Hello everyone I noticed an oil leak as soon as I got home from the 4 hr drive from purchasing the 91 civic DX. it was caked all over the bottom of the car. I know some people are going to be mad I don't figure it out myself, but this is my first car. I have no idea when it comes to engine components and what I'd even do to diagnose a leak. Take off the valve cover? takeoff the timing belt cover? what do I look for once they're off? I am clueless. If someone could point me in the right direction or have had a similar leak, what parts am I going to need? I'm probably going to change the timing belt but what seals should I do. This car seemed like it has been sitting for a while and I'm guessing going to have to replace lots of bushings and seals in the near future, so I'm not complaining just trying to do things right the first time instead of messing with things wrong and screwing up something else as it's my daily. Also replaced engine oil, oil filter, and transmission fluid, bolts were tight nothing leaking.

oil coming from top of timing belt area

leaks all the way down all over

caked on

 

Lol, typical thing that happens to a car that's 31 years old. Lack of maintaining those leak problems over the years. Around the block is usually from the valve cover gasket. If you want to fix that up and keep it clean and oil free for a good while, buy a couple cans of some heavy duty engine degreaser and soak that caked on crud.. Follow directions on the can.. get a Haynes manual which will be your Bible for your car, a simple metric socket set and new distributor o-ring and a valve cover/grommet set. Those are the 2 most leaking causing areas and easy fixes to deal with first and start from there. Draw a fine line across the top bolt housing brackets on distributor to cylinder head brackets for easy installation to keep timing in check. After doing all that will give some confidence and motivation to drop the oil pan and replace that leaky gasket too if you want. Old hondas are like playing with lego. Changing the timing belt is easy too, get a belt/water pump/tube of honda bond/tensioner and chain wrench to wrap around the crank pulley for loosening the 19mm bolt and read your book. You'll be fine. Doing all the work yourself will save you big bucks and you will realize how easy it is to work on your car. One last thing, to help getting it somewhat tiptop, change the spark plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor, clean all ground wire connections from the battery and check to see how dirty your air filter is and replace if necessary.. all simple easy things to do and fairly cheap for parts and tools

 

Thank you waiting on the parts to do this.

 

what brand of gaskets should i use, i cant find any oem ones

 

I would just get some felpro gaskets and beck arnley parts as they have seemed to be good quality for the most part.