Hi everyone,

I have a 1999 Honda Civic Ex (D16Y8, 130,000 miles). I have a small oil leak that appears to be coming from where the distributor meets the camshaft. If I stick my hand under the distributor where it meets the camshaft I find fresh oil. If I stick my hand under the heater hose below the distributor, there is also fresh oil, although only on the bottom of the heater hose, not the top. I have already replaced the external distributor o-ring twice with an OEM o-ring and checked for nicks in the mating surface and this does not appear to be the issue. The leak appears to originate at the distributor area and does not appear to be coming from the valve cover gasket or the v-tec solenoid gaskets (which I replaced a few thousand miles ago; the current leak existed long before the v-tec solenoid leak).

I have heard that if the internal seal goes bad, this might also cause a leak at the distributor o-ring area. Is this true? I am not finding any oil coming from below the distributor cap area; however, when I removed the cap I do find a very very tiny (2 drops or so) amount of oil. Thought I might just go ahead and try replacing the inner seal but wanted to check with you all.

 

YOu know.....you can tell it needs to be replace. So why not go ahead and replace them both.

 

when you replace the internal seal, check the wires connecting to the pickups inside the distributor for swelling/cracking/sloughing of the insulation, IF (and only if) you see bare copper/damage, you will need to reinsulate them after cleaning them with electronic solvent. I suggest that after you clean them with the solvent, you dry them with a hair dryer and then reseal the wires with liquid electrical tape (itll keep you from having to cut/splice/heat shrink/solder...etc.) <-- done this before with great success.

Motor oil has a nasty effect on the distributor internals. You will need to give it a solvent cleaning anyway.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MADE-IN-JAPAN-DISTRIBUTOR-O-RING-AND-SEAL-2-PC-KIT-FITS-MOST-ACURA-HONDA-/251077355638?hash=item3a75606876&vxp=mtr
there you go,just replace them both and follow what MisereNoire said.

 

Thanks guys. I'll let you know how it turns out.