is loose and the hood is peeling off) and it is an auto (blah), but for $400, I could fix the leak and clean it, and easily sell it for $2500. KBB value in fair shape is $3800.