I've got a basic LS/VTEC (B18A block, First Gen B16A head), and it looks like there is some oil accumulation coming from the exhaust ports. It's leaking out onto the manifold itself, especially near cylinders 3 and 4.

The engine doesn't really burn any oil, and I don't see any blue smoke at any rpm range. It's just very irritating to see oil forming around the manifold.

How much are the seals worth, and are they difficult to replace? What are the procedures for doing so? I'd prefer to leave the head on the car. I don't really want to have to purchase and modify another head gasket, I don't really have that kind of time anymore.

If I were to buy cams and valvetrain, would I be able to do the springs and retainers with the head on the car?

 

most of the stuff you want to do is going to require you to take the head off, like the valve train(springs and retainers), valve stem seals are really cheap, around 30 dollars for a set of 16. your going to have to take off the head.

to replace valve stem seals, you are going to have to take off the retainers and springs, you are going to need the right tools to do so, replacing the seals arn't very hard, it is just taking the springs and retainers off and putting it back on to get to them.

 

Thanks for the input!

I've been doing a little searching, and I've read that some people have done it with the head still on. I do have air tools and a leakdown tester, so pressurizing the cylinders to keep the valve train afloat isn't a problem, so if there is a way to do this without cracking the head loose I'd greatly prefer it

It's not that I'm against taking the head off, it's just that the block and head were both machined when I had the block built, and I don't want to surface the head again if it's slightly off. I also don't want to spend the money on a new headgasket as I am on a pretty tight budget at the moment, and OEM Acura LS ones are getting pretty rare around here, and I would have to wait a while before one came in.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civicstar &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">most of the stuff you want to do is going to require you to take the head off, like the valve train(springs and retainers), valve stem seals are really cheap, around 30 dollars for a set of 16. your going to have to take off the head.

to replace valve stem seals, you are going to have to take off the retainers and springs, you are going to need the right tools to do so, replacing the seals arn't very hard, it is just taking the springs and retainers off and putting it back on to get to them.
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Just want to clear this up. You DO NOT HAVE to take the head off to replace valve stem seals or springs/retainers.
You do have to put air pressure into the cylinders to keep the valves from dropping.

The only thing head removal is absolutely required is for valves themselves and guides/valve seats.
Everything else is designed as in car maintenance.

Check online there is a cool tool that I bought and you can put it on one side and remove all retainers on one side. You will have to keep switching air to cylinders or rig something up to get all 4 at once.
Be careful on removal not to mess up your valves.
New set of valve stem seals from acura/honda is only 16.00 plus 4.00 shipping if you check out on ebay there is a acura dealership selling them or contact len on the H-T board.

 

Cool, thanks. Any special procedures for taking the seals off, or do you just pry them off and install the new ones? I assume you soak the new ones in oil for a while? Where did you get the tool to do this procedure?

16 bucks seems a bit cheap for a set of 16 seals. My Acura dealer wants 6.50 canadian each, so about 100 for a whole set.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Malgerus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've got a basic LS/VTEC (B18A block, First Gen B16A head), and it looks like there is some oil accumulation coming from the exhaust ports. It's leaking out onto the manifold itself, especially near cylinders 3 and 4.</TD></TR></TABLE>
You make it sound like the oil leakage is on the outside of the exhaust manifold?? That makes me think of valve cover gasket...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JimBlake &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
You make it sound like the oil leakage is on the outside of the exhaust manifold?? That makes me think of valve cover gasket...
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That's what I thought as well, but unfortunately it seems to be seeping out of the exhaust manifold gasket. The metal area above the exhaust manifold is dry and clean. Just to be sure, tonight I'll pull off and clean the manifold and rtv the valve cover seal in front.

 

I have heard of people using rope in the cylinder and then turning over until piston pushs rope up to valves to hold them, just an idea I heard have never used it

 

Yup, that's an old domestic V8 trick, I'd prefer to use air

The area above the exhaust manifold is bone dry, and there's enough oil sitting on the manifold itself to make me think that it is in fact the seals. Still, I'll pull some things apart tonight and double check it before I do anything drastic.

 

Well, I pulled the manifold off and I couldn't find any traces of oil in the ports, they were bone dry.

 

It really looks like the valve cover gasket is leaking. Is there any oil between the valve cover and exhaust?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Scott_Tucker &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It really looks like the valve cover gasket is leaking. Is there any oil between the valve cover and exhaust?</TD></TR></TABLE>

actually no, it's completely dry!

 

is it necessary to change out my valve stem seals when i change out my springs and retainers? my mechanic is suggesting i do so? also, what seals should i get? supertech or oem?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by pchan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">is it necessary to change out my valve stem seals when i change out my springs and retainers? my mechanic is suggesting i do so? also, what seals should i get? supertech or oem?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I would, since they're relatively inexpensive and you're going to have the valvetrain apart anyways. It would suck to do all that headwork and then have it burn or leak oil

EDIT: I purchased some OEM seals, planning to put them on later.