So I just bought a 96 Accord and it has a bad oil leak. I have the engine half torn apart and cant find the source. The oil is running down the backside of the engine and drips off between the drivers side cv shaft and trans right here they meet. It only leaks when the engine is running. Anybody have some thoughts on the source???

Here's a pic of the area where it drip off to the ground.

 

Clean the leak as best you could with some rags, turn on car and wherever you see oil pop up again is your leak. Is there any oil in your spark plugs? Did you check? Any CEL (Check Engine Light)? Did you check your oil level make sure you don't run down?

 

wow that looks bad! but i agree with the guy aboce. clean it and ull have a better idea where its coming from

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gqstatus05 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Clean the leak as best you could with some rags, turn on car and wherever you see oil pop up again is your leak. Is there any oil in your spark plugs? Did you check? Any CEL (Check Engine Light)? Did you check your oil level make sure you don't run down?</TD></TR></TABLE>
That would be a no-brainer but the problem is that it is coming from somewhere that can’t be seen with the intake manifold on and it only leaks when the engine is running. It’s not as simple as just clean it and look where the oil is coming from. I haven’t checked the plugs yet. No CEL comes on. In about 100 miles it loses 2 qts.

 

hows the condition of the valve cover?

 

is this a manual tranny? In your situation i would check the level of the tranny fluid ( motor oil). On the tranny there will be a fill bolt ( 17mm ) and a drain bolt ( 3/8 ratchet ). The car needs to be level when checking the fluid level. pull the 17mm if fluid comes out it is full, if no fluid comes out, stick you finger in there and see if you get any fluid on your finger, if there isn't any on your finger then it is low. If it is low chances are you have a drive axle seal that is leaking. If the tranny is full, perodically check you motor oil to see if it is leaking. you need to isolate the leak to motor or tranny. If it is in the motor chances are your rear main seal is shot and needs replacement, which is not such an easy job, the tranny and clutch/flywheel will need to be removed to replace it.

that drive axle doesnt look like its in all the way either.

 

Cover looks good. I bought a new gasket to use when I put it back together.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hon2984 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">is this a manual tranny? In your situation i would check the level of the tranny fluid ( motor oil). On the tranny there will be a fill bolt ( 17mm ) and a drain bolt ( 3/8 ratchet ). The car needs to be level when checking the fluid level. pull the 17mm if fluid comes out it is full, if no fluid comes out, stick you finger in there and see if you get any fluid on your finger, if there isn't any on your finger then it is low. If it is low chances are you have a drive axle seal that is leaking. If the tranny is full, perodically check you motor oil to see if it is leaking. you need to isolate the leak to motor or tranny. If it is in the motor chances are your rear main seal is shot and needs replacement, which is not such an easy job, the tranny and clutch/flywheel will need to be removed to replace it.

that drive axle doesnt look like its in all the way either.</TD></TR></TABLE>
It's an Automatic. The axle is pulled out so I could see better plus it needs a new boot.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TrailJockey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
That would be a no-brainer </TD></TR></TABLE>

my bad cinderella

 

did you inspect the oil pressure sending unit?


the leak detector for AC systems can also be used for oil. put some in the oil , let it run for a few minutes and get a black light out.

 

if u have a engine oil filter cooling unit it may be the rubber o-ring between the unit and the block, if not the case it can be the seals for the pulleys by the timing belt, rear main seal between the engine and tranny, oil pan gasket.