I have been asking around and doing some searching and have come up with maybe a problem with the Vtec Solenoid gasket.

I lose oil very quickly in my 99 Prelude Base. Maybe 1/4 of oil every 2-3 weeks, its crazy. I dont see any oil puddles on my driveway but I do have oil all over my tranny and underneath the solenoid.

Also, when I hit vtec I do notice black smoke coming out, i've heard from people that it is normal and others say its not. Maybe I can get a better understanding as to what is ok and what is not.

The pictures below show the oil that is building up around my engine. I was thinking that it could be my cam plug seal. Hopefully someone can tell me if it might be my cam plug seal.

If anybody has a link that shows how to change the solenoid gasket, or where in the HELMS manual it is.

Thank you



This is the tranny and the shaft

 

the vtec solenoid is pretty easy to get off. if i were you i would check that and the cam plug seal. the cam plug seal is a pretty common leak point on higher mileage motors in hondas.

here is a link that i found from some googling:

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread/2173498 that describes removing the solenoid

-Jason

 

yea.. I just a week ago changed my vtec solenoid gasket cuz i thought that was causing my leak..it wasn't. Thats CRAZY tho cuz you have oil in the same places my motor's got..as far as the black smoke, most H22's throw mad smoke when u hit VTEC..it's normal. my 5gen's always done that. I'm gonna look more into wat MrJasey is talking about..

 

I just happened to look over my motor again... and I think it actually might be my head gasket. The rear section of the head and the side seems to be leaking some oil. Since im on spring break I think I might be tackling that.

Any more advice would be gladly appreciated. Anybody have a write-up on how to take apart the head. I have the HELMS manual but I like working with pictures also

Thank you

 

head gasket?? put up some more pics of the motor from different angles..maybe someone on here will recognize a familiar leak..

 

What I suggest you do before you start randomly taking guesses as to what is leaking, is this.

Degrease the Engine, and put UV dye into your oil. This will more accuratly diagnose where you are leaking oil from.

 

it's probably the rubber camplug that's behind the solenoid... they tend to leak a lot...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Acidcrakker &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What I suggest you do before you start randomly taking guesses as to what is leaking, is this.

Degrease the Engine, and put UV dye into your oil. This will more accuratly diagnose where you are leaking oil from.</TD></TR></TABLE>

this is a good idea. if you dont have UV dye at least degreese and clean it and then u will be able to see where the oil is coming from easier.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Acidcrakker &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What I suggest you do before you start randomly taking guesses as to what is leaking, is this.

Degrease the Engine, and put UV dye into your oil. This will more accuratly diagnose where you are leaking oil from.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thank you very much. I have never heard of this and I dont know why. This is such a great idea. I just bought some dye, glasses and a new uv flashlight

Thanks for the info