So in my 95 del sol, i have a VTEC D16z6 engine. I noticed it was leaking oil and so i replaced the valve cover gasket and this seemed to work. It was no longer leaking oil while sitting. However, when i start the engine, it drips pretty heavily from somewhere lower on the engine. There's smaller drops hitting the exhaust and a steady drip/drizzle just to passenger side of the exhaust. I've read of people having issues with the O-ring and the distributor as well as the solenoid, i am just not adept enough to know myself. The puzzling part of this is that it's only leaking when it is running, when i stop the engine, the leaking immediately stops.
Any help or ideas are greatly appreciated.

 

When replacing the valve cover gasket, did you use RTV at points around the distributor and camshaft? As for determining where it is coming from, you'd have to be more descriptive or post a picture if you cant describe it.

 

^^x2 only leak I know of to be noticeable when running is valve cover, OP put rtv on the corners like said above. And use a torque wrench to tighten, I believe 9 ft pounds.

If problem persists, I'd be looking at distributor O ring or vtec solenoid.

 

Get underneath and look at the rear main engine seal, the oil pan gasket and the oil pressure sending unit. Clean it all good.

 

it's definitely the vtec solenoid that is leaking. would it be the gasket or the whole thing?

 

It could be either, but it's most likely the gasket.

 

Instead of reading around about oil leaks, you need to clean your engine up and start looking for the leak. Wasting time by just waiting around for someone to tell you where the leak is coming from. these engines have multiple seals that could potentially leak. So get up, go buy some brake cleaner, and clean your engine up. refill oil if its low. start the engine and be patient.

 

You're not offending me, that is the best suggestion I can give anyone who is looking for a leak that can't be seen on the internet. Clean up the oil and over time constantly check it. You'll be able to identify a location of the leak, from above or below, you're just gonna have to get under the car. flash light in hand and get in there.