Hey Guys

So I'm leaking oil after installing the turbo. I went back to the shop a 2nd time and they rechecked everything and couldn't find the leak. They are suspecting it's a gasket where the motor/tranny meet or something like that...basically a seal somewhere.

They cleaned the area both times and it's coming from the tranny area (automatic). They also think it blew from making more power now...combined with it being almost 7 years old...and my Auto-X'ing stints putting extra stress on it.

Let me know if anyone else might know if what they are saying is right or wrong.

Thanks in advance!

 

that's oil, not trans fluid. It's collecting at the lowest point, that's why its on the bottom of the engine/trans area there.

did YOU check the car for the leak? or did you trust the shop?

IB oil return leak.....

 

I did not check myself and I trusted the shop. I was there to look at it on the lift though. I may go and buy a jack/stands to look at it myself (moved cross country and never brought stuff with me)

The oil return line runs on the right side of the car (when you are standing facing it)...and the leak is on the left side. There is also nothing where the oil pan is either.

If it IS an oil return leak, how would it be fixed? Tightening it or what? Sorry for the n00bness


Modified by chongl at 9:22 AM 6/22/2008

 

you're right, now that I see the pics, the sender is on that side of the block.

Check around the sender line, see if there's any dirt/oil/residue on the sender itself.

I don't think it's a trans leak, you'd have noticed it before the turbo install.

always eliminate down to the last few things you did to the car, and work your way back from there.

 

my guess is the oil pan gasket right where the tranny and oil pan meets

 

Maybe that's what the guy at the shop was trying to tell me

 

Clean it, add oil dye, and recheck. It helps alot. Oil always travels down and back, so remember that.

My guess is the oil pan where it meets the tranny, or rear main seal.

 

possibly the rear main seal, but it would have leaked before. when you installed the oil pan gasket did u evenly tighten the bolts? and was the surface clean, did u use hondabond on the corners. ill put money in it its the gasket

 

I didn't do the install, I took it to a pretty reputable shop in FL. When I looked at the oil pan gasket, I noticed some gray goop that is probably the Hondabond you're talking about. I don't remember that when I was stock.

Where exactly is the rear main seal and what does it do...I guess which components does it sit between?

A few more pics I snapped of the backside of the motor







Thanks a lot!


Modified by chongl at 5:44 PM 6/22/2008

 

all that honda bond isn't necessary. gasket is probably way to tight and not an even surface. u shouldn't see all the bond.

the rear main seal is between the tranny and the motor. If it wasn't leaking before i doubt that it is now. Only think about the things you changed after going turbo....oilpan gasket.

 

it looks like engine oil leaking from the oil pan. they hacked the pan gasket installation and now it's leaking.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by non-VTEC &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it looks like engine oil leaking from the oil pan. they hacked the pan gasket installation and now it's leaking.</TD></TR></TABLE>

No kidding. I've never had to use sealant on a B/D-series oil pan besides the small angles on the curved rear seal plate and oil pump, and no shop manual calls for it either. There should be ZERO hondabond on the sides of the pan seal (areas below intake/exhaust manifolds). I actually just changed the oil in the motor I build 100% myself, never used sealant on the entire pan gasket like that, and the pan was 100% dry after 2500 miles. As mentioned, use something like baby/talc powder after wiping it all down, then let it sit & check it until you see some oil seepage (the powder gets much darker where it leaks). Drive it if needed.

Typically ATF is red, but IDK about OEM Honda ATF. I vote for shitty pan seal. Its a few bones for an OEM rubber seal. Very simple to install, just make sure you torque those bolts to the right amount. They need very little relative to how tight they *could* be tightened, and overtightening will ruin the seal.

BTW in Wisconsin, we don't have oil leaks, we have "winter rust prevention techniques".

 

yeah i don't use bond on oil pans either...those bolts are torqued to 8ftlbs ......

 

there are metal washers imbedded into the corners of the oil pan gasket, sometimes when removing the gasket they will stick there upon removal. When putting in the new gasket it wont seat down all the way due to the metal washers being doubled up....