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So I've got my 94 Del Sol Si, D16Z6, and it's been leaking oil. I would love to be able to pull the engine and find all the leaks, but it's my only car and I can't not have it drivable at any moment. So, I've been just looking around my engine as best as I can to spot all the leaks, starting at the top, I think I've found some, but I don't know what the things are called or if it's actually leaking or oil is just pooling there. I haven't too closely at the bottom of my engine, because the whole thing is covered in oil. The top of the exhaust pipe is covered too, any common places that leak onto that?
The speed sensor is just drenched in oil, I can't tell if the sensor is leaking or if it's just settling there, but I'll replace the sensor seal. Anyone know where to get that?
I don't know what this is, but it's under the VTEC solenoid and it's covered in oil. What is it and is it something that would leak oil?
So, by the looks of this, I'd say my VTEC solenoid is most definitely leaking, yes?
I don't know what that is, but it looks like there's oil coming out of it, and pooling under it. It's the round plug under the O2 sensor plug.
Go to Wal-Mart, CostCo, etc (anywhere you can buy BRAKE CLEANER for el cheapo) and buy several cans (at least 2) of the cheapest generic brake cleaner you can. Set a catch pan UNDER your car and while it is running and HOT spray the crap out of it with brake cleaner-I'd suggest working left to right, front to back, etc. Some sort of pattern should be fine. This will liquefy and remove the oil that has been baked on there.
Once you have removed all the built up crap from your engine bay THEN you can look for leaks.
Just FYI Honda common oil leaks-
Valve Cover Gasket (pretty much EVERY car not just Honda)
Distributor O-ring
Vtec Gasketing/seals if so equipped
The circular plug UNDER your O2 sensor wire is your ECT (Engine Coolant Temperature) sender and the black largish hose is a coolant hose that comes from your radiator and sends "cold" coolant to the engine. There is no way that sender can leak oil-the only thing it can leak is coolant.
The pooling under that could be from either your Valve Cover gasket and/or your Distributor O-ring. Based on the sheer amount of crud you have it could be (and probably is) both. Also the actual grommets that are under the bolts that connect the valve cover to the top of the engine can crack over time and leak oil. Finally based on the fact that you said you have oil on the top of the exhaust pipe (before the catalytic converter) I'm going to say that AT LEAST your valve cover gasket and/or grommets are leaking.
Start with the cleanup then check the "easy" stuff-valve cover gasket, valve cover grommets (sold together in a kit), dizzy o-ring, dizzy internal seal, dizzy cap seal (if that's leaking it means your dizzy is full of oil which is a BAD thing), VTEC gaskets and seals.
Check the FAQs and use the search function to guide you through replacing the dizzy O-ring, the valve cover job, and the vtec "chamber" gaskets.
In order to clean it up on the cheap with good results take to the carwash and apply lots of the tire cleaner they usually have, let it sit for a couple of minutes and rinse it off. That will be cheaper than brake cleaner. It will prob cost you $5. That will leave your engine bay very clean, and don;t forget to cover your distributor and cone filter if you have one. I never cover my alternator, but it will not hurt to do it.
In order to clean it up on the cheap with good results take to the carwash and apply lots of the tire cleaner they usually have, let it sit for a couple of minutes and rinse it off. That will be cheaper than brake cleaner. It will prob cost you $5. That will leave your engine bay very clean, and don;t forget to cover your distributor and cone filter if you have one. I never cover my alternator, but it will not hurt to do it.
MANY carwash places now have large signs stating the following:
NO CLEANING OF ENGINES OR ENGINE BAYS
It is actually quite rare to find a place that will let you do what you're describing without having to pay a premium (i.e. an extra $1-$2 more than a regular carwash) due to the expense of having to deal with the oil/fluids runoff into a collection tank. In my town there is ONE (1) place that will allow you to do so and that option is an extra dollar more. Try it anywhere else and the local cops and/or county sheriff will show up to give you a very expensive ticket.
They havent done that at the car wash i go but havent been there in about a year. Regardless, there is lot of stuff a garden hose will not remove or places in your engine bay a brush wont get to, so even after the premium is worth it for someone who does not have a pressure washer.
I actually work at a dealership as a detailer, so I clean for free. I already have brake cleaner anyway, so I'll use that and then I may pressure wash it at work if I feel I need to. I really don't like to spray water in my engine, I tend to have bad luck with things like that. But, thanks for the input. I'll clean it up and repost.
Help with oil leaks
