My GF has a '94 Civic DX manual that's losing some oil (1-2 quarts in between changes). I suspect the oil pan gasket. I used Mitchell On Demand to find out if I had to do anything special (remove tranny, starter, etc) to get the oil pan out, but apparently I don't have to.

So yesterday I tried to take the pan off. But there's one bolt on the oil pan that's somewhat sandwiched between the pan itself and the transmission. I can't see any way to get a socket or wrench in there to remove this bolt.

Am I missing something? Do I actually have to remove the transmission to get the oil pan off because of that one bolt?

I'm going to try cleaning the entire oil pan area tonight then sitting under it with the car on to try to better pinpoint the source of the leak. I don't believe the oil is being burned because there is no smoke and adding Seafoam to the crankcase generates a god-awful smell in the engine compartment when the engine is hot. Any other suggestions on finding the leak are welcome.

 

I have no idea how it is on a 92-95 civic. but on my 96-00, there was like a plate/cover that bolted onto the transmission that I had to take off (I think it was like 3-4 bolts) in order to get the oil pan out. Might want to check into that. Good luck though, hope you find your leak, I know that can be frustrating.

 

on the 92-95 you have to remove the access cover between trans and the engine. On my Si I have to remove 2 braces from the trans to the block. You will also have to remove the header or take it apart at the joint at the 4 into 2 connection. This will give you enough clearance to drop the oil pan

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by instructor74 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">on the 92-95 you have to remove the access cover between trans and the engine. On my Si I have to remove 2 braces from the trans to the block. You will also have to remove the header or take it apart at the joint at the 4 into 2 connection. This will give you enough clearance to drop the oil pan</TD></TR></TABLE>
There you go I figured it was something like my transmission plate/cover deal.

 

Oh OK. I do remember a black cover-looking thing over the tranny connection. If I can get that off I should be OK.

It looked like there was plenty of room to drop the pan once the bolts are gone without removing anything else, but I'll see.

I'll still clean up and observe for a while to make sure that it's the oil pan gasket that's leaking. I hope it's not something else.

Thanks for the tips.

 

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

It looked like there was plenty of room to drop the pan once the bolts are gone without removing anything else, but I'll see.

Thanks for the tips.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't think you have near the room you think there is the oil pick up sitting in the oil pan I don't think you have enough room to clear that. The oil pan has to come almost straight down. You might want to have the gaskets just in case you have to take it apart

good luck