I did a search on this and found something about a oil pump seal recall. Does this pertain to the 89 as well? If so, will I be able to have this looked at a dealer?

Well, I have an oil leak where teh head gasket is located. It leaks alot just below the distributor, but I don't think it's the distributor leaking. That's just the area where it leaks from. A repair shop fixed the head gasket on this a few months ago. I'm wondering if they didn't put it back together right or if the gasket is bad. I would just like some experienced opinions on some possible causes so that I can take it back there with a little bit of knowledge. The shop by the way, has a 1yr/12,000 warranty on their repairs, so I want to bring it back to them to see if they think it's because of the head gasket repair.

Here's a couple links to what the leak looks like

This one is an overall look at the engine
http://webpages.charter.net/spoon61/100_1154.JPG

This one was taken from the front passenger side of the engine, just to the right of the distributor cap
http://webpages.charter.net/spoon61/100_1153.JPG


Modified by spoon611 at 3:27 AM 1/10/2004

 

if i were you i would change the distributor o-ring it is like 2 bucks from the dealer and is easy to change then if it is still leaking take it back to the mechanic .... this is a common problem for the head gasket to leak on that side ... good luck

 

Do I have to get an o-ring from the dealer, or does autozone/advance auto carry this too?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Stripped Honda &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">this is a common problem for the head gasket to leak on that side ... good luck </TD></TR></TABLE>

So are you saying the head gasket's leaking? Or just the distributor is leaking on that side? Thanks!

Oh, one more thing. How do I get off this "trial user" thing?? I tried to post the other day, but got the message about not posting more than 5 w/in 24 hrs thing.

 

Well I took the distributor off today. the O-ring felt like plastic, they're supposed to be made of rubber right? Well I checked all the auto parts stores in town, but no one carries what I need. So it's off to the HOnda dealer tomorrow morning. Then I'll fill up the oil again and see if it's still leaking. While I was taking it off, I noticed that the 2 vacuum hoses that run from the distributor to another connection were crossed. What will be the symptons if those items are crossed?

 

bump

 

Finally got the part installed. Costs me $3.05 for a piece of rubber . Well it leaks no more!! Thanks for your help.

There is however a leak on the other end of the engine, between the timing belt cover and the valve cover. Would it be the valve cover gasket may be leaking? It's not as big a leak as the distributor leak was, but it eventually leaks onto all the components (alternator, belts...) and is dripping towards the LF tire.

 

OK, I thought that would take care of the leak. Well I still have oil dripping down onto the oil pan and onto the driver's side suspension and tire. I thought that the leak on the distributor side was making it's way to the driver's side, but I guess not. What are the possibilities of leaks on the driver's side? I removed the upper timing belt cover and there was oil on the inside of it. I'm guessing it's the crank seal. What kind of mess would I be getting myself into if I had to replace a seal? Would I have to pull the engine or could I access this from the wheel well?

 

could be a cam seal too if you said there was oil in the upper cover. To replace this seall you dont have to remove the engine, but you have to loosen the timing belt and remove the cam sprocket. check out http://www.3geez.com it is a 86-89 Accord message board