I am leaking oil from the distributor. Is there a seal that can be replaced? Other than making a mess,(only have to add oil occassionally) is there harm in just leaving it alone? Thanks

 

The harm in leaving the dizzy leaking is exactly what happened to me today in my civic and prior in my accord. Replace the dizzy o-ring. It's cheap and easy. Remove the three bolts holding the dizzy in, cut the old seal off (probably will just break) and put the new one on. If you let it leak the heater hose that is right under it will eventually burst causing you to overheat as it will push all of the coolant out of the system and make a nasty slimy mess under the hood.


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Thanks! Any timing issues if I pull the distributor?

 

Nope. The cam and dizzy are not center cut they are off center cut so that you can't put the dizzy 180° out.


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Humm...I could be wrong here but you should put a mark (sharpie felt) near the top bolt area where the distributor bolt attaches to the block as to not loose your timing mark. Should be something on You-Tube that can explain it better than me. Good luck!

 

Thanks. Think I will tackle it next weekend.

 

Gdrew888 makes a good point. I forget that the dizzy does turn a little on the forth gen and early to mid fifth gens. Yeah i would use a Sharpie to mark where it sits first. Good point


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ya just make a couple marks where the distributor meets the head so that you can put it back in the same EXACT spot it was...or you'll have to set the ignition timing again..also if the distributor is leaking internally then you need to replace the inner seal, but normally it's just the o ring that sits around the shaft that enters the head...put some oil around the new oring and gently roll it over the shaft..you want to try not to stretch it so don't try to stretch it over the ring..try to roll it over

 

Don't use a "bulk" o-ring from a kit. Get one from Honda. Napa also carries them in their Altrom import line. Altrom part number 562 I believe.

Hold your horses though! Make sure the leak is from the distributor O-ring. There is also a seal inside the distributor that fails. Pull off the distributor cap. If the oil is coming from inside then it is the internal distributor shaft seal. I see this seal leaking all the time. This seal is not available or easily replaced. You will need to buy a new distributor if this is the case.

 

I just went over that the other day Darren Thiesen. A Dizzy isnt something you exactly want to replace. You say napa carries the Dizzy o-ring? thats great to know, saves me a trip to the dealer today.

 

the dizzy is kinda expensive. That's why you wouldn't want to replace it.