Could it be anything else? It gets on the tranny casing also (all that black stuff). It doesnt leak to the point where it drips, but if i wipe it off, it comes back in a day of driving. How bad is it to drive around with? Also, is it pointless to do an oil change now?

 

is it dry above that point on the head. if it isnt then it seems like a headgasket leak to me

 

Could also be from the dizzy.

 

Ya that oil could be coming from above? If its leaking from above it tends to build up it that section. Could be your vtec solenoid if you even have vtec or like the other guy said could be from your dizzy. It also could be coming from your vavle cover. Try and eliminate all these things and if your problem still occurs then assume the worst. Good Luck

 

Do a good degreasing so u can trace where its coming from. 3 most popular leak spots: cam plug/seal, dizzy o-ring, vtec solenoid.

 

I had that problem before and it was the headgasket not sealing by the oil drain whole on head it would leak on both sides in that corner....think my old head probably worp but idk....

 

That's not the headgasket. It will either be...
1.cam seal
2. VTEC solenoid
3. Dizzy
Clean it off real good, and just let it idle for a while, then wipe your finger underneath the above 3 parts to check for frech oil.
Go get some Hondabond.

 

cams seals

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fourthgenhatchB17 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Do a good degreasing so u can trace where its coming from. 3 most popular leak spots: cam plug/seal, dizzy o-ring, vtec solenoid.</TD></TR></TABLE><TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Autoworks &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That's not the headgasket. It will either be...
1.cam seal
2. VTEC solenoid
3. Dizzy
Clean it off real good, and just let it idle for a while, then wipe your finger underneath the above 3 parts to check for frech oil.
Go get some Hondabond. </TD></TR></TABLE>

 

Damn I got that same problem on mine. Now I know what I gotta check for before I assume its the head gasket.

 

nub alert...
what is hondabond? special rtv?

 

thanks for the replies fellas...im checkin it out today

 

if it was a hg, wouldn't it be coolant not oil? that's what i always thought.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ahks &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">nub alert...
what is hondabond? special rtv?</TD></TR></TABLE>


same question

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by teler86 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


same question</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yea its sealant specifically for Hondas made by Honda. You can get it at your local dealership parts dept. It is almost the same as the grey silicone u get at Kragen or Autozone.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by corej87 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">cams seals</TD></TR></TABLE>

B16's are known for there cam seals to leak especially on 1st gen's

 

Well today i cleaned off all the oil and let it idle for a couple of minutes. No sign of any oil. I had to run some errands today and i just got back, about 8 hrs later. Popped the hood and same scenario. It looks like theres black smudge around the dizzy and/or cam seal. Cant really tell. But the same buildup around the headgasket. Im guessing theres more oil there since its on a level surface.
I snapped a bunch of pics. Let me know what u think.

 

Take off the dizzy, VTEC solenoid and cam seal. Clean off that thick blue sealant ASAP. Wipe down all the surfaces and reinstall them using Hondabond. I swear it will work. I'm **** about leaks, my old CRX (now H8ters) would do it and I would sit out side and watch the leak form, just to find it. That thicker silicone will sometimes help it leak if there is a pocket in it. Hondabond works wonders sometimes. I', still convinced its not the headgasket, but a component on the side of the head leaking.
It builds up right there on the gasket because its the first level place that lets it puddle forward.

 

i had this problem.
i took off my dizzy and there was no o-ring, went down to honda and slapped one on and no more leak

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bhinkley45 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i had this problem.
i took off my dizzy and there was no o-ring, went down to honda and slapped one on and no more leak</TD></TR></TABLE>
I tried that, I replaced my O ring (which the old one seemed perfectly fine once I got it out), it still leaked. Pulled the dizzy back off, hondabonded the ring and surface where the dizzy meets the head-no more leaks. Did the same around the VTEC solenoid. My cam seals never leaked (then again I replaced them once for no reason when I swapped cams)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Autoworks &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Take off the dizzy, VTEC solenoid and cam seal. Clean off that thick blue sealant ASAP. Wipe down all the surfaces and reinstall them using Hondabond. I swear it will work. I'm **** about leaks, my old CRX (now H8ters) would do it and I would sit out side and watch the leak form, just to find it. That thicker silicone will sometimes help it leak if there is a pocket in it. Hondabond works wonders sometimes. I', still convinced its not the headgasket, but a component on the side of the head leaking.
It builds up right there on the gasket because its the first level place that lets it puddle forward.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Should i go get a new soleniod gasket and cam seal? What part of the dizzy could be leaking? Does the dizzy have a gasket too?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Junkyard2000 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Should i go get a new soleniod gasket and cam seal? What part of the dizzy could be leaking? Does the dizzy have a gasket too?</TD></TR></TABLE>
The VTEC solenoid gasket is called a "spool valve "gasket at Honda I beleive, I replaced it too, don't quote me on the name but I'm pretty sure that's right. I'd replace since your taking it off anyway, its only about $5. The dizzy does not have a gasket, onlt the 0 ring. It will either leak from the dizzy shaft, which would call for a new distributor, or it could just leak from in between the dizzy and the head, like mine did. Once I used the Hondabond the leak stopped, and that corner of the head stayed bone dry...until we would clock the dizzy on the dyno and I guess break the seal. Then I'd just pull it off and reseal it in its new position and vuala.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Autoworks &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
The VTEC solenoid gasket is called a "spool valve "gasket at Honda I beleive, I replaced it too, don't quote me on the name but I'm pretty sure that's right. I'd replace since your taking it off anyway, its only about $5. The dizzy does not have a gasket, onlt the 0 ring. It will either leak from the dizzy shaft, which would call for a new distributor, or it could just leak from in between the dizzy and the head, like mine did. Once I used the Hondabond the leak stopped, and that corner of the head stayed bone dry...until we would clock the dizzy on the dyno and I guess break the seal. Then I'd just pull it off and reseal it in its new position and vuala.</TD></TR></TABLE>

thanks alot ...im gonna get the parts and hopefully the leaking stops.

 

If you have a JDM engine make sure you read this before you buy a vtec gasket

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=996694

Get an aftermarket cam seal, golden eagle makes one and so do a bunch of other companies.

And lastly pick up some hondabond to avoid any future leaks.

 

I just want to reaffirm, that I always come here and read, "Is my head gasket leaking?" when I see an oil leak.

For a head gasket to leak oil, most likely you will have a lot of other major problems long before the head gasket can actually start leaking oil.

When a head gasket goes, most of the time the first thing to leak is coolant into your oiling system, not oil to the outside of the block.

Valve cover gaskets, and O rings are most likely the source of any external leak on the top of the motor, main seals on the bottom.