I need some help. I have a 93 Civic Non-Vtec 1.5L. Oil has been leaking from around the plugs/wires and Valve Cover. Ive tried replacing the Valve Cover gasket with no success. I have heard that this model Honda (92-95), the replacement Valve Cover gaskets made by Honda are crap. Should I just try to replace the entire Valve Cover?? Who makes a really good replacement one with a good gasket so that I don't have to worry about any more oil leaks. The first time, I got a stock Valve Cover gasket from Honda and got it replaced, but the oil is still leaking. If I leak anymore oil in the parking area in my neighborhood, I think the Community folks are going to start fining me....I have been contemplating just replacing the whole Valve cover, which includes the gasket, but am not sure who makes a good replacement one for my Honda....other than the oil leaks, the Honda is a great car...it currently has 205,000 miles and still purrs like the first day that I got it......anyone, please help me out!!

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Are you sure its coming from your valve cover gasket ? Take your Honda some where and let them replace it, sounds like your not having a lot of success doing it. About Honda gaskets being crap, thats not true at all. And no don't replace the valve cover, unless its really warped or chipped badly but I highly doubt it is. And when you replaced the valve cover, you did replace the spark plug tube grommets didn't you ?

 

I didnt replace the gasket myself, I took it to a shop. They were the ones that informed me that the stock ones were made of crap. I guess they didn't know what they were talking about. I haven't replaced the valve cover itself, only the gasket. I was contemplating (means thinking about) replacing the entire Valve Cover. Yes, the spark plug grommets were also replaced with the Valve cover gasket. Thanks for your words.

 

The shop has no clue what there talking about, sounds like they did a crappy job and were trying to cover there own tracks. Are you sure they put a new Honda gasket on ? If your not sure I would buy a Honda gasket and replace it.

 

Yeah. And the thing is, I took the part to them. They were telling me that the part would have to be ordered and would take a couple of days to get it. Well, my bro works in a body shop and has access to parts (I know what youre thinking, "your brother works in a body shop, he must know a mechanic...well, it could be that easy, but my bro is always busy and I just hate to bother him for my problems). Anyways, he was able to get the part for me w/the spark plug grommets included and I took it to them and actually watched them replace it. The took off the valve cover and seated the gasket and looked like they knew what they were doing. Apparently, they did not. I'll have to keep looking around for a reliable mechanic and hopefully find one. I think I might have to take some shop 101 classes myself...this way, I can start doing some of this crap myself. Thanks anyways.

 

Hey, I also wanted to let you know that I checked out the Custom Valve Covers link you posted. WOW!!! You do awesome work!! Those valve covers you worked on look awesome!!! Very professionally done!!! Keep up the awesome work and good luck with your business!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dmemenza &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hey, I also wanted to let you know that I checked out the Custom Valve Covers link you posted. WOW!!! You do awesome work!! Those valve covers you worked on look awesome!!! Very professionally done!!! Keep up the awesome work and good luck with your business!!
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Thank you, is there any way you could get more pics from where the oil is actually leaking from ?

 

I may be able to get some pictures over the weekend.....let me see. I really like the Honda and if it weren't for the leaking oil, the car would be perfect. I'll try to get some pics for ya so you can see what I am talking about. Thanks.


Great job on those Valve covers....keep up the good work!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dmemenza &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I didnt replace the gasket myself, I took it to a shop.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Was it a Honda dealership, or was it some other shop?

Also, did they use a "liquid gasket" sealant on the underside of the cover around the camshaft indentations when they installed it?

 

Sorry it took so long to reply...it wouldn't let me reply that night saying, I was only authorized to reply 5 times in a 24-hour period.

Anyways, It wasn't a Honda dealership, just a local mechanic shop. They did use a liquid seal for the gaskets. I saw they did use some kind of sealant like stuff. Im not a mechanic, so Im not positive on exactly what it was, but it did look like they used some kind of liquid sealant for the gasket.

Thanks!