Ok, I'm not the most technically savy guy, so I apologize if my questions seem childish or amateurish.

I have been noticing a very small oil leak from my d16 lately...Never really thought much of it until today. When I poped my hood, I noticed a small ammount of oil running down from the head, right above the left side of the exhaust manifold. For reference, the oil is running down where the engine stamp is...Where it says "D16Y7".

My question is this: Do I have a failed/blown gasket? Or is there somehting else to blame?

If the gasket is blown, is it relatively easy to replace? As far as I can see, it would be removing the head, getting a new gasket and putting everything back to stock. Am I correct? Any help would be greatly appreciated...Thank guys!

 

Yea, that's a fairly common place for them to leak. Honda makes updated headgaskets and headbolts for them.

 

Anyone keen on the procedure. Again, I'm sorry but I have never done this before. I was hoping to find out a little before hand. I know what the standard answer is; Grab a Helms, a torque wrench and go to town. I was hoping for a little insight as to the actual procedure, if it is difficult, etc.

 

If you've never done one, that's the best advice I could give.

 

chk your valve cover gasket, that is something that can leak pretty easily and could leak where u are describing.

 

If the origin of the leak is above the exhaust manifold, that's your valve cover gasket. It's even cheaper and not as much of a pita to replace.

If it's below the exhaust manifold, then it could be your head gasket. The designation stamp is near the passenger side, so it may also be a distributor seal. Fine out the origin of the leak first. gluck

 

this guy is right. Those gaskets are cheap, and easy to install.

 

I think I just translated what I wanted to say wrong. I can physically see the origin of the oil coming from the seal between the head and block.

 

okay yur screwed,!! No, You need a new head gasket, Its not that involved just go find someone in your circle who had done a few. Pay him a couple of bucks, take your time and if al else fails, Take it to a shop. Give them 200 and a headache...

 

I've had a leak like the one you describe on both my d16 and b16. I was also afraid it was the headgasket(s), until someone told me it's the camshaft seal, and it's very common on Hondas.

Anyways, I don't even think it can be the headgasket.
The engine wouldn't run right, it would overheat, coolant would leak, and whatever the hell else happens when a headgasket blows.

 

I'm going to do the intelligent thing and have my personal mechanic take a quick look at it and give me his professional opinion, instead of playing guessing games/shadtree mechanic with my car. After he diagnosis the problem, then I can see how to go about fixing it.

 

Tell him to do a cylinder leakage test for you and it'll tell you if your headgasket is blown and many other things. I just finished a headgasket job and you'll definitely need a Helm's if you're planning to do it yourself.