I noticed today that there is a small, about 1 1/2 inch long crack on the valve cover of my 1997 Accord LX, as seen in the attached pic. It's leaking a little oil down the backside of the cover and spraying a little on the underside of the hood. I'd really like to fix it, so what's a good way (if there is a way) to patch the crack? Thanks!

 

jb weld. or or take it to a shop have them weld it shut and sand it down to the curve again

 

I'll guess you cleaned the area up.

That crack, that high up.....is not the source of a leak IMHO. A dab of silicone on your finger across that and done.

Now I have to ask how or "why" that is there.

Don't get me wrong - I would patch it until I could stop by a bone yard and grab another but based upon your description of the "leak".....that is not the source.

 

there is no pressure inside of the valve cover, so it wouldn't be spraying oil under the hood, you have a leak somewhere that is under pressure

 

Just put some rtv on that crack and let it cure(dry) for about two hours.

 

or u could get a new valve cover

 

this is a temporary fix until he gets his repaired I think

 

lol ok. Go take your oil cap off with the engine running and tell me oil doesnt come blasting out. Especially on an F series, they'll have a decent amount of blowby at this day in age. The stock PCV system is relatively inadequate and doesn't zero out crankcase pressure. It may not actually "spray" out of this crack, but I guarantee it's leaking pretty good, well enough to get on the underside of the hood

Throw a new valve cover on that thing and be done with it

 

Yeah, there isn't really a whole lot of pressure up top but there definitely is pressure and oil is slinging all over up there. If you just start the car up and take off the oil filler cap you will see what kind of pressure there is.