i just did an oil change on my first gen b16 and a week later i found a large puddle of oil on the garage floor. i dont think it has to be running or warm for it to leak from what i can see. i backed the car up and the puddle seemed to be inline with the filter/drain plug area. i couldnt feel any oil by the filter and couldnt reallly see anything coming from the drain plug. i didnt replace the washer on the plug - could that be the problem for such a large leak? are there any common spots i should look first?

thanks alot

 

no suggestions? i did try a search before posting......a lot of oil leaks out there but none of my symptoms. i'd appreciate any help

thankyou

 

Hmm.. Well let me think.. If I were you I would first check the dipstick to see if it's the oil that leaked.. If not, maybe it's the tranny fluid that leaked. They both seem to be black. But I'm pretty sure it has to be oil. Anyways, there's any easy and lazy way to do this, or the systematic way. The easy way is to take a shop towel and clean up the oil leaks and wait to see where the leak is running from. Or if you want to go the systematic way, get ready. Ok, now think.. When you take off an oil filter, do you check to see if the gasket is still on the old oil filter? If it wasn't on, or you don't remember. Check it! Maybe the old gasket is still on there and you're double gasketting (doesn't sound like a real word, oh well). So here's what you do.. Drain the oil first. Next check the drain plug, is there any metal shavings on it?? If so, did you over tighten the plug? Did you know that at the Honda Dealership, the drain plug is to be tighten to 25lbs or torque? If the mechanic doesn't use a torque wrench to tighten it, he's fired. Just thought I'd throw that in. If the plugs fine, move on. After the oil has drained out, check the filter. Take it off and make sure the gasket is still on it. Next stick your hand up there and feel around the resting point of where the filter should meet the engine. Is there something rubber there?? If so, it's your old gasket. I hope this helps.. If not, good luck.. But remember, I'm not responsible for whatever mishaps might occur during the process. So do it at your own risk..!