Hey, I have an oil leak on my 4th gen '90 accord EX. There are many spots of oil on my driveway from where I park. so I try to follow the leak through my engine bay, but I see no easy to find streams. I can't see where it's leaking from.

Where would I start to diagnose this problem? Valves? Or something of the like?

Thanks,
-Nick

 

Is your motor oil level definitely going down? It might be tranny oil or any number of other dirty, thick fluid.
Check the periphery of the entire oil pan, drain bolt and oil filter to make sure it's not leaking there. Check the valve cover gasket too. If oil is leaking from somewhere else, that is not good.

 

420,
Easy fix
Why don't you put a flat cardboard box under your car, and check in the morning where the leaks are.

Then jack up car and check it out.

 

 

Thank you for the really helpful information guys! To answer the above question, yes my oil keeps going down...alot. I have to put in a quart or so about every 2 weeks, maybe even less than 2 weeks.

But, I will try that cardboard trick tonight and let you all know.

Thanks again

 

Oh, yeah, that'd be the smart thing to do first.

 

A QUART EVERY 2 WEEKS !!

You got a problem man. I remember seeing a thread about some recall or something concerning a gasket I think?? ---->Search: recall in Accord OR look back 3/4 pages

Better take it to the dealership and pay the $$ to get it done right.

 

maybe an oil pan gasket. Cause i have to replace mine and i might as well do my vaule cover gasket while that is being done.


[Modified by Broman78, 5:45 AM 1/15/2003]

 

the seal that was recalled if busted would take 2mins to leak out all your oil not 2 weeks.. he has a cracked old gasket somewhere.

try oil pan, valve cover... actually why dont you engine degrease that bad boy power wash it get all the old gunk oil outta the way, start it up and watch it see if you can tell where it comes from.. just an idea.

 

Thanks again for all of the great help.

What would it cost me to go to a dealership and have them look it over for me? The reason I ask this now, is because the nearest Honda dealership for me is 45 minutes, so I am seeing if anyone know's ahead of time.

Now, when it comes to degreaseing your engine, what do I do? Just buy something from advanced and hose it all down? Isn't there something I have to cover up like the dist. or alternator?

Once again, thank you all...

 

btw that recall expired already so he is Sorry Out of Luck on that one.........

oil pan gasket or where the oil level sensor plugs into the pan, valve cover gasket