I have a Civic EK with a B18C1 swap. It's leaking oil from the front left corner of the head gasket. I'm going through more oil than looks like is leaking out of that spot, so I think some may be leaking into the #4 cylinder as well (I don't see any smoke out my exhaust though). I do have a lot of black soot around my exhaust pipe, could this be oil? Or just carbon from running rich when running full throttle? I have 210 compression all 4 cylinders, but couldn't get my friend's leakdown tester to work, so I'm not sure what that may show.

I've read all kinds of things on HT and wanted some input on my best option. First, this is my only car, so I really can't spend more than a weekend without it, meaning decking the block and rebuilding the engine is not an option. Given this, does it make sense to deck the head? I've heard people have trouble because the block and the head are now no longer a matched set (if they were both warped the same way, they now will have a gap).

Second, I've heard a lot of people say you shouldn't have to use copper spray, but if I don't have time to deck the block, will it help fill in small imperfections? Also, I've heard some people suggest using Yamabond 5 on the corners, would you do this with the copper spray, or instead of it?

Please help, I want to fix this!

 

if ur talking about under the distributor it could be a couple of things. distributor o-ring, cam plugs, or vtec solenoid. head gaskets dont normally leak oil externally.

 

It is the corner by the VTEC Solenoid and CAM seal, but it is not leaking from either place. I have a GE CAM seal and checked both places very carefully (that would be a much easier fix). The oil is coming out between the head and the block right onto the B18C1 stamp on the block.

Any ideas??

 

Morning bump for help...

 

How is it running? I'd say distributor Oring or distributor housing are leaking, & maybe some VC gasket seepage.

 

Runs like a champ :-)

I'll try to get some pictures this weekend when it warms up... (1 Degree F outside with windchill right now)

 

Hey Honda Tech,

I'm planning to replace my head gasket next weekend and can't find a decent write-up for a DOHC. Does anyone know of one?

I keep seeing write-ups for head removal saying to remove the rocker arms. I don't need to do that for a head gasket replacement correct?

 

Play it safe and just take the whole head apart and replace the gasket that way. I'd also get some new head bolts. If it runs like a champ already why are you replacing the HG?

 

check your oil level. if its your HG you could be burning oil or mixing with your coolant..i highly doubt its your HG...oil usually leaks from the dizzy o ring valve cover gasket or cam seal and works its way down to your tranny and down to where the code stamp is...so what i would do is clean it off and inspect again to make sure its not your hg which would save you a load of work

 

So so true...

Have seen this before too many times.

It leaks down onto the engine over the B18C and down to where the tranny meets the engine.

And I bet if you look in the corner where the HG tab is it's all oil soaked.

It's really hard to see but grab a flashlight look under your distributor and the lines that go into the head there will be soaked along with just a little bit of the head.

If it doesn't smoke and has good compression why replace the HG? I seriously doubt thats your problem.

 

^+1

 

Replaced my dizzy o-ring and VTEC solenoid gasket today. There didn't seem to be any oil under the distributor, and the o-ring looked good. There did seem to be a good amount of oil residue under the VTEC solenoid, and when I pulled it off the oil that came out went in all the same places I had oil residue, including the front of the block. The gasket also seemed a little flat.

We'll see over the next few days if I continue to loose oil. The one problem with this solution is that it doesn't explain my burning oil, and the black ring around my tail pipe... guess that might be a different issue.

I'll keep you posted.

 

HG's dont leak oil,
1. dizzy o-ring
2. VTEC selenoid gasket
3. Valve cover gasket
4. rear main seal (gotta drop the tranny)

 

I have had the headgasket leaking in the front corner with 2 motors I've had and a few of my friends n customers cars also..I think it is common on the dohc motors(just from my experience).It is your headgasket seeping..its not a major issue if you are now noticing it. But you should change it and make sure get new bolts or upgrade to studs.

Have you done a leak down test as yet? Also when you first start your car in the morning, do you have blue smoke come of the exhaust only when u first start it?