Hello all!

I've had my 90 Accord DX coupe (155K) on mothballs for a couple years and getting her put back together. Aside from timing belt and battery, she's pretty much ALL original. Got her running great again and only put about 30 miles on her, but she's got two issues. Not sure if they're related or not...

1) Oil is leaking out bad enough to smoke up the engine. I raised it up after a quick ride and saw oil cooking off my exhaust pipe next to my oil pan. Got crud all over the underside and goes up pretty high. I get the feeling the valve cover gaskets are toast because the plugs have oil in the wells. Won't find out for sure until Tues when the new ones arrive. Any thought on if that could be the culprit? Any other common problem it could be?

2) My brakes lose pressure when I consistently apply pressure. They work great for hard braking, but when I'm trying to make a gradual stop, the pedal slowly drops all the way to the floor. I've heard I likely need a Brake Master Cylinder, but I don't see any leakage or spots around it or my calipers and my fluids are tip top. I just replaced my main relay and didn't see anything amiss under the dash either. I would have bled the lines but haven't had a helper handy. Could I still need a new Master or just simply bleed the line?

I was thinking the two COULD be related, but doubt it since the Brake fluid levels are steady. Any suggestions? Thanks!!!!

 

1) yes, sounds like the issue. Unless a small leak is just now burning off weeks/months of oil.....but the plug tubes are leaking so why not change it.

2)Try bleeding but I'm betting the master cyl is gone....

 

^I agree. The plug tube gaskets are probably coming with a valve cover gasket, but if not, go ahead and replace them all. If you're still leaking after that, spray the block with engine cleaner and look for a new leak.

 

OK... Got the valve cover gasket set put in. Oiled the edges, made sure the seals were tight, tightened the valve cover bolts just right, the works. The thing leaks just as bad as ever, so unless I royally screwed up somehow, it's not the valve cover.

I found that it only leaks when the engine is running. No apparent leaks around the valve cover, so I'm good there. I started her up, looked underneath and oil was dripping at a rate of 1 drop every few seconds. Can't tell if it's coming from above the filter or not. Maybe the pictures can help? (BTW, I sprayed the engine with Engine Brite and hosed her off, that's why it looks so wet)




Second, I checked out the Brake master cylinder and just noticed the leak/corrosion underneath where it connects to the brake booster. Will a new Brake MC do the trick or will I need a new booster too?



Thanks again for all the help!!!

 

1) Check the oil pressure switch...looks like the leak is from back side of the engine just above the oil filter.........Correct?

2) master cyl. Unless so much fluid has gotten inside the booster.....start with the mast, should be good.

 

Poorman beat me to it again. It's likely the oil pressure switch or the filter gasket. The switch looks like this:

 

Ugh... I'm about to bash my head against the wall, this is frustrating.

Got under the car to check it out... When I tried to remove the filter it was sealed on there so tight it ripped trying to get it off. My brother-in-law was the last guy to drive it, he must have taken it to some dump to get an oil change. Thanks Quickie Lube Right about now it starts POURING rain and I'm laying on a half size, soaking wet piece of cardboard.

Finally got it off the damn filter and found the sensor. Tried to unplug, but the cover just split in half. Had to be sure ginger so I don't break off the cord, but eventually it came off

Got the cover off and realized that I don't have a socket big enough, so off to Autozone. I live in the country, so that's a 30 minute drive. I took the new Sensor with me to make sure i got the right size. Of course, I was back home before I realize the aftermarket sensor and the old installed sensor are different size

The only gasket I'm worrying about blowing right now is my own....

 

Oh and, for what it's worth, I'm not 100% sure it is the oil pressure sensor that's leaking... Feels pretty clean around it. It's DEFINITELY leaking somewhere about the filter, but the sensor seems fine...

 

Well, I'm guessing you got a new filter. Before replacing the switch see if the new filter seals off....you had an issue getting the old one off so as "Streetside" said it could be "filter" gasket...and those boots on the oil switch get rock hard after 20 something years....forgot the say that.

if there is still a leak and you are not sure the switch is the source, double check that it isn't coming from the back side of the valve cover....clean it up good and then follow the "trail" up the back side of the motor until you find the source.

 

OK! Thanks for letting me vent some steam earlier... Well I got the old sensor out and put in the new one, then cleaned up the undercarriage as much as I could. The old sensor definitely looked shot. The seal was corroded away and there was a ring of oil around it. After putting in the new one....

So far, so good! I don't want to get my hopes up, but she looks pretty good so far! When I get the master cylinder installed, I'll take her out for a real spin and see if she's fixed.