I'm trying to track the source of an oil leak. This is actually on a 98 Odyssey, but it's an F23A engine and I think this site is more active than the Ody forum.

The oil is coming down the back of the block mostly on the driver's side. It's not the oil cooler o-ring or the oil pressure switch. The highest point I can see it is on a little "shelf" of metal that sticks out at the top of the block on the driver's side - there's actually a puddle of oil in a depression on this shelf. The first pic is a low mag showing the general location, and the 2nd shows the oil on this shelf thing. Anyone seen this before? TIA

 

Are you sure the cam/valve cover is not leaking on the backside? Are you loosing any oil between oil changes? Looking at the oil fill cap and how damp the cover is there, I would also wonder if its just simply from oil being spilled during an oil change, and it just puddles there.

 

No it's not from spills. I can clean it with Gunk between fills (which I do myself) and it shows up again soon. It's not a huge leak. It just started recently but I'd guess it's a quart/1000mi -- but the drips are adding up to a puddle on the garage floor! It could be the valve cover gasket but I don't really see it coming down from there...

 

If you are going to pull the valve cover-replace the gasket. While you have it off, pull the upper cover for the t-belt and check around the cam seal....how close are you to neeing to replace the t-belt?

 

Yes this is probably caused by a leaking valve cover gasket. I had this problem on a F18B2 at 100K (9 years old): not a real leak yet but the gasket looked 'sweaty'.

 

Leaking valve cover gasket or front cam seal. Or, your buddy is sneaking in there at night just to mess with you.

 

Clean the whole area with carb cleaner thoroughly and then cover the area/suspect gaskets points with baby powder to see exactly where it's coming from.

 

Ultra Violet dye, if you have it, is the best thing when trying to diagnose oil leaks. No need to clean anything off at all.

 

Okay, thanks everyone. Looking at it again I see how it could be the valve cover gasket or the cam seal. It will have to wait until next weekend before I get at chance to take the cover off and look. Both were supposedly replaced 3yrs/35k ago when I had the timing belt changed, so I'm suprised there's a leak already...

 

I would second the valve cover gasket or cam seal. If you use High Mileage oil it causes the seals/gaskets to swell up to prevent leaks, however this can also be detrimental and cause leaks as well. Just tossing it out there as a possibility. It's also possible they replaced and never removed a piece or two of the original, causing a gap for oil to seep from - this seems to happen moreso on the oil filter, but definitely could occur on valve cover too.

 

Could be as simple as the guy who did the job didn't put any sealant in the crotch of the cam cap. I've seen that a million times.

 

I've never seen a leak in that spot, I bet phootbag is right