Hi folks,
I need some input on this one - I'm at a loss.

Original problem: Oil leak coming from lower opening of breather chamber. The leak started because the bottom bolt backed out.

Attempt to fix #1: Checked to make sure O-ring still in place - replaced bolt. Still leaked a lot.

Attemt to fix #2: Took breather chamber off, replaced o-ring with new o-ring. Still leaked a lot.

Attempt to fix #3: Now I'm getting desperate. I noticed that the inside of the whole in the block was scratched when the bolt originally came out. So I coated the inside bore of the hole AND the O-ring with Hondabond prior to reassembly. I also used a new O-ring. I also removed the PCV valve, just to make sure it wasn't clogged and causing a restriction (car is track-only). Waited a full 24 hours for the hondabond to cure.

Guess what..still leaks a lot - I am stumped. I am open to any and all suggestions.
- Phillip

Update for future searchers...the breather chamber itself was cracked. The o-ring sealed fine, but the seam of the chamber leaked oil. That only took me 4 months to figure out...



Modified by Backmarker at 10:00 PM 4/15/2003

 

Problem solved - see orig. post. Thanks to all who offered ideas.

- Phillip

 

I believe I'm having the same problem. I noticed an oil spot on the floor of my garage. I first thought it was my oil filter seeping. I just went ahead and ordered the whole breather chamber. Is this a common problem with ITR motors?

 

yea i wanna know how common this is too cus mine leaks and when i auto-x it smokes from the oil burning that drips off of it

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dwnthehatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I believe I'm having the same problem. I noticed an oil spot on the floor of my garage. I first thought it was my oil filter seeping. I just went ahead and ordered the whole breather chamber. Is this a common problem with ITR motors?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Nope! At least I've never heard of it.

 

I had an issue with mine. The breather chamber was getting completely full of oil. I suppose it wasnt draining back into the block. Over time it actually started sputing out oil all over my exhaust. I replaced the breather chamber, and the problem was solved.

 

I have a really easy fix.

Get a JDM ITR chamber. My USDM unit leaked forever, replaced the O-ring three times. After putting some flourescent dye in the oil, I was able to source the leak as the seal connecting the bolt bracket to the chamber (same problem as yours).

I took the JDM ITR chamber off my spare motor, and when I examined both side-by-side, the JDM ITR chamber has welds all around the bracket attachment point. IE: You can see the 90degree edges of the bracket attached to the USDM chamber, where as the JDM chamber has welds all over the attached bracket.

I'll try to take some pictures of this soon, I thought it was a pretty interesting find when I noticed that.

 

Mine is a jdm chamber. I tried replacing the o-ring as a temp fix and now it's leaking even worse. Now I have to wait a week for my parts to arrive.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mythias &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I had an issue with mine. The breather chamber was getting completely full of oil. I suppose it wasnt draining back into the block. Over time it actually started sputing out oil all over my exhaust. I replaced the breather chamber, and the problem was solved.</TD></TR></TABLE>

interesting that may be exactly what my problem is cus its burning on my header..... guess ill just put a new one in

do you have to drain the oil to put that on?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cjames235 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

interesting that may be exactly what my problem is cus its burning on my header..... guess ill just put a new one in

do you have to drain the oil to put that on?</TD></TR></TABLE>

No, it's way up high on the back of the block. Should be nothing but air up there.

 

does anyone know if all b-series oil chambers are the same?

The previous owner of the ITR block that I recently bought must have removed it.

will my b16 one work?

 

same sh** happened to our car...

for those interested, we've found out that early stages of breather chamber issues can cause random hesitations (on track) under load and at the upper range RPMs because of pressure drop inside the engine.
Those hesitations are often confused with electrical issues/misfires at first...so if your block is healthy and you've checked spark plugs, wires, cap, rotor, ignition coil, ignitor etc...are all within spec or new...and you have the following signs you might wanna check for this issue:

-early signs of oil breather chamber welds starting to give out on my car were hesitation under load around apexes taken at high speed and max g's and/or some mysterious ''unexplained'' white puffing on upshifts at max rpm in the straights right after exiting high load curves and at speed(from 3rd to 4th) but not under any other circumstances(on the street or on other spots on the track, or at same speeds on other tracks) and no visible oil leak on the floor or on car components.
-advanced stages: no leak when idling or when trying to replicate problem in the garage, no leak when motor is hot coming off the track, small oil leak on the floor only hours after car cools down, no visible source.
-more advanced stages: on track on when completely cooling down oil leak drips down on the header, O2 sensor area, half shafts, rack and pinion area, oil pan, splash shield, underneath tranny on block side mainly and even worse alongside the oil pan gasket and underneath the brace that's between the block and the tranny and the oil gets on the flywheel, which might contaminate the clutch and then the clutch starts to slip intermitently for no apparent reason until you find out the source...and all that can appear within the course of only one track session!

Changed the breather chamber and magically, no more leaks, hesitations under load or random white puffs.

Hope this helps for future refences.