thanks for reading and for any insight or help of any kind.

I just rebuilt my d16y8 and my vtec solenoid is leaking oil. it was leaking oil before I rebuilt the engine so I bought a new gasket, but still leaks. I also tried spraying copper gasket sealer on the new gasket, but still leaks. finally I tried grey rtv silicone, but still leaks. oil seems to b leaking from new and copper sprayed head gasket too, but I can't b sure until I fix the vtec leak, because it's hard to tell if it's just the vtec solenoid spewing oil everywhere.

thanks again

 

I forgot to mention that all bolts on the vtec solenoid have been torqued to the factory recommended 8.7 ft-lbs. and then tightened further in an attempt to stop oil leak.

 

if i remember right there are 2 gaskets the vtech needs. One where the vtech unit attaches to the engine, and one between the solenoid and the vtech unit itself. One is a gasket with a screen built in. Did you replace both or just one of them?

 

I only replaced the gasket that mates to the cylinder head (the one with a screen).

 

You sure your valve cover isn't leaking?

You should use genuine honda gaskets with either hondabond silicone or NO silicone sealer. You shouldn't need or want to use copper gasket sealer. It's not the best idea.

The car didn't come with any from the factory. Those seals last hundreds of thousands of miles and 10-15+ years before leaking.

 

yup, I checked the valve cover and it's not leaking. when I look at the engine while in operation, I can see the oil comming out from the vtec solenoid. the solenoid has genuine Honda gaskets.

 

F20CDriver, Is the oil running along the top of the trans housing and bleeding down the front of the engine block? My D16Y8 is currently doing this. It is a rebuilt motor from KarKing engines in California. Have had terrible luck with this motor. Rear main seal failed after 3 months of normal driving and had to be replaced, and now is currently bleeding oil down the front of the block. There is a small pool of oil sitting on top of the VTEC solenoid and the valve cover, a little oil below the solenoid casing but most of the oil is pooling under the Dizzy and running forward down the front. Since I can't really see where the leak is coming from I am scared of a failed head gasket again.

 

yeah the oil does run down in that same exact fashion. I had my block and cylinder head milled to prevent any leaks, so I'm really hoping that once I get the solenoid to stop leaking I can move on to more desirable wrenching, like adding performance instead of managing component failures. I'm going to order new bolts and see if that does the trick. ill let u know if our similar oil leak pattern is fixed with the vtec issue.

 

Replace the 2nd vtec gasket first. I had the same problem, changed the one gasket like you did and it still leaked. Replaced the 2nd gasket (between the solenoid and vtec) and it stopped leaking. After the first one was replaced it caused the 2nd old gasket to spring a leak.
With both gaskets replaced there was no leak.

 

Clean gaskets and mating surfaces with brake cleaner, coat gaskets with thin layer of HondaBond, reassemble solenoid, and let dry overnight.

 

I sanded the mating surfaces to ensure a perfectly flat contact surface, but I found out afterwards that the top gasket is severed. I did all these corrective steps that took forever to do and it turns out to be the top gasket. it doesn't look like it's leaking from the top at all but the severed gasket suggests otherwise. we will see tomorrow when I replace the top gasket.

 

thanks I'm pretty sure you're right. I found that the top gasket is severed on the smaller ring. I sanded the mating surfaces and it still leaked. that's when I discovered the top gasket was shot. I went to Honda but they didn't have a part number and asked me to bring the gasket in to order a new one. I didn't have my tools so I'll go again tomorrow with my tools and update post. thanks

 

I had the same issue I replace the vtec solenoid gasket and the top gasket it stopped.

 

gonna replace top gasket tomorrow, thanks

 

How substantial of a leak is it? I think i may be experiencing a similar leak but due to cooler weather and the car being my DD i haven't risked pulling the solenoid for fear of making the leak worse. I have oil running down the side of the block right below the vtec solenoid onto the tranny, but it is a slow leak.

 

F20Cdriver, thanks for letting us know. Sounds like this must be my issue. Going to have to get my gaskets ordered.

 

unfortunately the only way to know where your leak is coming from is to remove parts and examine them. unplug the two electrical connectors from the vtec solenoid then unbolt the 6, 10mm, bolts that hold the solenoid in place. I recommend starting with the top 3 bolts. inspect your gaskets; if you see cracks, severed areas, or flattened and hardened gasket than replace.

 

top gasket was the problem. I just replaced it and the leak is gone.

 

the problem is solved. after many hours of frustration and about 7 quarts of oil all over my super clean engine bay and driveway, it turns out to be a $10 easy fix. this freaking gasket actually caused my bearings to spin and forced me to rebuild my engine. than I replaced a perfectly fine head gasket because I thought oil was leaking from the front near the header. turns out that the vtec gaskets are more important than you might believe. hope this thread helps you guys and girls solve your vtec oil leak issues.

price for top vtec gasket @ Honda dealer: $10

price for vtec gasket with screen @ Honda dealer: $22

price of rebuilding my engine because I couldn't figure out where oil leak was in time to save my motor: $1000-ish

 

That was happening to me it ended being from the vtec solenoid gasket and top gasket but mine was leaking a lot.

Damn at least the problem is solved now

 

Glad you figured it out, and it looks like I know where i need to start to isolate my leak.

 

I think OP meant to say "VTEC"

 

I've been there. I had that awful thought of being the headgasket broken. I did a lot of research and here are the possible things you can do to stop the leak:
1- Make sure the leak definetly comes from the solenoid (you might have a distributor O-ring leak (pretty easy fix))
2- Make sure the assembly itself has no cracks!, make sure its not bend
3- Make sure (as Ron said) you let it sit overnight with hondabond (dont use cheap sealers)
4- Make sure you change both vtec solenoid gaskets. The upper one and the one that goes to the Head.


Tried many times and it kept leaking, used a Sharpening stone and rub the assembly into it to make sure I got a flat surface, applied a VERY GOOD silicone (no hondabond where I live), Let it sit for 2 days and the leak was gone.

 

Same issue. If you need to replace the screen gasket just get the kit and do it all at the same time. I went 2 months trying to figure out where all that oil was coming from..