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So I bought a 2000 ex. I get home and it's leaking oil. Dude said it didn't leak any oil when sold because he recently had the vtech solenoid gasket replaced. The car can sit, and I can dry under the solenoid. I can start it up, and you will see it start to drop within 30-45 seconds.
So I removed it, and he used a bunch of RTV. I cleaned up both surfaces, and reapplied the "new" gasket but without any RTV. Still leaks. I watched some youtube videos, and one guy tabs a little RTV just along the lines of where the gasket touches the head. I tried that. Still leaks. I removed it again, and tried the same but with more RTV, plus around the bolt holes. Still leaks. I've had this ****ing car a month and haven't really driven it yet. I'm getting beyond pissed.
So I can assume the three things that will be said.
1: Use Hondabond. Ok, I'm a car guy and more so a V8 guy. I've used RTV on a thermostat housing without any gasket. I've used RTV instead of header gaskets and have no leaks. I fail to believe hondabond is some magical product but I'm about to the point I would try anything. If a shop could guarantee this to be leak free for $100 I would pay cash this moment.
2. Did I replace the top gasket? No. I'm looking and feeling and don't see it leaking out the top of the solenoid. I might be wrong, but I doubt it.
3. Replace the gasket. Makes sense, but this one was recently replaced. It's still rubbery, and fresh. I see no flaws in it.
Re: Is it REALLY this hard to seal a vtec solenoid?
Clean up the mating surfaces and both gaskets. Seal with a thin layer of HondaBond and then torque bolts to spec. Let sit overnight before you run the engine.
Re: Is it REALLY this hard to seal a vtec solenoid?
LOL, as I thought.
Side comment, that's the bottom hole for? Looking at my solenoid, and the gasket, I don't see how this hole is covered at all. It's level with the bottom bolt hole.
Re: Is it REALLY this hard to seal a vtec solenoid?
Alright, both gaskets ordered along with hondabond ordered. It will be here Friday. I'll clean up my current gasket, and try one more time with just that and hondabond. What's to lose, 20 minutes of time? If that fails, I'll use both new gaskets and hondabond. If that fails, I'm setting the car on fire.
Re: Is it REALLY this hard to seal a vtec solenoid?
Hondabond around the outside of the gasket, I had this issue as well. New gasket, oem gasket, but for some reason it still leaked. I put a thin layer of hondabond and we were good.
Re: Is it REALLY this hard to seal a vtec solenoid?
Is there any possibility that the valve cover gasket is leaking instead? It looks dirtier to the left of the solenoid in your picture. At this point, it might be worth a try.
Re: Is it REALLY this hard to seal a vtec solenoid?
It looks like someone tried to "clean" the mating surface on the head with 320 grit sandpaper. That alone can cause sealing issues, though not usually in conjuction with rtv/bond.
Just as a small tip, dont use sandpaper on aluminum mating surfaces, crocus cloth used lightly on a solid sanding block will do wonders. Where sandpaper and 3m pads will cause damage, crocus cloth will tend to slightly polish an aluminum mating surface while still cleaning it.
Re: Is it REALLY this hard to seal a vtec solenoid?
Anyone know what that hole is, in the head, next to the bottom bolt hole? I'm still confused as to why there's a whole that neither the gasket nor sensor covers.
Re: Is it REALLY this hard to seal a vtec solenoid?
I believe it's just a result of the part casting process, for example HERE you can see the location of your observed hole is in the same portion as the hollow of the picture's casting. Likely a revision from the earlier Y8 heads.
Re: Is it REALLY this hard to seal a vtec solenoid?
Alright, sounds fair enough. I was having worries the prior owner installed some different head or something.
So I removed the solenoid yet again. I removed the top piece for the first time, and that seal was like flattened cardboard and brittle. I installed a fresh gasket there with a slight bit of HONDABOND, and then installed the main gasket with a slight bit of HONDABOND as well. All bolts are tightened down. I'm going to let it sit about 36 hours before starting it. If it leaks... I think I'll cry.
Last edited by Kevins89notch; 03-28-2016 at 10:27 PM.
Re: Is it REALLY this hard to seal a vtec solenoid?
Originally Posted by Kevins89notch
Alright, sounds fair enough. I was having worries the prior owner installed some different head or something.
The easiest way to tell what head you have is by the stampings that are just over the exhaust manifold on the side of the head...there is a thread here on HT that has a list of stampings from a bunch of users and is a great database for looking up what you have.
Re: Is it REALLY this hard to seal a vtec solenoid?
Im dealing with this very issue i put a new gasket on vtec and I still have the leak but I will try honda bond. Please let us know if the issue was fixed
Re: Is it REALLY this hard to seal a vtec solenoid?
I had this same issue for years!! What finally worked for me was cleaning both surfaces with rubbing alcohol to remove any oil preventing a good seal. I put in a new gasket and added a little permatex black gasket. Let it completely dry for 2 days and that should fix your problem. I have been leak free for 3 months now.
Re: Is it REALLY this hard to seal a vtec solenoid?
I installed it with HONDABOND about 27 hours ago. I'm going to start it up in another 12 or so and hope for the best. My "leak" was a solid drop fall from the solenoid within a minute of run time. I have an hour drive to work. That would be a lot of oil.
Re: Is it REALLY this hard to seal a vtec solenoid?
Originally Posted by MisereNoire
Glad to hear it. What's left?
Not sure. Long story as short as possible, I had a 99 DX hatch the last 4 years. It was stolen. I hunted for another clean civic, and a 2000 EX popped up at a fair price, with a decent sounding ad. I went to look at it, and was a little too quick to buy a new car.
Now that this oil leak is fixed, it might have a power steering fluid leak. The hood was caked, and there's a puddle on the plastic tray that bolts to the bumper cover. I've since cleaned the hood, the puddle, and everything else in the area, and I don't see a leak at the moment? Maybe this was a prior issue that was never cleaned up? I probably can't get that lucky, but who knows. It's also throwing a check engine light. He said it comes on sometime(it hasn't gone away yet), and it's for an O2 sensor that's like $60. Nothing bad there really. There's an annoying rattle that he said is an exhaust shield? I need that rattle gone, but that doesn't prevent me driving it. The power mirror switch is broken, so there's what $20 from a junkyard? It's missing one hubcap, but again, $5, $10, maybe $20 tops?
Then....I'll be happy.
Wait, it's got 98K miles, so it's ready for a timing belt
03-23-2016, 03:48 PM
Is it REALLY this hard to seal a vtec solenoid?
Dude said it didn't leak any oil when sold because he recently had the vtech solenoid gasket replaced. The car can sit, and I can dry under the solenoid. I can start it up, and you will see it start to drop within 30-45 seconds.
