'98 Civic EX: pretty sizable oil leak below the distributor cap, I think it's coming from the seam between the block and tranny. I've had others tell me that would be a Rear Main Seal. 1-does that sound right? 2-which would be easier: take out the drive shafts, then tranny (work from the wheels toward the engine), or remove motor (work out from the inside)?

 

Removing the transmission would be easiest. The rear main seal is easy to put in. You remove the tranny, and clutch assembly along with the flywheel to get to it.

 

if the oil is pooling up under the distro then its not the rear main seal the rear main seal is behind the flywheel if it was the rear main seal there would be oil dripping from the bottom of the tranny

 

We changed the head gasket last weekend. Did the "baby powder" trick, and that's the only place I can see it coming from. It's not dripping from the distrib, or in that area. It really stops at the head-gasket-level, but right on the tranny/block seam. Any other ideas? This is driving me crazy and emptying my wallet.

 

post some pics... bet $1 i can help u with some visual evidence...

 

You might try the vtec solenoid (spool valve) gasket

 

I would love to post pics, but I can barely see myself - let alone get a camera in there. I'll see what I can do tonight. You want them with or without the baby powder? Speaking of which - I told my wife I was picking up baby powder, she says, "Don't bother I have tons." So I get home and she hands me this berry-scented stuff. Sweetest smelling oil leak you've ever sniffed.

 

Is the leak on the ground or on the block itself? Did this just happen after doing the head gasket?

 

Leak was happening before head gasket swap. Head gasket just didn't fix it. Here are some pics:


The engine clean. that's the distributor in the upper left corner. You're looking under the head, and can just make out the seam between the block and the transmission.


Here I've added the baby poweder.


Ran it for less than a minute and already starting to pool.



So....waddaya think?

Thanks folks!

 

check your dizzy o ring, vtec solenoid gasket if u have one. and a rear main seal leak you will smeel it dripping on ur exhaust and probbably loose a 1/2 a quart to a quart a day. only way to remove this 8 dollar fix would be to remove the transmission or pull the block. i only had to change one when i had an auto and i pulled the block. A 5spd may be alil different as lining the clutch up would be difficult..

 

did you straight edge the block or did you use a angle grinder to sand that corner looks a little weird that it pools there ive seen other peoples cars that did that but i always thought it was the o ring in the dizzy.

 

Didn't touch the block. That's the way it is. When we had the valve head off, we never noticed any oil in the distrib area. It seems to be from the head/block seam on down.

Noob question of the day: Is there a seal/gasket between the transmission and block?

We are leaking about 1/2 to 1 quart of oil a day.

Would you recommend I pull the engine or go at it from the driveshaft/tranny side of it?

Thanks!

 

there is no seal in between the block and tranny

 

its almost like the head is warped and not sealing thats why i asked you if you checked it with a straight edge since its a single the head bolts are easy to get 2 check the torque on those headbolts its just a weird place to have a constant leak and 1/2 a quart a day is alot.

 

easiet way to find those leaks is with a dye tracer like used in a/c systems.

 

I was about to suggest the same thing its a uv liquid that comes with a light and it will show you exactly where any of the leaks are they make one for engine oil

 

GOT IT!!

We finally saw it dripping - thought it was the spool valve filter, but that wasn't it. What is the gasket/seal in the upper part of the assembly? The spool valve filter is the 3-ovals+wire-mesh, right? I'm talking about the double-circle-gasket/seal in the triangle housing above the spool valve filter - what is that one called?

Thanks!

 

cam seal

 

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

We finally saw it dripping - thought it was the spool valve filter, but that wasn't it. What is the gasket/seal in the upper part of the assembly? The spool valve filter is the 3-ovals+wire-mesh, right? I'm talking about the double-circle-gasket/seal in the triangle housing above the spool valve filter - what is that one called?

Thanks!</TD></TR></TABLE>
I just went thruogh this myself about a month ago. Thought it was the head gasket, nope. then I replaced the the dizzy o-ring, nope. Then i thought it was the spool valve. When I checked the only "parts" available are the filter/gasket or the whole valve. i replaced the filter and it was still leaking. Turns out mine is leaking internally in the dizzy, past the shaft seal and then dripping out a vent on the bottom of the housing. I know where youre talking about but I dont think a replacement seal is available (could be wrong). I'd take it apart clean it and put some Honda-bond on it.