so what other spots can oil leak out of from the bottom of the engine?

i have a leak on the bottom of the engine and i can't locate where its coming out of. The oil is pretty much over part of the oil pan and part of the transmission. I've replaced my oil pan gasket once already. Its not leaking from the top only the bottom.

help.

 

Maybe try redoing the oil pan gasket. It's not uncommon to havethe gasket twist while your putting it up there and bolting it down or something. When I did the one on mine I didn't have any problems. Then when I helped a friend do his, it continued to leak but very slowly. So we redid it and now it's good.

You could also try going to a DIY carwash and spray the under side of the motor with degreaser. Get it clean and then keep a close eye on it and see where the oil starts coming from.

 

It may sound stupid , but check the oil filter. I had a friend who couldnt find where his oil leak came from. After checking the oil pan, we found that there was a gaping hole in the oil filter, turns out something got kicked up there and punctured it. What were the odds??

 

on the bottom of the oil pan and the bottom of the transmission?

sounds like it could be your right main crankshaft seal that's leaking.

 

Let's see, Make a list - Check it Twice (Ho-Ho-Ho!)

1) Oil Pan Gasket
2) Oil Filter
3) Oil Pressure Sender unit (Above oil filter)
4) Rear Main Crankshaft Seal (Transmission end)
5) Front Timing Cover Seal

That's just the bottom.

P

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by notoriousB &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">on the bottom of the oil pan and the bottom of the transmission?

sounds like it could be your right main crankshaft seal that's leaking.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You are talking about the seal thats between the the flywheel and crankshaft right?

hmm, that was what i was thinking too. But i couldn't find it in the helms.

 

Damn, I have this same problem, slow leak coming from between oil pan and transmisson area.

I really hope it's just the oil pan gasket, I don't wanna take off the tranny and replace the crankshaft seal.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by technine &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Damn, I have this same problem, slow leak coming from between oil pan and transmisson area.

I really hope it's just the oil pan gasket, I don't wanna take off the tranny and replace the crankshaft seal. </TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah seriously, i just installed a new clutch and flywheel about 1.5k miles ago.

i'm gonna get some rtv and redo the oil pan gasket, hopefully it will fix the problem.

 

hey there, i just signed up today and seen this thread. i dont know how long ago you did your oil pan gasket but if it was recently you may want to check it again. on the orginal gasket they use these metal washers that are made in the gasket. when you remove the gasket they sometimes stay on the rear studs. if you dont get these off the rear studs that hold the pan on it will cause a gap. on some of the older accords i have seen the oil filter base gasket leak. this is the gasket between the block and what the oil filter screws onto but this is usually oil on the pan only but it could be running around the pan onto the tranny. before you pull the tranny if you think its the rear seal remove the cover plate usually if its the rear seal oil will be slung on the torque converter or flywheel. hope this helps.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by monzster &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hey there, i just signed up today and seen this thread. i dont know how long ago you did your oil pan gasket but if it was recently you may want to check it again. on the orginal gasket they use these metal washers that are made in the gasket. when you remove the gasket they sometimes stay on the rear studs. if you dont get these off the rear studs that hold the pan on it will cause a gap. on some of the older accords i have seen the oil filter base gasket leak. this is the gasket between the block and what the oil filter screws onto but this is usually oil on the pan only but it could be running around the pan onto the tranny. before you pull the tranny if you think its the rear seal remove the cover plate usually if its the rear seal oil will be slung on the torque converter or flywheel. hope this helps. </TD></TR></TABLE>

i have done exactly waht u said. I have removed the flywheel cover but the flywheel looks clean. i assume that because the flywheel is spinning it gets splattered off. I'm definetly gonna give the oil pan another go just because its much easier to fix than the rear seal. Hopefully that will fix my problem.

 

I honestly doubt its your crank seals. From talking with some of the mechanics at the dealorship and comparing honda seals to most aftermarket seals Honda knows their stuff and the seals should last. Not saying that's always the case but I'm doubtful, I really think it would be more apparent if the crank seals went.

I'd say definitely check the drain plug, you can replace them for a better seal. I also second the RTV. Its a mess but done right I have NEVER had a front case/tranny/oil pan leak on me. The trick is to apply it evenly and trace it on the INSIDE of the bolt holes, most importantly do it quickly before it hardens. Also make sure you painstakingly remove all traces of the old gasket with a razor blade and then on something like an oil pan (not a perfectly flat machined surface like tranny or water pump) scour the edges with a wire brush and then remove the flakes.

Honestly though how bad is your leak? I've never seen a car with more than oh say 30k miles that didn't have some sort of leak or oil residue on the oil pan. Its natural and gonna happen, its the lowest spot on the engine. I don't like leaks any more than the next guy but I'm not gonna lose sleep over a teaspoon of oil lost every 5k miles.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by immalooser &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You are talking about the seal thats between the the flywheel and crankshaft right?</TD></TR></TABLE>
yes that's the one I am talking about. I also hope (for your sake) that is not the problem.

 

first place I would look is valve cover gasket

 

Plus any time you do a timing belt job it is best to replace engine seals. A friend says that I am stupid doing this when they don't leak. But when a timing belt is good for 100k then why have an oil leak 15k after doing a T belt. Plus if you have to replace the rear main seal then you might want to check the condition of clutch/flywheel.
If the bottom of your timing belt covers has oil pooled up then your engine seals (at least one) are leaking.
If you drain plug is leaking it will be wet around the bolt.
If you oil filter is leaking then you will most likely see oil running down the back of your engine.
If your rear main is leaking then with road wind and fans and flywheel it is possible that it could spray oil everywhere on that side of engine.

Also always trace leak to there highest point to find source. I know that sounds elementary but some don't know.

That is my advice.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Schmitey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I honestly doubt its your crank seals. From talking with some of the mechanics at the dealorship and comparing honda seals to most aftermarket seals Honda knows their stuff and the seals should last. Not saying that's always the case but I'm doubtful, I really think it would be more apparent if the crank seals went.

I'd say definitely check the drain plug, you can replace them for a better seal. I also second the RTV. Its a mess but done right I have NEVER had a front case/tranny/oil pan leak on me. The trick is to apply it evenly and trace it on the INSIDE of the bolt holes, most importantly do it quickly before it hardens. Also make sure you painstakingly remove all traces of the old gasket with a razor blade and then on something like an oil pan (not a perfectly flat machined surface like tranny or water pump) scour the edges with a wire brush and then remove the flakes.

Honestly though how bad is your leak? I've never seen a car with more than oh say 30k miles that didn't have some sort of leak or oil residue on the oil pan. Its natural and gonna happen, its the lowest spot on the engine. I don't like leaks any more than the next guy but I'm not gonna lose sleep over a teaspoon of oil lost every 5k miles.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i lose about a teaspoon and and sometimes more almost everytime i turn off my car. When i drive wherever it is i'm going and then i park there is a small puddle of oil when i leave. My F22B1 already has 137k miles, it is pretty old already. I was using Mobil 1 Syn but i recently changed back to dino oil to see if that will help and so far it hasn't.

I'm very sure that the top end of the car is not leaking anymore. It did before and i had to replace the distributor o-ring, valve cover gasket, and vtec solenoid. Now its not leaking any oil from the crank pulley side. Like i said i did replace the oil pan gasket once already and i did use rtv the first time. The oil right now is almost all over the place. Half of the engine and part of the transmission. The oil seems to drip at the lowest point of the transmission. Its all over the cat convertor, sway bar and the chasis; it doesn't go beyond the cat.

Like i said earlier, i've removed the flywheel cover and the flywheel is relatively clean. Even when i replaced my clutch and flywheel 1.5k miles ago i never noticed any oil leaking from the crank seal and the car was on jackstands for every 1.5 days. I'm really hoping that it is just my oil pan.

 

if your car is vtech it might be the silcon ring(past experince) that busted where the vtec silinoid is at.

 

The thing with oil pan gaskets is that if you overtighten them then it squishes the gasket out and causes leaks. That is why it is important to go with recommended torques even if that doesn't feel tight enough.

Otherwise I also agree with rtv. I put it on the gasket top let sit 5 minutes then put gasket on the block. Then use a little more rtv on the pan and set the pan up to the gasket. This way no gasket holes are misaligned and can get a couple bolts started to hold pan in place.

Oil leaks suck. Good luck and hope it is easy fix for you.

 

Here's a shot in the dark and I would assume you would have caught it when you had the oil pan off...but what do you think the chances of the pan being cracked is? Have you tried cleaning the crap out of your engine with brake cleaner (careful around rubber and plastic, the expensive stuff like CRC will eat it) or something so you can clearly follow the oil trail?

Another thing is I've heard of the gasket from oil filters staying on the block and it will leak, might try replacing the filter. I can't rembember if you played with that or not. At this rate it couldn't hurt to scrape at it with a razor blade to remove all traces.

I'm really at a loss man. I know right around the oil filter there is large plug for coolant. I don't know, do hondas have pressed in oil plugs like large V8 Chevy's?!? I haven't heard of anything like that. Oh **** man that could be it!!! There is a small access hole for the balance shaft that's covered by a bolt in the oil filter vacinity. It's hard to find, I can email you a pic of it if you need. Good luck!

 

i have seen a lot of rear main seal leak..............clean area real good, put some oil dye into oil, run car for a while and see where dye comes out of..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by deserthonda &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i have seen a lot of rear main seal leak..............clean area real good, put some oil dye into oil, run car for a while and see where dye comes out of..</TD></TR></TABLE>

You're the dealorship guy not me! I guess I'm glad I replaced it (that seal is not cheap!). Oh FYI it is possible to replace that seal without taking the oil pan off. You just gotta grind the bolts to the rear cover down real short where it hooks through the oil pan. I got myself into a pickle (damn I sound British) when I removed the seal, took out the cover, installed the seal, and then realized I didn't have enough room to manipulate the cover back in. I hate RTV with a passion and didn't feel like scraping any more gasket. Note to self: read ALL of the directions don't just skim over the easy sections.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by deserthonda &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i have seen a lot of rear main seal leak..............clean area real good, put some oil dye into oil, run car for a while and see where dye comes out of..</TD></TR></TABLE>

that sounds like a excellent idea. where can i get some oil dye? do they sell it at any autoparts store?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Schmitey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

You're the dealorship guy not me! I guess I'm glad I replaced it (that seal is not cheap!). Oh FYI it is possible to replace that seal without taking the oil pan off. You just gotta grind the bolts to the rear cover down real short where it hooks through the oil pan. I got myself into a pickle (damn I sound British) when I removed the seal, took out the cover, installed the seal, and then realized I didn't have enough room to manipulate the cover back in. I hate RTV with a passion and didn't feel like scraping any more gasket. Note to self: read ALL of the directions don't just skim over the easy sections.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i see that you have a 5th gen too. i'm assuming u have the helm's manual? what page is it on to replace the rear seal?

so far all i have done is change the oil and filter. i have yet to change the oil pan gasket again. its too damn cold outside.

 

The helms I got is for a 94 coupe...

The balance shaft access bolt I mentioned is shown on pg 6-22 (timing belt explanation)

Rear main oil seal installation 7-24, removal of the right side cover is 7-12, but obviously there's a whole bunch of pages involved in REMOVING THE TRANSMISSION. So I'd be for damn sure that's your problem before you go removing it..."if it ain't broke don't fix it!"

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Schmitey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The helms I got is for a 94 coupe...

The balance shaft access bolt I mentioned is shown on pg 6-22 (timing belt explanation)

Rear main oil seal installation 7-24, removal of the right side cover is 7-12, but obviously there's a whole bunch of pages involved in REMOVING THE TRANSMISSION. So I'd be for damn sure that's your problem before you go removing it..."if it ain't broke don't fix it!"
</TD></TR></TABLE>

cool i found it. i just want if it comes to me having to replace it.

 

someone said it could be the crank shaft seal. . can it leak from the shaft seal even if the car is off and on level ground.. is the oil level high enough.. cuz i have a small leak too but it leaks when the engine is on or off.