1989 Integra LS, 140k miles

I have an oil leak coming from behind the exhaust manifold somewhere. Would the most likely place the leak is coming from be the valve or head cover gasket? Is this a common source for leaks??

If the location is the valve or head gasket, then what else should I have done to the engine while this gasket is being replaced?

Thanks in advance.

 

Any advice out there?

 

Well I work at Burnsville Honda a tech and ussually with a car with that many miles I would do a compression test, timing belt, water pump, valve adjustment camshaft seals or any seals that need it. Any other questions

 

My only advice is that I think it's impossible to find thge starting point of a oil leak. So what I would do is jack your car up, see if it's the oil filter or some where in the oil pan, i.e. oil bolt in pan. Or if you are comfortable turn your car on while you got it jack, go under and look for a source, but still, I think it's impossible.

 

What are the chances that it is an easy fix - such as a valve cover gasket, as opposed to a 7 hour job to fix another gasket? Is it common for the valve cover gasket to leak on these vehicles???

 

Is it easy to tell if it is the valve cover gasket that is leaking from the top of the engine? Is there something to look or feel for that is a sure sign????

Thanks in advance!

 

Yes, valve cover gaskets are easy they take about 2 minutes. The best thing to do is get some brake cleaner and clean the area with a cold engine. Then drive it for a little while and check again later. When oil leaks, it tends to be clean where its leaking from and have dirt and debris sticking and making a mess everywhere else.

It looks to me like your sure you have a leaking valve cover gasket. It probably would leak if its original, being that old. Its inexpensive and easy.

 

Yes, I hope it is only the valve cover gasket!!

Can such a leak be spotted from looking above the engine, rather than below?

 

LOOK AT THE LEFT PART OF THE VALVE COVER. There should be a leak sommin from the CAM SEAL- biggest oil leak problem on the eralier gen 3's- if it sin't comin from there i have no other advice casue besides that my engine has never leaked oil, now trannsy fluid is a lil different, i need to get my whole tranny worked on because of a fuc-in transaxel seal being installed improperly

 

Left? When looking at the engine from the front of the car??

 

yes
the cam seal is a small black round plug right on the left hand side of the valve cover in the front

 

Well, the good ole mechanic told me today that the leak is between the cylinder head and block - and that it will cost $765 to fix (7 hours labor and $300 worth of parts).

I was hoping that it would be the $50 oil leak instead.

What are my options? Perhaps it is better to rebuild everything.

 

Perhaps I should do other things while the top portion is apart. Any suggestions?

Although the motor is still strong, should I pay a little more to have it rebuilt?

When (what yeat) did Honda stop making that '89 Integra engine?

 

Anybody out there????

 

why would it cost $300 in parts? Don't you just need a new head gasket? This is like $100 or less at Acura.

 

The cost of parts is actually for several gaskets - then they mentioned oil, filter, coolant, etc. It may have also included the timing belt.

Normally I would not rebuild this engine at this point. My only obsession is with oil leaks. My experience in the past is that when you fix one gasket, the pressure builds up, and then another gasket goes. So, to change one at $50 makes senses. To change one at $750 makes no sense. I would like to change all gaskets at one time to avoid any future problems, but in this case, we have the engine out and apart - that is expensive just to solve an oil leak problem.

 

Any more thought?

 

Yes, I am still interested to hear your views!!

 

Clean the engine of all oil with brake cleaner or parts cleaner, let the engine run until the leak starts again and then trace it back to it's source.

 

I have one suggestion-
Cover electrical parts and hose down the engine with engine degreaser.
With a clean engine, it's easier to trace where oil leak is coming from.

 

I know the source of the leak. Well, the good ole mechanic told me today that the leak is between the cylinder head and block - and that it will cost $765 to fix (7 hours labor and $300 worth of parts).

Now, I am just wondering how to proceed: 1) fix the present leak, 2) rebuild the motor and ensure all gaskets are replaced, 3) live with the leak, or 4) sell the vehicle.

 

ok now, you have either a cam plug leak or valve cover leak and neither one of them cost $765 to repair. With both leaks oil will drip down and appears as though there is a leak near the head gasket. If a head gasket is leaking oil you will probably need a new block too. You most likely have a leaking cam seal since this a known DOHC Honda problem.

DO yourself a favor and get a second opinion or clean the engine with parts cleaner and then trace the leak yourself. This little check will probably save you $750.


[Modified by Dee, 9:25 PM 7/20/2002]

 

Well, how much does it cost to repair a cam seal leak? Does it require 7 hours of labor time??

 

cam seal leak or valve cover leak are pretty easy to fix.
EOM cam seal i think is $5.
valve cover gasket is $15- $20.
It should take shade tree mechanic 1 hour top to replace those 2 things.

If budget is tight, get Haynes or Chiton manual. THose books will show you how to replace cam seal and head gasket.

 

The mechanic siad that the leak is between the cylinder head and block. Could this be the cam seal? Or is it another gasket??